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2010 Lilly Reintegration Award Recipients
2004 Winners
2003 Winners
2002 Winners
2010 Lilly Reintegration Award Recipients
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Treatment Team Awards
Advocacy
1st place – Eleventh Judicial Criminal Mental Health Project
Miami, Florida
The Eleventh Judicial Circuit Criminal Mental Health Project (CMHP) of Dade County, Florida, was founded in 2000 to respond to the needs of people with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders who were involved in -- or at risk of becoming involved in -- the justice system. The CMHP diverts these individuals from the criminal justice system into housing and comprehensive treatment and support services. Once engaged in the program, people have the opportunity to achieve successful recovery, establish meaningful lives and, ultimately, help reduce the county’s recidivism rate.
2nd place – Morningside-Westside Community Action Corporation
New York, New York
Founded in 1994, the Morningside-Westside Community Action Corporation (MWCAC), a non-profit organization, has been actively involved in promoting reintegration, mainstreaming and recovery for mental health consumers. Through events and projects, the MWCAC advocates for the rights of its members, working towards improvements in governmental and private sector programs. Additionally, The Morningside Westside Bulletin, a quarterly news journal, shares the successes of mental health consumers. The MWCAC has helped countless individuals battling mental illness realize their potential while enhancing the well-being of the larger community.
Clinical Medicine
1st place – Aurora Center for Life Skills
Aurora, Colorado
The Aurora Center for Life Skills is an innovative outpatient treatment program serving the needs of developmentally disabled adults who live with mental illness. Since the start of the program in 1986, the annual number of clients served has grown from 12 to more than 350. Services include psychiatric consultation and treatment, individual, group and family therapies, psychoeducation and residential, vocational and case management services. Clients define their own recovery goals, moving to less intensive treatment as needs change.
2nd place – Dual Recovery Program
Toledo, Ohio
Established in 1997, the mission of the Unison Behavioral Health Group’s Dual Recovery Program has been to provide intense, supportive outpatient services to adults with substance abuse problems and co-occurring severe and persistent mental illnesses. Combining 54 years of clinical experience, case managers and therapists are credentialed in mental health and substance disorders. Their belief and observation is that by addressing these two diagnoses simultaneously they decrease relapse rates, hospitalizations, violence, homelessness and incarceration. The Dual Recovery Program has served over 1,000 individuals and has aided clients in continuing education, obtaining and maintaining independent housing and gainful employment, reunifying families, and strengthening familial relationships.
Employment
1st place – The COVA Prisoner Re-entry Initiative
Columbus, Ohio
In 2008, the Center of Vocational Alternatives (COVA) Prisoner Re-entry Initiative pilot was the only Second Chance Action program for prisoners with mental illness receiving federal funding. Offering employment readiness classes, group sessions and job-seeking guidance, after only two years the recidivism rate for the program’s 165 participants decreased to only three percent, compared with the statewide rate of nearly 70 percent for this population. COVA is committed to moving the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative from a pilot to a permanent program and its success has influenced the state to add re-entry coordinators and forensic peers to its current re-entry structure.
2nd place – Scripps Mercy A-Visions Program
San Diego, California
Recognizing the need to maintain pace with the changing economy and implement new and innovative treatment modalities, in 2002 Scripps Mercy Hospital Behavioral Health developed A-Visions in conjunction with the San Diego Mental Health Association. The A-Visions program began with the mission to foster self-reliance and independence among consumers by providing on-the-job training in a therapeutic environment, ideally leading to competitive employment. The program provides skills training and places consumers in both volunteer and paid positions throughout the hospital. A-Visions has helped to reduce stigma, foster hope and prove that living with a mental illness should not prevent one from becoming a valued employee.
Housing
1st place – BRC Reception Center
New York, New York
The Bowery Residence Committee’s (BRC) Reception Center serves chronically homeless individuals with serious mental illness, and is New York City’s only clinically-based emergency shelter that takes individuals directly from the street into a program bed. The BRC Reception Center provides psychiatric and medical stabilization, in addition to case management services, with the goal of placing clients in appropriate, supportive housing within nine months of intake. Follow-up care is provided for at least one year to assist graduates in maintaining housing and continuing to successfully reintegrate into the community. Last year, the Center successfully placed 71 individuals into housing.
2nd place – SMHA Network Housing Office
Norwich, Connecticut
Since its inception in 1995, the Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA) Network Housing Office has assisted thousands of homeless individuals living with major mental illnesses to secure safe and affordable housing. The Network Housing Office was originally created as an effort to consolidate and maximize regional housing services and resources, but has evolved into a leadership role in maintaining, expanding, and improving housing services and resources throughout the region.
Social Support
1st place – The Recovery Mall
Lexington, Kentucky
Established in 2006, The Recovery Mall is Eastern State Hospital’s recovery and rehabilitation program, designed to help people change, grow and recover from the effects of mental illness and substance abuse. Set in a public psychiatric hospital, the program assists over 2,000 adults annually and offers over 60 weekly educational sessions and activities from which to choose. All programming is evidence-based, focusing on learning needed skills and developing community supports. The Recovery Mall offerings include a resource library, gymnasium, learning center, computer lab, kitchen, and leisure center. Consumer leadership within the program is encouraged, and an on-site consumer and family center operates in collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
2nd place – CooperRiis Healing Community
Mill Spring, North Carolina
Since its founding in 2003, the CooperRiis Healing Community has grown to include an 80-acre working farm, a downtown urban community and six residential homes for continued support. CooperRiis holds to the philosophy that living within a community and having meaningful work can help to restore a sense of self to individuals who have lost everything to mental illness and/or substance abuse. Their nearly 130 mission-driven staff members implement the therapeutic community model, serving 80 individuals at multiple residential sites, and more than 20 individuals living off-site in independent housing.
Consumer Awards
Achievement
1st place – Drew Horn
Freehold, New Jersey
After years of struggling with mental illness, Drew Horn found hope and inspiration by bringing joy, compassion and unconditional love to our most vulnerable citizens. He launched the Turn-A-Frown-Around Foundation (TAFA) in 2001, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing personal contact and laughter to those who have lost hope during their struggle with mental health issues, physical disorders, isolation, and abuse. When he is not personally visiting those who have not had visitors in years, Mr. Horn is placing 30-50 phone calls a day to those living in psychiatric hospitals, group residences, children’s homes, nursing homes, and to shut-ins. He and his team of volunteers have demonstrated that with love and laughter loneliness can be overcome.
Artistic Contribution
1st place – Digital Storytelling Workshop Group
Toledo, Ohio
Without any experience in animation or film-making, fifteen consumers and two group facilitators created an inspiring digital, animated film -- “The Story of Leon and Mia.” The film gives consumers a voice that accurately portrays their shared life experiences, enabling the viewing audience to connect more deeply and emotionally with the characters. When shared with those battling mental illness, the film has consistently elicited relief and been a source of support. It also has a powerful impact on mental health providers, agency board members and students, as
Awards Program