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The (317 Board) announced the College of Health Sciences and Professions鈥� (CHSP) Senior Director of Community Relations Rebecca Robison-Miller as the recipient of the Behavioral Health Advocacy Award.

The award, which was presented during the 317 Board鈥檚 in late October, honors community members for their service to the Athens, Hocking, and Vinton county communities and their work in mental health and addiction fields.

Robison-Miller currently leads several community outreach initiatives around aging, substance abuse disorder and health disparity for CHSP in collaboration with a wide variety of community partners. She is also a founding member of , an initiative focused on prevention, education and stigma reduction around substance use disorder.

Robison-Miller also remains involved with several local and statewide initiatives, boards and commissions while serving as an advocate for children鈥檚 issues.

鈥淚 am so grateful to the 317 Board for this award. It is a privilege to work with so many outstanding community partners who are so committed to improving our community. Without them this work would not be possible,鈥� Robison-Miller said. 鈥淚 also want to thank CHSP for supporting and prioritizing important behavioral health issues in our community.鈥�

Dr. Joe Gay, the former executive director of Health Recovery Services and a member of the 317 Board on behalf of Athens County, nominated Robison-Miller for the award and highlighted the impact of her numerous community advocacy efforts during the event. 

鈥淚t's been a pleasure working with you (Robison-Miller) over the past several years on projects, and, serving as coordinator for Athens HOPE, you've shown an exceptional combination of making effective use of a diverse group of membership to make our community a safer and better place,鈥� Gay said.

Gay also thanked CHSP for its community efforts and for sharing Robison-Miller鈥檚 time and expertise with the surrounding area.

鈥淭he events of the past year have served as a strong reminder of the value and importance of community and public health. For efforts to be mobilized it requires people like Rebecca who have spent time building trusted relationships and who can inspire and organize others. I commend Rebecca for the positive impact that her work continues to make across the region,鈥� said Interim CHSP Dean Dr. John McCarthy. 鈥淥ur college is unified in our commitment to improve the health of all individuals within our communities across the lifespan.鈥�

Each year, the 317 Board presents awards to individuals in each of the three counties for their advocacy for and commitment to the community. In 2017, the Mental Health Advocacy Award and Substance Abuse Prevention Award were combined into Behavioral Health Award.

The 317 Board is committed to creating a network of care for people who need treatment for mental illness and/or alcohol and drug addiction. They contract with local agencies to deliver services across Athens, Hocking and Vinton counties and promote educational and prevention programs to raise community awareness of behavioral health issues.