• Carol McDaid, principal at Capitol Decisions, Inc., in Washington, DC and co-founder of the McShin Foundation. In long-term recovery herself, McDaid worked for more than a decade to make the promise of mental health and addictions parity a reality. Her efforts paved the way for passage of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, legislation that ensures equitable insurance coverage for mental health and addiction disorders.
• Rosa M. West, vice president for specialty programs and new initiatives, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., Gainesville, FL, received the “Up & Coming Leadership” award for initiating innovative programs like the Forensic Diversion Program designed to keep at-risk individuals out of jail and in treatment.
• Mary Anderson, board member, Newaygo County Mental Health Services, White Cloud, MI, won the “Visionary Leadership” award for playing a valuable role working with county, state, and national officials to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness, along with their families.
• Howard Bracco, PhD, CBHE, president and CEO, Seven Counties, Inc., Louisville, KY, was honored with a “Visionary Leadership” award for identifying new partners who shared his vision and forging a comprehensive network of 16 organizations to provide behavioral healthcare treatment and essential services.
• David Guth, CEO, Centerstone of America, Nashville, TN, received a “Visionary Leadership” award for spearheading the integration of behavioral health and general healthcare provider organizations and establishing a dedicated research wing to achieve operational efficiencies and improve service quality.
• Jay Reeve, president & CEO, Apalachee Center, Tallahassee, FL, was honored with a “Visionary Leadership” award for building mutually-beneficial local professional relationships and forging partnerships with entities such as Florida A&M University’s College of Pharmacy and Bond Community Health Center.
•  Richard Van Horn, president emeritus, Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA), Los Angeles, CA, was honored with a “Visionary Leadership” award for his efforts over 30 years to build MHALA into one of Southern California’s leading nonprofit mental health organizations through continuous service innovations, recurring systems design, and public policy change.
• Pamela Greenberg, president and CEO, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Washington, DC received the “Excellence In Public Service” award for negotiating agreements between providers, advocates, the health insurance industry and the business community that led to passage of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

• Burrell Behavioral Health in Springfield, MO was honored for its work to bring hundreds of homeless in from the streets. Forming partnerships with more than 20 organizations, Burrell helped almost 500 homeless individuals and families with mental illness and addictions move into homes and acquire the skills to become productive citizens. Burrell’s award is supported by a grant of $10,000 from Mental Health Weekly.

• Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority, Flagstaff, AZ, received the “Excellence in Health Information Technology” award for its comprehensive telemedicine network that uses two-way interactive videoconferencing to bring together mental health experts and patients in remote locations. This award is supported by $10,000 grant from Qualifacts Services, Inc.
• Institute for Community Living, New York, NY, received the “Excellence in Risk Management” award for developing and implementing a risk management system to help consumers identify their triggers for risky behavior better cope with risk-laden situations.

• Hartford Dispensary, Manchester, CT, was honored with the “Excellence in Addictions Treatment & Prevention” award for reaching out to healthcare organizations and leading a comprehensive care program that encompasses drug treatment, counseling and psychiatric services, primary care, infectious disease, dental care and women’s services.
• Austin Travis County Integral Care, Austin, TX, won the “Excellence in Consumer and Family Advocacy” award for organizing the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference, a two-day event to acquaint the African American community with information about behavioral and physical healthcare services.
• Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Natick, MA, received the “Excellence in Grassroots Advocacy (State)” award for saving its alcohol treatment and support programs by repealing the state’s sales tax exemption on alcohol and channeling the new revenue back into programs to treating individuals dealing with alcoholism.
• Colorado West Regional Mental Health Center, Glenwood Springs, CO, was honored with the “Excellence in Grassroots Advocacy (Local)” award for initiating an aggressive grassroots advocacy campaign to build support for a new psychiatric hospital in western Colorado and help retire a $10 million debt in only 15 months.
  
  Recipients of the “2010 Negley Awards for Risk Management,” recognizing effective risk management programs to ensure the safety of behavioral health clients, staff and directors and the improved health of communities, included:
• Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare, Orlando, FL (President’s Award)
• David Lawrence Center, Naples, FL (Chairman’s Award)
• LifeStream Behavioral Center, Leesburg, FL (Board of Director’s Award)
   

The National Mental Health and Addictions Conference includes dozens of presentations on addictions and co-occurring disorders, children’s mental health and health integration and wellness.  

To speak with award winners and mental health and addiction experts, contact communications@thenationalcouncil.org or 202-684-7457.