Scanlan Center for School Mental Health
2022 Iowa School Mental Health Awards

Nominations open for the inaugural Iowa School Mental Health Awards 

News

Today, the Iowa Center for School Mental Health announced the launch of the inaugural Iowa School Mental Health Awards. 

The awards program celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to cultivating a positive mental health culture within an Iowa PreK-12 school, district, college/university, or community organization. 

Nominations are now open until June 30, 2022, in three award categories: 

#1 Iowa School Mental Health Hero 

This award honors a practitioner, researcher, educator, or community partner for their defining contribution to school mental health in Iowa. This individual has demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to expanding, promoting, and strengthening mental health and wellness supports within their school, district, institution, or organization resulting in positive outcomes.

#2 School Wellness Warrior Award 

To have thriving students, we must first have thriving educators. The School Wellness Warrior Award recognizes an individual for their outstanding efforts around school employee wellness. The recipient of this award has been instrumental in furthering a school, district, or institution’s employee wellness initiatives; helping teachers, faculty, or staff reach a heightened level of well-being (e.g., physical, mental, spiritual, behavioral). A Wellness Warrior’s spirit is contagious, spreading adoption of and engagement in a healthier work and learning environment. 

#3 Mental Health Influencer of the Year Student Award

This award tributes a visionary youth leader who lends their voice and talents to advancing mental health awareness and initiatives. This student’s efforts have influenced decision-makers or policymakers to expand mental health supports within their school, district, region, or state. To qualify for this award, nominees must be enrolled in one of Iowa’s PreK-12 schools during the 2021-22 school year.

Honorees will receive: 

  • Recognition at the 2022 Iowa BEST Summit, the state’s largest gathering of school mental health innovators and leaders, which will take place in Fall 2022
  • Feature package highlighting their award-worthy work
  • $500 gift card 

“We are thrilled to spotlight school mental health champions and advocates making a difference in their classrooms and school communities,” said Allison Bruhn, executive director for the Iowa Center for School Mental Health. “By sharing their stories, we hope to shed light on the importance of mental health and well-being in Iowa schools and beyond, while also inspiring others to lead.”

A committee comprised of leading researchers, practitioners, and school mental health advocates will evaluate the nomination packages and select the awardees according to the below timeline: 

  • May 1 – June 30, 2022: Nominations are open
  • July 1 – August 15, 2022: Awards Committee reviews nominations
  • August 15 – September 30, 2022: Nominees and awardees notified
  • Fall 2022: Awards presentation at the 2022 Iowa BEST Summit

Click HERE to nominate an individual for one of the three awards.