Recognizing May 2015 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and honoring the leadership, commitment, and advocacy of Joan Erney and Edie Mannion in service to individuals living with behavioral health conditions and their families.

WHEREAS, One in four people will experience a diagnosable mental health condition within any given year according to the National Institute of Mental Health and six percent will experience severe mental illness; and

WHEREAS, The stigma and discrimination surrounding behavioral health conditions are still barriers to seeking treatment worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Mental health recovery and community inclusion is the driving force behind systems change at the local, state and national levels. Recovery is the belief that individuals with behavioral health conditions can and do recover; they can live meaningful lives in the community and that community inclusion is a fundamental civil right; and

WHEREAS, Recovery is facilitated by relationships and environments that promote hope, empowerment, choices, and opportunities that support people in reaching their full potential as individuals and community members; and

WHEREAS, The Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (MHASP) has been a leader regionally, statewide and nationally in transforming mental health services to become more responsive to the priorities of individuals with mental health challenges and their family members; and

WHEREAS, Joan Erney, a graduate of Penn State University, who received her J.D. from the Widener School of Law, has committed over 25 years to advancing services and supports, and improving policies impacting individuals with behavioral health challenges; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Erney is the current CEO of Community Behavioral Health in Philadelphia and has held top posts within the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (now Department of Human Services). Not surprisingly her accomplishments are many, including: supporting the development of Certified Peer Specialists in the state Medicaid program, expanding the HealthChoices behavioral health carve-out statewide, closing three state hospitals, among others; and

WHEREAS, Edie Mannion, a licensed marriage and family therapist, inspired by her personal experiences as a family member of an individual with behavioral health conditions co-founded the Training and Education Center (TEC) at MHASP in 1985. For 30 years TEC, under Ms. Mannion's leadership, has been providing supportive educational services for family members of adults with behavioral health conditions and training for a broad array of providers, child welfare workers and graduate students; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Mannion has not only provided consultation to organizations such as the Veterans Administration and the New York State Office of Mental Health, as well as university research and training centers, but she has been played an integral role in launching several programs and initiatives, including the Family Resource Network, Parenting Plus, Child and Family Connections, the Family Resource Center at Friends Hospital, TEC's Children's Coping Workshop/Website, and the family peer specialist position at The Well; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby proclaim May 2015 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and honor the leadership, commitment, and advocacy of Joan Erney and Edie Mannion in service to individuals living with behavioral health conditions and their families.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Joan Erney and Edie Mannion, as further evidence the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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