Awards and Social Session

(1) Howery Award

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 12:10 PM - 1:40 PM

The “Victor I. Howery Memorial Award” is given for significant contributions to the field of rural mental health. This year the award will be given to Anne Hazlett. Anne is a Senior Advisor for Rural Affairs at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). An Indiana native, she has a deep and lifelong passion for rural America, small towns, and the people who call them home.

(2) Going to Bat Award

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 12:10 PM - 1:40 PM

The “Going to Bat Award” is given to an individual for advocacy in the area of rural mental health above and beyond the call of duty. It is given to an individual who has consistently advocated (supported, promoted, stood up for, championed, defended, made room for, protected, etc.) for rural mental health beyond what are their normal job responsibilities.

This year's award goes to New Mexico’s Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has committed her life to rebuilding her home state, began her professional career providing free legal service to seniors, laying a foundation for selfless work on behalf of vulnerable New Mexicans, the defining characteristic of her decades long public life at the local, state and national level. Driven by a deep compassion for seniors and those living with disabilities, and with experience as a caregiver herself, Lujan Grisham introduced and led the push for Care Corps, her legacy legislation, an innovative caregiving initiative that places volunteers in communities to provide non-medical services to seniors and individuals with disabilities. With this support, people can continue to live independently in their homes and communities. She has also fought tirelessly to improve access to mental health care and services to New Mexicans throughout her career in public service.

We are giving a second Going to Bat Award to Wayne Lindstrom. Wayne is the Director of Business Development and Consulting for Recovery Innovations International. Previously, he served for five years as the Director of the New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division and the CEO of the New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative. Wayne is receiving the award for his work in community mental health, hospitals, emergency departments, corporate environments, and private practice while also teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

(3) Ann Schumacher Rural Clinical Practice Award

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM

The Ann Schumacher Award is presented annually to an experienced practitioner who has demonstrated excellence, innovation, professional development and who has worked with domestic violence. The recipient of this year’s award is Matt Probst for the tremendous impact he has had improving all aspects of health care for his patients and community. Matt is recognized throughout the state of New Mexico and now, across the nation, for the pathbreaking work he has done in rural northern New Mexico to improve access to mental health and substance use treatment services in a primary care setting. Because of his compassionate and dedicated commitment to his community, he and his life’s work providing care and training the next generation of health care providers, was the subject of a recently released, award winning PBS film, “The Providers”. NARMH is pleased to be able to offer a showing of this film on Wednesday evening, August 28, at 7:30 pm.

(4) Peter G. Beeson Rural Arts Award

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 7:30 AM - 9:10 AM

The National Association for Rural Mental Health established the Rural Arts Award in 2007 to honor the life-long contributions of Peter G. (Pete) Beeson to both rural mental health and the rural arts. Pete is recognized within the association for his masterful writing about rural life and his beautiful photography both of which have graced the pages of many NARMH publications. This year’s recipient is Sarah Elisabeth Brown of Saline, Michigan. She is currently a training specialist/consultant for Howie the Harp Advocacy Center in New York City. Sarah was chosen for her creative playwrighting, teaching and coaching skills which she has used to establish journal writing peer support groups in rural New Mexico and to create a professional stage play, working with peers to tell their stories and educate the public about mental illness. As an Advanced Level WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Facilitator/International Mentor, she has taught and coached peers in in rural areas of New Mexico and other states in the use of WRAP.