Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center will present the 2019 Help is Here Award to Senator Patrick Leahy at its annual Help is Here Award Celebration on October 11. The award honors an individual whose contributions personify Howard Center’s mission and demonstrate a passion for those served by the organization. As a distinguished statesman, Senator Leahy’s over forty years of service in the US Senate has always focused on improving the lives of Vermonters, the cornerstone of Howard Center’s mission.
Senator Leahy said: “This recognition from Howard Center is an honor, and it’s personally so meaningful to me. Like all Vermonters, I’m grateful for their commitment to helping thousands of Vermonters who are affected by mental health conditions, substance use, and developmental disabilities. Howard Center has long been a leader in meeting the needs of our communities, and those needs are far more diverse and challenging today than they were even a decade ago. The team at Howard Center shows us how it can be done, and I am proud to support their vital work.”
Senator Leahy was elected in 1974 and is currently the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, the senior-most member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He is also the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department, Foreign Operations and Related Programs and ranks first in seniority in the Senate.
Senator Leahy has made it a priority to deliver significant funding to Vermont—and the nation—to address substance use disorder and to support those who are providing critical substance use and mental health services. At a recent hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy, who has worked tirelessly with his Senate colleagues said, “It is no coincidence that Vermont has a higher number of residents in treatment programs, per capita, than any other state, and that those seeking treatment in the hub and spoke system have lower rates of incarceration, hospitalizations and emergency department use. It (was done) through years of work to reduce the stigma surrounding treatment, educate health care providers, make federal investments in Medicaid, and develop a treatment and recovery infrastructure that works for rural communities across the state.”
“We are honored to present Senator Leahy with the Help is Here award and thank him for his extraordinary contributions to Vermonters and the nation,” says Bob Bick, Chief Executive Officer at Howard Center. “He’s been a long-time supporter of Howard Center and its work. Last year Senator Leahy was instrumental in supporting federal funding which allowed Howard Center to implement low barrier access for opiate use treatment, another critical program to help curb the Vermont epidemic and save lives.”
The award will be presented at the fourth annual Help is Here Award celebration on Friday, October 11 at the University of Vermont Alumni House.
ABOUT HOWARD CENTER: Howard Center has a long and rich history as a trusted provider in the community. With a legacy spanning more than 150 years, we have been providing progressive, compassionate, high-quality care and supports to those in need. Today, we offer an array of mental health, substance use, and developmental services across the lifespan. As Vermont’s largest social service organization, our 1,600 staff help more than 16,000 people each year in over 60 locations throughout Vermont in collaboration with hundreds of community partners. Howard Center’s 24/7/365 crisis service, First Call for Chittenden County, is available to meet the needs of Chittenden County children, adults, and families in crisis by calling 802-488-7777. Howard Center is a funded agency of United Way of Northwest Vermont. www.howardcenter.org. Help is here.
Howard Center, the recipient of the 2019 Excellence in Addictions Treatment Award from the National Council for Behavioral Health, is a regional and national leader in mental health and substance use treatment, most recently known for the creation of the hub and spoke model for opioid treatment and committed to improving access to quality care that is inclusive and available for all community members.
Source: Howard Center