NMHA to Present Highest Honors to Mental Health Advocates

National Mental Health Association
Tuesday, 8 June 2004

The National Mental Health Association will present three awards on June 12, at the closing night dinner of its annual conference in Washington, D.C., that represent exemplary service and commitment to the mental health movement. Each award winner will be celebrated for their tireless advocacy and extraordinary pursuit to improve the lives of people with mental illness.

The Clifford W. Beers Award — Angela D. Vickers, J.D., Jacksonville, Fla.

NMHA's most prestigious award, The Clifford W. Beers Award, will be presented to Florida Attorney Angela Vickers for her exemplary work in advocating for equality and fairness in the judicial system for people with mental illness. As a result of her courageous efforts, Florida has become the first state in the nation to incorporate mental illness awareness as a mandatory feature of the state's continuing legal education program for attorneys. Created in 1976 and named for NMHA's founder, the Clifford W. Beers Award is presented annually to a consumer of mental health and/or substance abuse services who best reflects the example set by Clifford W. Beers in his efforts to improve conditions for and attitudes toward people with mental illness.

Tipper Gore "Remember the Children" Award – Glenda Fine, founder of the MHA of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Parents Involved Network

The 2004 recipient of the Tipper Gore "Remember the Children" Award is Glenda Fine, founder of the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Parents Involved Network (PIN) and mother of a child with a serious emotional disorder. Ms. Fine has spent the last 20 years working to improve the mental health of children through her outspoken advocacy and public education. As a result of her tireless efforts, parents in Pennsylvania no longer have to give up custody of their children in order for them to receive the help they need and deserve. The Tipper Gore "Remember the Children" Award is given in recognition of an individual who has dedicated their career to improving the lives of children and their families.

2004 Lela Rowland Prevention Award — "Primary Project," Alliance for Families and Children of Hennepin County, Minn.

The Alliance for Families and Children of Hennepin County, Minnesota will receive the Lela Rowland Prevention Award for "Primary Project," an evidence-based early detection and prevention program in 16 school districts that seeks to enhance learning, adjustment skills and other education-related competencies in preschool through primary grade children. Since the program began in 2001, more than 10,000 students have been screened for problems that might interfere with school achievement, with a remarkable 4,000 children receiving direct services. The award is given annually to recognize a researcher and/or community institution who either independently or in partnership with one another widely replicate an evidence-based prevention program in multiple settings.

"We are fortunate to have advocates like these who dedicate their lives to making a difference for people with mental illness," said Michael M. Faenza, NMHA President and CEO. "Their tireless dedication to increasing awareness about mental health issues and to enacting meaningful change exemplifies the mission and goals of the mental health movement."

The Clifford W. Beers Award, Tipper Gore "Remember the Children" Award and the Lela Rowland Prevention Award will be presented during the closing night dinner of NMHA's annual conference, Justice for All: Fighting for America's Mental Health, in Washington D.C., on June 12, 2004.

For more information, or to contact National Mental Health Association, see their website at: www.nmha.org