Broward County’s “One Community Partnership” recognized nationally for excellence in communications and outreach
FT. LAUDERDALE – The Broward County/One Community Partnership collaborative was nationally recognized for achievement in communications at the 2007 Excellence in Community Communications and Outreach (ECCO) recognition event, August 3 in New Orleans. ECCO recognizes communications achievements that promote children’s mental health.
The One Community Partnership competed with 60 entries submitted by mental health professionals and child advocates from across the country. Their program, “Healthy Minds for Healthy Children – May is Mental Health Awareness Month Family Celebration,” took first- place honors in the category “National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.” All entries were peer-judged. Criteria included consideration of planning, cultural competence/family involvement, message, execution, presentation, creativity, audience, effectiveness and evaluation.
“We are extremely honored by this award. It reflects the commitment and dedication from One Community Partnership and our community’s system of care partners in recognizing the achievement of a family friendly, family focused comprehensive mental health system for children and their families,” said Scott Silverman, Broward County – One Community Partnership Grant Project Director. One Community Partnership also received a first place “gold” ECCO award for their Mental Health Awareness Day event in 2006.
The One Community Partnership is a six-year, grant-funded project in its fifth year of development. The purpose of the project is to create a behavioral health system of care for severely emotionally disturbed youth and their families. The One Community Partnership collaborative consists of child-serving agencies, families, youth and advocates including: Broward County Government, Children’s Services Council, Florida Mental Health Institute (University of Florida), Smith Community Mental Health, The Mental Health Association of Broward County, the School Board of Broward County/SEDNET, the Department of Juvenile Justice, ChildNet, Florida Department of Children and Families, Henderson Mental Health Center, Nova Southeastern University, community mental health/behavioral health providers, local businesses, municipalities and organizations.
Important tenets of the program are that families and youth have choices, including a voice in the selection of services and treatment for mental health concerns. Services provided are culturally and linguistically competent.
ECCOs were awarded in the following categories: Media Outreach; Community Outreach- Parents & Caregivers; Community Outreach – Children & Youth; Professional Outreach; Partnership Development, Communications Planning; Communications Training; Video Production; and Local Efforts conducted as part of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
ECCO is sponsored by the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Program for Children and Their Families, of the Federal Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It celebrates the talents, strengths and successes of communities that are part of a CMHS program to build community-based “systems of care” for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families.
