2008 Exemplary Service Award honorees

King County Executive Ron Sims joined the mental health and substance abuse community in honoring the 2008 Exemplary Service Award recipients at a special event held in Seattle on October 2, 2008. The 10^th annual event celebrates and recognizes exceptional leadership and achievement in service delivery and advocacy on behalf of people with mental illness and chemical dependency.

"These awards give us an opportunity to honor extraordinary individuals and programs in King County that are working every day to improve both the quality of care and the quality of life for individuals with mental illness and chemical dependency," said Executive Sims. "We are grateful for their contributions and for the commitment and dedication of advocates and treatment providers across our region."

Individuals and programs were nominated for recognition in four established categories: Advocacy, Direct Service, Service Innovation, and Systems Integration. Nominations were submitted by the community and the honorees were selected by a review committee. A special Director's Award was given this year as well.

The 2008 honorees are:

Advocacy: Jody Schreven, Sound Mental Health Family Resource & Support Groups

Jody Schreven began two years receiving services from a Parent Partner at Sound Mental Health for her son. Her son was having challenges with school. Jody at that time described herself as "an angry mom" who wanted to learn, grow and become empowered so she took on the course work to become a Parent Partner. She completed the course work to become a Certified Peer Counselor for the State of Washington Mental Health Division and is now a powerful advocate for her own boys and helps other parents of mentally ill youth who are in the At Risk Youth Court and Juvenile Justice System. She has spoken at many gatherings, offering the parent's perspective on serving children and families in crisis. In addition, she testified three times before the King County Council to support passage of .01 percent states tax for mental health and drug dependency treatment funds.

Direct Service by an Individual: John Gubatayao, Sea Mar Renacer Youth Treatment Center

John Gubatayao has been an exceptional clinical supervisor and has directly contributed to the success of the Renacer Male Youth Treatment Program at Sea Mar Community Health Centers. In the past 13 months, the program has moved from partially filled to full capacity. As a supervisor of three Chemical Dependency Professionals, two mental health therapists, a teacher and 20 support staff, John has provided leadership and compassion for all. The clients and staff love and respect him. Parents have called the Renacer Program the "the best program my son has been in." There is no higher complement for a clinician than the continued success of their clients. John works with a challenging group of young men and has found an exemplary way to blend clinical expertise with professional passion and serves as a model for other clinicians.

Direct Service by a Program: Harborview Addictions Program, Harborview Mental Health Services

The Harborview Addictions Program has provided gender specific intensive outpatient chemical dependency treatment services to women for over three years. Many of the women in this program are referred from King County Drug Diversion Court and are frequently from racial minority groups, have lower socio-economic status, and lack education and job skills. Success can be a challenge for these clients. Harborview Addictions Program stepped up to the task. They have increased the number of individuals who complete treatment by over 200% since the program began in 2005. The women's group has assisted more than 60 women referred by Drug Diversion Court during the last year. There is not a better coordinated, more service intensive or clinically rich women's outpatient chemical dependency treatment program in King County.

Service Innovation: MPowerment Project, Lifelong AIDS Alliance

MPowerment is a youth-driven and peer-led community level intervention whose primary goals are to decrease high risk drug and alcohol use behavior as well as sexual risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. While MPowerment began solely as an HIV prevention program, over the past three years it has integrated alcohol and other drug messaging to help mitigate the sexual risk and other harmful effects of alcohol and drug use among LGBTQ youth and young adult. The evaluation data collected since beginning an integrated approach to prevention demonstrates the success of the program. Over half of the youth and young adults surveyed over the past two years report they have received alcohol and drug information through MPowerment's programs and they are likely to change their behaviors and discuss alcohol and other drug prevention with their peers. MPowerment proves that it is possible to be both creative and effective.

Systems Integration: Community Integration & Assistance Program, Sound Mental Health

For ten years, the state Department of Corrections (DOC) and Sound Mental Health have collaborated to provide wraparound treatment services to designated offenders being released from prison and reentering the King County community. During this time, the DOC Special Needs Unit and Sound Mental Health's Community Integration and Assistance Program (CIAP) has become a model for cross-system collaboration, communication and cooperation. In addition to the cooperative and coordinated collaboration, Sound Mental Health has blended services from housing assistance, chemical dependency treatment, mental health services, and other social services to reconnect clients with family and friends, develop pro-social relationships and medication compliance. Over 152 clients have been referred and diagnosed with a serious mental illness and violent behavior. The results have been extraordinary, with 84 once bio-psychosocially unstable offenders successfully transitioning from prison into the community. The reintegration has translated into decreased incarcerations and increased community and client safety. CIAP is a model of integration and success for the clients and for the community.

Director's Award Outstanding Community Service: Linda Brown, King County Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Administrative Board

Linda Brown has served on the King County Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Administrative Board since 2001 as board chair and as liaison to the King County Mental Health Advisory Board. She has been active on many board committees and has been tireless in her work rating requests for proposals, reviewing strategic plans, and offering public testimony and comments supporting recovery, supporting treatment and supporting our community. Her work on the Recovery Garden resulted in a unique and beautiful meditation garden open to all who strive for recovery from mental illness and chemical dependency. Linda is a role model for community service and advocacy.