Hamilton Center recognizes mental health, addiction efforts

TERRE HAUTE — Hamilton Center hosted the annual Hamilton Awards on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at the Hulman Center.

The event featured keynote speaker Matt Brooks, the former President and CEO of Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers. Brooks has more than 30 years of experience as a leader in the state in developing comprehensive public health initiatives and behavioral health policy and legislation.

The event highlighted accomplishments made in the 2021 fiscal year and recognized those nominated for a Hamilton Award. This year also marks 50 years of Hamilton Center’s commitment to serving the community’s mental health and addiction needs.

“The theme of 50 years further highlights how far we have come and yet, how much further we have to go,” said Hamilton Center CEO Melvin Burks.

Katherine Hamilton advocated for the inclusion, acceptance and support of those struggling with mental illness in the early 1960s. In this spirit, the Hamilton Center Awards were created to recognize individuals and organizations who have contributed to the cause of mental health and addiction while furthering Hamilton Center’s mission in the community.

Nominees were recognized in volunteer, community and Hamilton Center staff categories. Winners include:

• Volunteer: Jillian Turner and Giana White (Vigo County) for their work toward ending the stigma surrounding mental illness, furthering the conversation on suicide prevention and raising funds to support those efforts. The two created the Color Run to Save Lives held at Fairbanks Park on Nov. 7, 2020, which raised nearly $7,000 and benefited suicide prevention, awareness and education efforts in the community.

• Community: Michael Rentfro of Next Steps Foundation (Vigo County) for his work to encourage, empower and equip those struggling with addictions by building a universal referral network that allows providers to track patients through their mental health and substance use disorder treatment, ensuring that patients receive needed care and support.

• Staff: Art Fuller, executive director of access services at Hamilton Center, for his effort to lead and deploy Hamilton Center’s mobile crisis team, expand access services and deliver high-quality individualized mobile care to consumers, especially those in crisis. Additionally, Fuller has been characterized by his colleagues as the embodiment of a “consumers first” mentality, humble, dedicated and compassionate to all.

Hamilton Center is a regional behavioral health system in Central and West-Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute. Services are provided to children, youth and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants and people who may be struggling with stress, life changes or relationship issues, as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and serious mental illnesses.