Addiction and mental health programs that exemplify best practices in support of direct-care staff are eligible for the Behavioral Health Pacesetter Award, which will be given by the Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce.

Using a grant from the Hitachi Foundation, the coalition's year-long “Better Jobs, Better Services, and Better Business” project is designed to improve workforce practices that strengthen business performance and bottom line results; work life, skills, and economic advancement among direct support employees; and client outcomes based on the organization's delivery of high quality services and supports.

“During the coming months, The Annapolis Coalition will reach out to a broad range of employer organizations to identify those that demonstrate success across the three criteria,” according to the group. “A small number will be formally recognized, and their successful strategies highlighted nationally.  The goal is to shed light on promising innovations, to prominently recognize exemplary employers, and to promote the replication and dissemination of these successful business practices.”

Application deadline is May 14. For more details, see the foundation website.