Hotline’s Baytosh awarded for service

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Diane Baytosh of Help Hotline Crisis Center was recognized as the Mental Health Advocate of the Year by the Mahoning County Mental Health Board at its recent awards meeting.

The Advocate Award is given annually to the individual who best exemplifies advocacy on behalf of individuals struggling with mental-health issues.

Baytosh, who has been with Help Hotline for six years, is a PATH (Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) leader who assists homeless individuals to find community services and suitable housing.

The Specialized Program Award was presented to the Co-Occurring Treatment (COT) program of Meridian Community Care. The program assists dually-diagnosed individuals through a strength-based, nonjudgmental approach to achieve stability and a greater quality of life.

The team consists of Cara Stevens, Lauren Eisenbraun, Megan Handel, Star Blasche, Nancy Pilger and Rebecca Nelis.

The Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Advocacy Award was given to Austintown Police Chief Robert Gavalier for his support and commitment to the board-funded CIT program in Mahoning County.

The program strives to educate and train local police departments on nonviolent interventions for situations involving people with mental-health issues.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court received the program award on behalf of the CARES program (Change, Applying Rehabilitation, Education and Support), which directs individuals charged with a felony and who are suffering from a mental-health disorder into treatment rather than incarceration.

The program’s team includes Magistrate Dennis Sarisky, program coordinator Linda Blum, Jennifer Paris, Bailiff Christine Sweeney, parole officer Donald Jones, case managers Jessy Horkey and Angela Harris, and board representative William Carbonell.

The board’s Eagle Award, which is given to an individual who promotes positive change in the lives of consumers dealing with mental-health issues, was presented to Joseph Saunders.

He has been a spokesman for and supporter of individuals who are in recovery from mental-health issues, and has participated in the training of CIT officers.

Ronald A. Marian is executive director of the mental-health board.