2008 National Recognition Awards
Social Marketing & Evaluation Activities
Review the projects that allowed us to gain National Recognition: Activities
Social Marketing & Communications Awards:
8th Annual Excellence in Community Communications & Outreach Recognition Program. The Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign created the ECCO Recognition Program as an opportunity for communities to share success in social marketing and communications and to learn from the talents, strengths, and accomplishment of their peers. Fifty-two entries were submitted by 22 system of care communities that included the following states (AR, PA, FL, AK, CA, NY,ID, MI, LA, NC, MO, HI, TN, OR, & WY).
Evaluation Awards
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2008 Excellence in Evaluation Recognition Event has awarded Family Voices Network of Erie County two awards. FVN received the highest award in the data use category, a Gold Level, for "Evaluation Data Use and Dissemination" and second highest award in family involvement, a Silver Award, for "Involving Family Members and Youth in Evaluation". Forty-two communities submitted entries to the first ever evaluation recognition event for SAMHSA funded communities. A panel of family members, youth, program partners, and Child, Adolescent & Family Branch representatives judged and selected the final winners. FVN was recognized for outstanding use of the national evaluation data and local evaluation activities, and for involving parent/caregivers and youth in evaluation activities and projects. Congratulations to the entire FVN community for the outstanding work it does on behalf of families and youth!
Press Release
Family Voices Network of Erie County
Receives National Recognition & takes Gold, Silver & Bronze Awards
In Nashville, Tennessee
Buffalo, NY. – July 22, 2008. Erie County Department of Mental Health Children’s Division: Family Voices Network of Erie County received national recognition for their work in social marketing and evaluation at the 8th Annual Excellence in Community Communications & Outreach (ECCO) and in the 2008 Excellence in Evaluation Recognition Programs.
The Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign created the ECCO Recognition Program as an opportunity for communities to share success in social marketing, communications & community outreach; and to learn from the talents, strengths, and accomplishments of their peers.
The Excellence in Evaluation Recognition celebrated outstanding achievements in the evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families program at both the national and local levels.
Family Voices Network is an initiative of Erie County Department of Mental Health and Social Services and Juvenile Justice/Probation and is partly funded by a grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, the University at Buffalo Dept. of Family Medicine provides social marketing and evaluation support services to this initiative.
The National System of Care Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee on July 18, 2008 recognizes funded communities for their work in social marketing & evaluation. Gary M. Blau, Ph.D., Branch Chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services presented the awards.
Family Voices Network of Erie County received:
2008: 8th Annual Excellence in Community Communications & Outreach (Social Marketing)
Gold Awards:
- Community Outreach (Our Voices Count Too Booklet)
- Evaluation Data Use & Dissemination
Silver Awards:
- 2007 National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
- Internal Communications (S.A.C.S. Presentation)
- Involving Family Members and Youth in Evaluation (Social Marketing & Evaluation Team)
Bronze Award:
- Professional Outreach (Community Organization Planning for Awareness Day)
2008 Excellence in Evaluation Recognition Programs:
Gold Award: Evaluation Data Use & Dissemination
Silver Award: Involving Family Members & Youth in Evaluation
Family Voices Network is a countywide referral program in Erie County that works collaboratively with the Department of Social Services providing support for foster care/adoptive services, probation, juvenile justice and mental health for children, youth and families with mental/behavioral health needs. Services and supports are family driven, youth guided, community-based and culturally competent. Since inception, we have served over 1,200 families.