Across the MHA Network

Kansas: On March 2, Rose Mary Mohr, president and CEO of MHA South Central Kansas, celebrated her 30th anniversary with the organization. Our sincere congratulations and appreciation goes out to Rose Mary for her three decades of dedication to the mental health movement!

North Carolina: The Mental Health Association in Greensboro’s Rhonda Outlaw was recently honored with a "Because of You" award. Recipients of this award were recognized by New Bethel Church in High Point for "personifying generosity, sharing and love." As coordinator of volunteers and special programs for the Association for the past five years, Rhonda has worked diligently to match countless Compeer Friends and has brightened the holiday season for over 1,500 community members with mental health conditions. Please join us in recognizing Rhonda, for the work she does and the profound effect she has in her community.

Ohio: In December, Laura Moskow Sigal, Mental Health America of Franklin County Executive Director, was honored with the 2008 Barry Mastrine Award at the Franklin County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board Annual Meeting, at Columbus State Community College. The Barry Mastrine Award recognizes someone within the ADAMH system of care who motivates health care providers to work together, promotes collaboration and cooperation between agencies and inspires people to give back to the community.

New Jersey: The MHA in New Jersey’s Laverne Williams was recently interviewed for the NJN television network show, Another View, on the topic “Depression in the African American Community.” Ms. Williams is the director of the MHA’s PEWS Program (Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality), which educates African American clergy, lay staff and church communities to better recognize mental illness and link parishioners to resources, as well as assists church communities in starting PEWS Mental Health Ministries. To view this show on-line, visit www.mhanj.org, and click on the "PEWS Director Interviewed by NJN Television" banner. To learn more about the PEWS program, contact Laverne Williams at lwilliams@mhanj.org.

Virginia: The Mental Health Association of the New River Valley is excited to report that the Bridge Program, a post-booking, pre-trial diversion program for charge-appropriate individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder, has achieved financial sustainability following a fourth year of SAMHSA funding that ends in June 2009. The program was awarded continued funding through the Commonwealth of Virginia, which will continue in perpetuity, so long as the General Assembly deems jail diversion programs a solid investment in the health of the Commonwealth.

Indiana: Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis announces it is the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation of Indianapolis, Inc. and a $10,000 grant from the Carl R. Hendrickson Family Foundation to support Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis' Adult Guardianship Services. The program provides guardianship of a person who has been judged unable to manage his/her own affairs due to a disability which causes incapacity and loss of the ability to make sound decisions. Once a court awards guardianship to the organization, the Guardian is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to make emergency decisions for the protected person following standards of practice by the National Guardianship Association.

Missouri: Mental Health America Board Member Dr. Karl Wilson was recently selected as a 2009 “Excellence in Grassroots Advocacy (Community)” honoree by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. Dr. Wilson and the Crider Health Center in Wentsville, Missouri, will be honored in April at the National Council’s Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The Awards of Excellence honor those who have significantly shaped the mental health and addictions industry and improved the lives of those in need of treatment and support.

New Jersey: The Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s Consumer Connections program is featured in the Fall 2008 issue of Reintegration Today. Consumer Connections was awarded the 1999 Eli Lilly Advocacy and the article details the programs continuing leadership role reintegrating mental health consumers through its training, employment and support services. This flagship MHA program has also received national recognition from the National Association of County Behavioral Health Directors, the Commonwealth Fund and the Annapolis Coalition. For more information, contact rcortese@mhanj.org.

California: Scott Suckow, Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health America of San Diego County, was recently named one of San Diego Magazine’s “50 People to Watch in 2009” in its January issue. For more information, visit http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/media/San-Diego-Magazine/January-2009/50-People-to-Watch-in-2009/ .

Florida:  Susan Byrne Lee, of Mental Health America of Northeast Florida, shares with us that advocates in Florida were able to get Governor Crist to veto line items in the state budget that would have reduced adult and children’s mental health services. They were able to head off nearly $10 million in cuts. Congratulations, Florida!

Indiana: Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis’ (MHAGI) 2008 Gift Lift was a huge success. The Gift Lift received over 500 gifts from people in the community to provide holiday warmth to those with mental illness served by MHAGI programs, Gallahue Mental Health Center, and Midtown Community Mental Health Center.

New Jersey: Representatives of New Jersey's healthcare community, including the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, participated in a discussion as part of President Obama's Transition Team focusing on healthcare reform. Key issues included the overuse of emergency rooms, primary care as the point of access for treatment and the need to focus on preventative care and wellness. To read the full report, visit http://www.njhcqi.org/HC_Comm_Discussion_Report.ObamaTransitionTeam.12.30.08.pdf

New York: Mental Health America Dutchess County is very proud to have been on of the winners of the Poughkeepsie Journal's Richard K. Wager Workplace Inclusiveness award. For more information, visit http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200901180300/BUSINESS/901180311.

Virginia: Donna Gum, executive director of Mental Health America of Augusta County, spoke at the recent Coalition Rally for Virginians with Mental Disabilities and was interviewed afterwards by Channel 29 TV in Richmond. Mental health advocates are hopeful that a new funding plan could be enough to save The Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents in Staunton. The children’s facility is slated to close in June, to help balance the state's budget.

North Carolina: In December, the Mental Health Association in North Carolina (MHA/NC) was proud to announce that the organization has been accredited by The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) with a full four-year national accreditation. Many rigorous steps have been taken and criteria have been met in order to receive this level of accreditation. The Mental Health Reform Act of 2001 mandated that all mental health providers be nationally accredited by one of four designated accreditation bodies in North Carolina.