Albany, NY- The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) today announced it’s annual ‘What’s Great in Our State’ event will be held virtually this month. The children’s mental health award ceremony will take place on October 15th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm via WebEx. 

“The 'What’s Great in our State' event is such a beautiful celebration of the amazing work that NY programs, schools, providers and people accomplish every day to improve the lives of our children,” OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “We realize, in a year with more uncertainty than we could have imagined, that holding this celebration of hope and achievement was more important now than ever. We look forward to honoring this year’s dedicated award winners in a safe, virtual platform that will allow even more people to learn about their work and accomplishments. Congratulations to all our honorees.” 

'What’s Great in our State' was first launched in 2010 and is typically held during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week in May. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed and reorganized as a virtual celebration open to anyone who wants to learn more about this year’s award winners. Registration for the Webex event has already started. The Office of Mental Health has also created a Facebook event to promote the celebration.

The event will begin with a slideshow of artwork created specifically for this event by children receiving mental health services in New York State. It continues with words of welcome from the OMH Commissioner and the premier of a newly created ‘What’s Great in our State’ logo. The six award winners will then be featured and attendees will be able to hear from each honoree by video.

2020 What’s Great in our State Honorees:

Family/Caregiver Award:

Michelle Morales - Western New York Region

Youth/Young Adult Award:

Tele Rabii – Capital Region

Organization/ Community Group Award:

Comprehensive Adolescent Rehabilitation and Education Service (CARES) at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital - New York City Region

School/ School District Award:

Plainedge School District – Long Island Region

Systems of Care Award:

Building Resilience in Essex Families (BRIEF) – North Country Region

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Dawn Pascoe and Bryan Mentry- Finger Lakes Region

The event is sponsored by six New York State agencies and several children’s mental health advocacy organizations: The Office of Mental Health, the Council on Children and Families, the Department of Health, the State Education Department, the Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, Early Care & Learning Council, Families Together in New York State, Inc., Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc., National Alliance on Mental Illness - New York State, New York State Network for Youth Success, Prevent Child Abuse New York, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc., and the Suicide Prevention Center of New York.