National Council Presents Lifetime Achievement Award, 2024 Legislator of the Year Awards During 20th Hill Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 6, 2024) – The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has recognized a group of extraordinary lawmakers who have expanded access to lifesaving mental health and substance use treatment and care.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of leadership in the House and Senate to improve access to care in Michigan and across the nation. Sen. Stabenow was instrumental in efforts to create Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs).

“Our behavioral health initiative is a proven success story and is transforming community services across our country. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has played a huge role in the success of this initiative. Thanks to their partnership and dedication, more than 3 million people across the country are receiving the care they need right in their communities. It’s been an honor to work with them to make sure health care above the neck is treated the same as health care below the neck,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow.

The National Council, along with Sen. Stabenow, former Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), and other bipartisan allies and advocates collaborated to create the CCBHC model, leading to an immensely successful demonstration program that began in 2017 in eight states. Since then, CCBHCs have provided critical and lifesaving care for millions of people with mental health and substance use challenges. In 2022, legislation introduced by Sen. Stabenow and former Sen. Blunt to expand the CCBHC demonstration nationwide was included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and signed into law by President Biden.

“Senator Stabenow has been with us since the very beginning of the effort to promote CCBHCs. Beginning with her introduction of the Excellence in Mental Health Act, Senator Stabenow has done everything humanly possible to ensure every community across the country can more easily access high-quality mental health and substance use care,” National Council President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia said. “We are honored to present her with our Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The National Council presented its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 to former Sen. Blunt for his tremendous contributions and commitment to expanding CCBHCs.

Senators Alex Padilla (D-California) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) each received the 2024 Legislator of the Year Award. Senators Padilla and Tillis co-founded the Senate Mental Health Caucus and have been instrumental in their efforts to expand access to crisis care and improve 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline capabilities, including introducing the Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023.

“I am honored to receive this recognition from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, but the work to tear down mental health stigmas and support treatment for mental illnesses and substance use doesn’t end here,” Sen. Padilla said. “Our bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus will continue working to implement thoughtful solutions so all individuals in crisis receive the treatment and care they need.”

“Thank you to the National Council for presenting me with its 2024 Legislator of the Year Award,” Sen. Tillis said. “Thanks also to the National Council for its efforts on behalf of those with mental health and substance use challenges. But I know we can do more to ensure everyone has access to high quality care, when and where they need it. I look forward to continuing our work together.”

The National Council also presented its Advocate of the Year Award to Girl Scout Troop 67358 from Littleton, Colorado. Members of Troop 67358 played a key role in advocating for SB 24-007, a bill to help increase opportunities for people across Colorado to access mental health awareness trainings like Mental Health First Aid, which is a program designed to help people recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge.

The members of Troop 67358 not only wrote letters to their state legislators, but they also went to the State Capitol to express their support for the bill. The bill successfully passed and was signed into law by Governor Polis.

All the awards were presented during Hill Day 2024, the National Council’s annual advocacy event to promote bipartisan solutions in support of expanding equitable access to comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment and care.