New York State Recognizes New York City Doctor with Lifetime Achievement Award Jean Holland Honored for her Career-Long Commitment to Children’s Mental Health 

Albany, NY –New York State is honoring Dr. Jean Holland, a children’s mental health advocate and provider in New York City, with the 2023 ‘What’s Great in our State’ Lifetime Achievement Award.  

The Lifetime Achievement award is given annually to recognize professionals and volunteers who have shown a lifetime commitment to strengthening the mental health of children, youth, and families. It includes those who have worked in the development, administration, or delivery of mental health services. 

 
Jean Holland has been working in children’s mental health for more than 40 years. She currently serves as Director of New and Special Programs at Northside Center, providing mental health services to underserved children in New York City. She shows us What’s Great in our State by looking for creative and innovative ways to address the needs of each client and helping them build the confidence and resiliency they need to succeed.

“Dr. Holland shows us ‘What’s Great in Our State’ by looking for creative and innovative ways to address the needs of each client and helping them to build confidence and resiliency,” said New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. “She is an asset to the New York City workforce, and we thank her for her hard work and commitment to children’s mental health.”  

 
Holland was presented with the award at the annual ‘What’s Great in our State 2023’ event on May 9. The celebration recognizes the individuals and programs that are successfully advancing the cause of children’s mental health in New York State. 

“I am honored to be recognized by What’s Great in Our State in the lifetime category,” said Dr. Jean Holland.? “My social work career has been in Harlem working first in Harlem Hospital Outpatient Adult and then Child Psychiatry and subsequently, for over 30 years, at Northside Center for Child Development. Northside, founded in 1946 by the pioneering Black psychologists Drs. Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Clark, addresses the challenges of underserved children, tapping into their inherent strengths and engaging their families to help them overcome obstacles and thrive. Northside serves 4,000 Black and Hispanic children every year, supporting them through innovative behavioral health and intervention programs. With these initiatives, we carry forward the legacy of the Clarks, whose vision continues to inform our work as we adapt to the growing needs of our community. I am grateful to Northside for the many opportunities it has given to me to learn and grow in a variety of positions. This was only possible due to the support of our Board, my supervisors, colleagues, and most of all from the children and families we serve.” 

‘What’s Great in Our State’ 

The ‘What’s Great in Our State’ event was first launched in 2010 and is held during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, a national movement that raises awareness about the importance of children’s mental health. The event features a reading of Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement proclaiming the week as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, a ceremony recognizing our honorees, and an art show featuring artwork created by children receiving services from New York State’s mental health system. 

The What’s Great in Our State Conference was especially significant this year, in light of Governor Hochul’s historic, multi-year $1-billion commitment to overhaul and strengthen the state’s continuum of mental health care.

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. 

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In the attached photos: Adrienne Williams-Myers, Program Director at Northside Center for Child Development (center), accepting the Certificate of Recognition on behalf of her colleague Dr. Jean Holland from New York State Office of Mental Health Executive Deputy Commissioner Moira W. Tashjian, MPA (left); and Sarah Kuriakose, PhD, BCBA-D, Associate Commissioner, Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families (far right).

Separate portrait photo: Dr. Jean Holland