National Council Gala recognizes excellence

At a star-studded, 40th anniversary “Fabulous Forty” Gala at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center in Orlando, Florida, the National Council for Community Behavioral Health highlighted its 40th conference by celebrating fourteen organizations and individuals for their unique contributions to mental health and addiction treatment services. Presented on behalf of the National Council’s 1,700 member organizations by President and CEO Linda Rosenberg, the Council’s 2010 Awards of Excellence recognized “staff and board leaders, consumers and families, programs and community partners for services that promote recovery and have a lasting impact on children, adults and families.” Areas of excellence and awardee organizations, respectively, included:
• Service Innovation: Burrell Behavioral Health, Springfield, Missouri
• Health Information Technology: Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority, Flagstaff, Arizona
• Risk Management: Institute for Community Living, New York, New York
• Addictions Treatment and Prevention: Hartford Dispensary, Manchester, Connecticut
• Consumer and Family Advocacy: Austin Travis County Integral Care, Austin, Texas
• Grassroots Advocacy (State): Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Natick, Massachusetts
• Grassroots Advocacy (Local): Colorado West Regional Mental Health Center, Glenwood Springs, Colorado Rosenberg recognized two individuals with 2010 Awards for Excellence in Public Service, citing their combined 30-plus years of effort and advocacy which culminated in the 2008 passage and 2010 implementation of the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act:
• Pamela Greenberg, CEO, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Washington, DC
• Carol McDaid, Principal, Capitol Decisions, Inc., Washington, DC Recalling the history of the field, the Council’s 2010 Visionary Leadership awards cited the long-term contributions of five of the field’s most influential leaders, including:
• Mary Anderson, Board Member, Newaygo County Mental Health Services, White Cloud, Michigan
• Howard Bracco, PhD, CBHE, President and CEO of Seven Counties Services, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky
• David Guth, CEO, Centerstone of America, Nashville, Tennessee
• Jay Reeve, President and CE?O, Apalachee Center, Tallahassee, Florida
• Richard Van Horn, President Emeritus, Mental Health America of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California And, after citing the “extraordinary promise and passion she brings to behavioral healthcare”, Rosenberg presented the Council’s 2010 “Up and Coming Leadership” award to Rosa M. West, vice president for specialty programs and new initiatives at Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., in Gainesville, Florida. For more details about the National Council's 2010 award winners, see nationalcouncil2010awards.