HowardCenter First Call Director, Charlotte McCorkel, is one of 25 participants chosen nationwide to participate in the National Council for Behavioral Health’s 2014-2015 Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program.
The National Council’s Leadership Program offers a forum for mental health and addiction recovery professionals to enhance their leadership skills and knowledge regarding change strategies to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes.
Throughout the 12-month-long program, McCorkel will complete a project that addresses health disparities within children’s mental health and crisis work. The program includes a series of coaching sessions, webinars, and paid travel to Oregon, Florida, and Washington, D.C., to meet with National Council leaders and other recipients and to share project progress. The program is an opportunity to examine community needs and develop leadership skills to share with colleagues within HowardCenter and community. McCorkel says, “This is a tremendous honor. I very much look forward to furthering the conversation about connecting health and mental health, joining with leaders on a national level, and bringing the experience back to Vermont.”
McCorkel has a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and holds an LICSW in Vermont. She has been with First Call, HowardCenter’s 24/7/365 Crisis Service for Children and Families, since 2008 and the Director since 2013. She lives in Burlington.
Last year, First Call provided support to 2,305 children and families who were experiencing a crisis in Chittenden County.
HowardCenter offers life-saving professional crisis and counseling services to children and adults; supportive services to individuals with autism and developmental disabilities who need help with education, employment, and life maintenance skills; counseling and medical services for those struggling with substance abuse, and intensive interventions for adults with serious and persistent mental health challenges. The agency serves 15,000 clients and other community members each year. HowardCenter is a funded agency of United Way of Chittenden County.