The Joseph V. Gartlan Award is named in honor of former Senator Gartlan, who was a dedicated legislator and advocate for those Virginians served by the public behavioral health and developmental disability services system. The award was established by VACSB members to honor the many heroes who give of their time and energy to steward long-reaching and timeless improvements in the public system and who share the leadership qualities exemplified by Senator Gartlan.
Now in its 21st year, the criteria for persons nominated who have impacted behavioral health, developmental disability, children and family or prevention services has remained constant.
Nominees are chosen who have:
• Engaged in major achievements that have led directly to improvements in the Virginia public community-based service system through organization, leadership and participation in advocacy initiatives;
• Shared personal vision, leadership and follow-through in the advancement and implementation of specific improvements; or
• Facilitated creative, pioneering efforts in initiating or expanding changes by enrolling others in efforts to accomplish specific changes; or
• Developed new and innovative programs utilizing collaboration and cooperative interaction with multiple agencies supporting the changes.
As the selection committee considered this year’s award, we recognized how dramatically the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted CSBs and those they serve. It felt like choosing just one awardee would fail to recognize how our entire system has risen to the task of keeping people safe and helping them just “do life” in this new, risky and ever-changing environment.
It is for this reason that the selection committee decided to depart from tradition and give the Gartlan Award to YOU…All of you. You are all out there walking Senator Gartlan’s walk and talking his talk every day.
The Selection Committee thanks each of you for your contributions and we hope you’ll enjoy the upcoming presentation which highlights some of the successes you have been able to achieve under extraordinary circumstances.