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National Recovery Month Planning Partners Honors Kathy Stone,
Director of Addiction in the Iowa Department of Public Health, with Ramstad/Kennedy Award for Outstanding Leadership
The Single State Authority for the state of Iowa is honored for outstanding leadership in supporting addiction recovery and Recovery Month in promoting systemic change within the state.
Washington, DC (August 10, 2016) – The ninth Annual Ramstad/Kennedy Award for outstanding leadership recognizes Kathy Stone, the Director of Addiction in the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the extraordinary impact of the Single State Authority for the state of Iowa for her leadership in recovery support programs across her state and nationally. The award was established in honor of Congressmen Jim Ramstad and Patrick Kennedy. The two Congressmen have become vocal advocates of recovery treatment in all forms, and championed localized efforts to support prevention, treatment and recovery.
"I'm so grateful for the stewardship of this prize and honored that it recognizes the work Jim and I did together on behalf of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. All of the recipients including Kathy Stone have been champions of recovery for not just those suffering from a Substance Use Disorder but also for all their family members who themselves are affected by the family disease of addiction," said Honorable Patrick Kennedy (D-RI-ret).
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes that long-term recovery is not only possible, but is the goal of addiction and mental illness treatment and support programs. The 2016 honoree has worked to spread this positive message and the message that prevention can be effective in helping to break the cycle of addiction in families.
Kathy is recognized for her leadership and untiring spirit for the field, the state and most importantly for those whose lives have been touched by substance use disorders. “ Kathy has been continually supportive of Recovery Month activities, elevating the recovery conversation to a year-round recognition. She has worked to engage state agencies and create change, statewide, that will provide enduring resources for residents and encourage recovery for the future benefit of Iowa families and communities,” said Sis Wenger, National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), a Recovery Month partner.
“Together in partnership with the dedicated organizations who comprise the Recovery Month Planning Partners, recovery success stories have become commonplace, in part because of Kathy’s on-going and exceptional commitment,” Wenger continued.
“The recipient of the Ramstad/Kennedy award embodies the innovation of a leader dedicated to support prevention, treatment and recovery in their community. On behalf of over 100 collaborating organizations in the Recovery Month Planning Partners, we congratulate Kathy Stone,” said Recovery Month partner Marie Gallo Dyak, Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.
Both Retired Minnesota 3rd district representative Jim Ramstad and Retired Rhode Island 1st district representative Patrick J. Kennedy also championed a mental health parity law in 2008 requiring easily accessible health insurance coverage for mental illness and addiction treatment. Together the Congressmen have sponsored Recovery Month and other programs to further therapy, treatment and recovery services for these illnesses across the country. The award in their names honors a recipient who has shown upmost commitment in expanding the prospects for recovery of addicted persons and their families and for persons with mental illnesses.
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Media Contact:
Sis Wenger
President/ CEO National Association For Children of Alcoholics
@SWenger@nacoa.org
Marie Gallo Dyak
President/ CEO Entertainment Industries Council
@mgdyak@eiconline.org
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