Mental health service leaders recognized
Public servants and leaders in mental health care in Arkansas were recognized Wednesday during the 45th Behavioral Health Institute at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
The Mental Health Council of Arkansas presented awards to seven honorees during an awards luncheon in Horner Hall. The three-day conference will conclude after the final sessions this afternoon.
Two Legislative Awards were presented to state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, R-District 33, and Clarke Tucker, D-District 35, for their work on the Criminal Justice Efficiency and Safety Act of 2017, an omnibus crime bill aimed at curbing the state’s prison population and increasing public safety. Hutchinson and Tucker
sponsored the Senate Bill 136 in their respective houses of the General Assembly, along with state Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-District 6.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Act 423 into law in March. The act establishes three regional mental health crisis stabilization centers and the governor committed $5 million to support the facilities, which are meant to “provide evaluation and treatment of those suspected by law enforcement officers to be in need of mental health treatment.”
The bill was the result of two years of bipartisan collaboration by the Legislative Criminal Justice Task Force and the Council of State Governments. Hutchinson chaired the task force on parole and probation reform. Tucker chaired the task force on mental health access and treatment.
“I always give Sen. Hutchinson a hard time because his side was pretty controversial, but mine enjoyed basically unanimous support,” Tucker said.
Steve Newsome chaired the MHCA’s legislative committee for the past two years and was appointed by the governor to the Criminal Justice Task Force. He retired in May as president and CEO of Counseling Associates and served in various roles, including president and executive committee member, for the MHCA during the past three decades.
“We had a perfect storm in 2014,” Newsome said. “The cost to build other prisons — more prisons and more prison beds — was a major issue. We had the highest incarceration rates in the country and those were going up. We had to do something.
“In two years time, with the two chairs of those task force groups, we were able to put together a plan.”
Newsome credited Hutchinson and Tucker for their leadership, vision and collaboration. The task force held three criminal justice summits and introduced a host of reforms, such as crisis intervention training for law enforcement to recognize the mentally ill and avoid potentially dangerous confrontations.
“We got a heck of a lot done in two years time,” Newsome said. “I could not be prouder. I have a great deal of respect for both of them.
“We do not always give the Legislative Awards. We meet every year, but several years have gone by where we have not done this. It has to be earned.”
Tucker credited the governor and fellow legislators for their work on the law. He said his grandfather was the state’s third pediatrician and one of his passions was mental health for children.
“When you’re talking about the 1950s, that was really cutting edge stuff at the time,” Tucker said. “He passed that down along to me. I knew when I went into public service, this is an issue I wanted to work on.”
Tucker said the state can still improve in many areas of mental health care and treatment. He said treatment keeps those in need of care out of prison and decreases recidivism.
Circuit Judge Victor Hill received the 2017 Community Service Award for his work on the bench in the Second Judicial Circuit of Arkansas. The award is presented to those who make significant contributions of their time and hard work on behalf of persons with mental illness.
Newsome also received a 2017 John C. Stockburger Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals for career-long contributions to community health services in the state. He relocated with his wife to Hot Springs following his retirement in May.
MHCA President Doug Stadter said the Stockburger Award is also not presented every year, but three recipients were recognized Wednesday. Recent retirees Bonnie White, former CEO of Mid-South Health Systems in eastern Arkansas, and Jim West, former CEO of Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center, were also honored. The three recipients amassed a combined 127 years in mental and behavioral health services.
Jack Keathley, president-elect and institute chair, presented Stadter with the Outgoing President’s Award as he concludes his third term as president.
“It is more change, I believe, packed into one year than I have seen in my 40 years in mental health in Arkansas,” Stadter said. “But on the positive side of this, I believe the provider-led managed care model allows us as both providers and consumers to have a voice in what we have not had a voice in before. It allows us to be part of a new care system that will include new and innovative services, which have never been paid for in the past, and to better meet the coordinated care to our consumers for all of their health care needs.
“Our work is not easy and, at times, it can be discouraging, but if you look around this room, you know you are not alone.”
Rob Gershon, CEO of Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness, serves on the MHCA Board of Directors. Casey Bright, executive director of Quapaw House, served on the institute committee.