Awards of Excellence: 2013

Each year, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare honors those who inspire us to fight against mental illness and addiction. Through its Awards of Excellence, the National Council spotlights the innovative and inspirational efforts of those individuals and organizations — staff, board leaders, volunteers, consumers, families, and community partners — who are changing the lives of children, adults, and families living with mental illnesses and addiction disorders.

In 2013, the National Council is proud to partner with Eli Lilly and Company to include the Reintegration Awards and Welcome Back Awards in the Awards of Excellence celebration. Since 1997, the Reintegration Awards have celebrated the achievements of those in the community who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of individuals with serious mental illnesses, and the achievements of those living with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who battle tremendous odds to improve their own lives and the lives of their peers. The Welcome Back Awards were established in 1998 to fight the stigma associated with depression and to promote the understanding that depression is both common and treatable.

Honorees of the Impact Awards, Reintegration Awards, and Welcome Back Awards receive cash prizes of $5,000 to $10,000, to be donated to non-profit organizations of their choice.

2013 Honorees, National Council Awards of Excellence

Welcome Back Awards: Community Service

First Prize: Lois and Sam Bloom, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Second Prize: Candice Crawford, President/CEO, The Outlook Clinic, Mental Health Association of Central Florida, Inc., Orlando, FL

Welcome Back Awards: Destigmatization

First Prize: Alison Malmon, Founder and Executive Director, Active Minds, Washington, DC  

Second Prize: David Granirer, Stand up for Mental Health, Vancouver, British Columbia  

Welcome Back Awards: Lifetime Achievement

First Prize: Major General (ARMY Ret.) Mark Graham and Carol Graham, Colorado Springs, CO

Second Prize: Michael Kuhl, President, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Louisville, Louisville, KY

Welcome Back Awards: Primary Care

First Prize: Dr. Geogy Thomas, Medical Director, Dayspring Family Health Center, Jellico, TN

Second Prize: Teen Health Connection, Charlotte, NC

Welcome Back Awards: Psychiatry

First Prize: Timothy Florence, MD, Medical Director, Washtenaw Community Support and Treatment Services, Ypsilanti, MI 

Second Prize: Kelly Askins, MD, Behavioral Health Medical Director, Volunteer State Health Plan of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN

Reintegration Awards: Achievement

First Prize: Elliott Steele, Executive Director, Vincent House, Pinnellas Park, FL

Second Prize: Carol Jean Garner, Director of Nonclinical Services, Midwestern Colorado Mental Health Center, Montrose, CO  
 

Reintegration Awards: Advocacy

First Prize: Dylan Henry, Morgan Henry, Travis Henry, and Mari Antclif, Hope and Advocacy, Helena, MT

Second Prize: Fred Frese, Ph.D., Hudson, OH
 

Reintegration Awards: Artistic Contribution

First Prize: Works of Heart Art Event and Auction Family Service & Guidance Center, Topeka, KS

Second Prize: Rebecca Atkins, Artistic Director, Second Step Players, Norwich, CT
 

Reintegration Awards: Clinical Medicine

First Prize: Child and Adolescent Bipolar Services (CABS), Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA
 

Reintegration Awards: Education

First Prize: Fountain House, New York, NY

Second Prize: The Jed Foundation, New York, NY
 

Reintegration Awards: Employment

First Prize: Thresholds, Chicago, IL 

Second Prize: Mental Health Center of Denver, Denver, CO
 

Reintegration Awards: Housing

First Prize: Main Street Housing, Inc., Baltimore, MD  

Second Prize: Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, New York, NY 
 

Reintegration Awards: Mentorship

First Prize: Bipolar Babe, Andrea Paquette, Executive Director, Victoria, British Columbia 

Second Prize: Greg Dicharry, Magellan Health Services, Phoenix, AZ

Impact Awards: Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management

Winner: Grafton Integrated Health Network, Winchester, VA

Program of Significance: Vinland National Center, Loretto, MN
 

Impact Awards: Excellence in Health Information Technology

Winner: Rhode Island Quality Institute, Providence, RI   

Program of Significance: Riverbend Community Mental Health Center, Concord, NH  
 

Impact Awards: Excellence in Service Innovation

Winner: Burke Center Mental Health Emergency Center, Lufkin, TX   

Program of Significance: Southeast Mental Health Services, La Junta, CO

Mental Health First Aid Community Impact

Winner: Austin Travis County Integral Care, Austin, TX     

Program of Significance: Fairfax-Falls Church CSB MHFA Initiative, Fairfax, VA

Visionary Leadership

Joe Dziobek, President/CEO, Fellowship Health Resources, Inc., Lincoln, RI

Jose Frietze, CEO, Families and Youth, Inc., Las Cruces, NM 

Heather Gates, President and CEO, Community Health Resources, Windsor, CT

David Johnson, CEO, Navos, Seattle, WA 

George Kimes, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Community Providers Association   

Dan Ranieri, CEO and President, La Frontera, Tucson, AZ