HUNTINGTON -- Two area residents were honored for their efforts to advance mental health and addiction services on Thursday.
The Michael Prestera Award of Excellence was given to Dr. Ron Duerring of Charleston and Debby Hibbard of Kenova as part of the Annual Prestera Centers Board of Director's meeting at River Park Hospital. Other Prestera employees also were recognized for their contributions.
"Our biggest resource at Prestera obviously is our staff," said Bob Hansen, executive director of the Prestera Center for Mental Health Services in Cabell County.
Duerring, the superintendent of Kanawha County Schools, was recognized for his contributions to increasing mental health services for youth and families in Kanawha County. Through his support, Prestera has placed 10 mental health clinicians within the Kanawha school system in the last two years and has been able to offer services to students and families regardless of their ability to pay.
Duerring said he was honored and surprised to receive the award. He said Prestera is filling in the "missing piece" by providing mental health services to area children. He said Prestera currently has a program for Kanawha County middle school students aimed at transitioning them back into regular schools. A similar program with emphasis on drug abuse is also in place at St. Albans High School, and a mental health program is scheduled to open in Kanawha elementary schools this fall, he said.
Hibbard was recognized for her contributions as an advocate for addiction services in the community. Her efforts include persuading local legislators to recognize the need for improving services by creating and replicating the Healing Place locally. The Healing Place is a proposed new drug rehabilitation center in Huntington.
"I advocate for recovery and for increased treatment options in West Virginia. I don't think the public understands that we have a lack of options," Hibbard said.
Hibbard said only an estimated 210 long-term residential treatment beds exist in the state.
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