Award Night

[Articles are edited to omit the name of the award, just trying to stay off the search engines]

Award Will Honor US Representative Ron Barber

by Hot Off The Press (Release) on Sep. 06, 2013, under Press Releases

The Recovery Award was introduced in 2007 by Susan, after her son Daniel died by suicide while receiving treatment for schizophrenia. The Recovery Award recognizes local individuals that have inspired hope and who signify the determination and passion it takes to advocate, educate and support those living with mental illness as well as an individual that personally represents the path of recovery.

Criteria for the Recovery Award is based on 10-core principles of recovery, as determined by the National Consensus Conference on Mental Health Recovery and Mental Health Systems Transformation. These principles are self-direction, individualized and person-centered, empowerment, holistic, non-linear, strengths-based, peer support, respect, responsibility and hope. More information about recovery principles can be found here: http://www.samhsa.gov/pubs/mhc/MHC_recovery.htm

In 2012, three additional awards were added to recognize an advocate, direct service provider, and educator in for their contributions. This year’s awardees are:

Advocate - The Honorable Ron Barber, Congressman, 2nd District, Arizona

An advocate is a person who speaks and/or writes in support of or on behalf of a person or cause. Congressman Barber will receive this award because of his long-time, steadfast advocacy for investing in mental health services and reducing stigma associated with mental illness. His lifetime advocacy efforts were exemplified by his introduction of the Mental Health First Aid Act in Congress, January 2013.

Direct Service Provider – Hazel Heinzer, La Frontera

As a person who facilitates and/or coordinates services to promote the well being of another, Ms. Heinzer is being recognized for her persistence and patience seeking to promote the well-being of her clients from their clinical treatment to their involvement in community activities into adulthood.

Educator – Cheryl Glass, Camp Wellness, University of Arizona

A person that shares information and knowledge with others, enabling them to increase understanding or skills to enhance their lives, Cheryl Glass was selected because under Ms. Glass’ leadership, not only did Camp Wellness thrive and flourish but has become a shining example of an empowerment based recovery program embodying all the values represented by the Award.

2013 Awardees Announced

by Susan Moreno on Sep. 15, 2013, under Health

...In 2012, three additional awards were added to recognize an advocate, direct service provider, and educator for their contributions. This year’s awardees are:

Advocate – The Honorable Ron Barber, Congressman, 2nd District, Arizona
An advocate is a person who speaks and/or writes in support of or on behalf of a person or cause. Congressman Barber will receive this award because of his tireless effort to reduce stigma and create an environment of effective, accessible treatment..

Direct Service Provider – Hazel Heinzer, La Frontera Clinician
As a person who facilitates and/or coordinates services to promote the well being of another, Hazel Heinzer is being recognized for continuous support in treating the entire family in various roles in shelters, homes and clinical settings.

Educator – Cheryl Glass, Camp Wellness, University of Arizona
A person that shares information and knowledge with others, enabling them to increase understanding or skills to enhance their lives, Cheryl Glass was selected because “She has played a key role in helping hundreds of people with a serious mental illness to find meaning and purpose in their own lives and come to the realization that not only is recovery possible but that it can be a reality.”

Usually this blog is about Tyler, but I'm  making an exception...

I love my team! Eric, a former employee, and Julie Mack, who hired me to be a tobacco prevention specialist, and later hired me again to be a tobacco research specialist, nominated me for this award. My team knew I was nervous about the whole award/ceremony/publicity thing, and supported me through each step - from choosing to give up their Friday night to come clap for me to taking my picture and cropping it at the most flattering angle. Then on Friday morning, when I arrived at work, my office door was ajar and I found these:

The camp nurse brought me these. This was especially touching to me, because she herself attended camp, got well, and returned to work. She described coming to camp as "everything around me was dark, but when I walked in those doors, there was light." Pretty awesome.

I worked late and picked Tyler up a little before six. I brought in his fancy shirt and pants, thinking I'd dress him and ask the preschool teacher to get a picture of us all dolled up. But alas, he could see the jumping castle for First Friday outside, and when I told him we couldn't play on it that night, it became obvious he wouldn't be getting dressed anytime soon. I packed him into the car, with great difficulty, then asked him if he wanted to go to Wesley's birthday party the next day, and did he think there would be cake? Suddenly all was right in the world again. I called Tyson to warn him that I would need his help in the parking lot of the country club.

We dressed Tyler in the parking lot, but still forgot to get a picture. He looked snazzy, just like his dad.
The awards ceremony was held at Skyline Country Club, up high in the Catalina Foothills, with a stunning view of the city lights. When we entered, we were given a program for the evening, here's part of it:

Ron Barber couldn't make it. (Tyler, this was during a government shutdown, where all the congressmen fail to make a decision, or because they're stubbornly trying to block a decision made by the president, and so government employees like your Uncle Art are forced to take an unplanned, unpaid vacation until those congressmen finally make up their minds)(please note, there is no such thing as a parental shutdown.) His wife Nancy accepted the award on his behalf. This was special to me, because when Tyler was a few days old, I brought him to Nancy, a lactation specialist at the birth center, and begged her to help me, because he wasn't eating. She was so soothing and helpful, got us situated, and all was well. I never got to thank her properly until this night. 

I was in denial about having a give a speech, so I didn't write one. The other recipients, on the other hand, wrote out multiple pages. The program ran very late, Tyler behaved perfectly throughout, and was falling asleep when it was time for me to accept the award. I had planned to bring him up there with me as an easy early escape route, but he was cozy on Tyson's lap, and I feared moving him would inspire blood curdling screams. I stumbled up there by myself, muttered something along the lines of having a great job because I actually get to see people recover and get well everyday, and that my team is awesome, because they're the ones doing it. I held up the award to them, said "This is us!" and booked it back to my seat.

I had the pleasure of meeting Daniel's mom, Susan, who also works in the behavioral health field, specializing in youth. She was a joy to meet, charismatic, warm, and very huggable.

I have to say, thinking of this as a team award, it is very cool to get recognized for the hard work that we do, and that people truly get well! Our program turned out to be bigger and better than I ever expected, and while our goal was to help people improve their health and wellness, the unintended consequence of helping people return to work, and form this amazing, supportive, health-oriented community was more than I ever dreamed. Recovery rocks!

And I just can't get enough of these flowers!