NAMI Michigan and New Oakland Family Centers Highlight a Career Devoted to Game-Changing Mental Health Policy and Advocacy 

Detroit, MI (April 9, 2022) — Recognizing a career of outstanding public service that has included an extraordinary commitment to the cause of mental health care and awareness, NAMI Michigan and New Oakland Family Centers today announced US Senator Debbie Stabenow as the recipient of the 2022 NAMI Michigan I. B. Sendi Lifetime Achievement award.

Presented at the 2022 NAMI Michigan Honors gala banquet in Detroit, NAMI Michigan, and New Oakland jointly developed the I. B. Sendi Award to recognize careers of distinguished achievement in from across the wide spectrum of disciplines involved in the advancement of mental health care and advocacy. 

“This award is so meaningful to me. I have been passionate about creating health care parity between mental health and physical health care my entire career. I am heartened by the progress we have made in addressing the stigma around mental health and in getting people the help they need in the community,” said Senator Stabenow. “I want to thank NAMI Michigan and New Oakland Family Centers for being such strong partners over the years and for recognizing my work, as well as the work of so many advocates, families, and providers who are on the front lines in providing care every day.”

From the beginning, Sen. Stabenow’s career has emphasized the importance of mental health care in the lives of the people she has served. 

She received both a bachelor’s degree and Master of Social Work degree from Michigan State University. She worked with youth in the public schools before running for public office. 

For five of her 12 years in the Michigan House of Representatives, Stabenow chaired the Mental Health Committee for five years and wrote the Children’s Mental Health Act. 

Since her election to the U.S. Senate in 2000, she has authored the provision of the 2010 Affordable Care Act that requires all plans in states’ health insurance marketplaces to offer mental health and substance abuse services at the same level as other health services. Since that time, she has co-sponsored a number of important initiatives dedicated to increasing the quality of and access to mental health services in Michigan and across the country. 

Most recently, Sen. Stabenow has been the driving force behind the transformational Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) initiative a federal project that funds mental health and addiction services at community health clinics. Ten states, including Michigan, are participating in the full CCBHC program 

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to recognize Sen. Stabenow’s lifetime of work and commitment to the cause of mental health care and awareness,” said Kevin Fischer, Executive Director of NAMI Michigan. “This may be a ‘lifetime achievement award,’ but we are looking forward to seeing so many more achievements from this extraordinary public servant and leader.” 

About the I. B. Sendi Lifetime Achievement Award

In late 2019, NAMI and New Oakland Family Centers worked together to create an annual career achievement recognition program. That effort that resulted in the I. B. Sendi Lifetime Achievement Award, named in honor of New Oakland founder Dr. Ismail Sendi, one of our region’s leading psychiatrists. 

Dr. Sendi, who passed away in 2015, founded New Oakland Family Centers in 1991 with a vision to provide quality mental health services across Michigan by delivering the right care at the right time. In the 30 years since New Oakland’s founding, the organization has served more than 250,000 Michigan adults, children, and teens helping them address their mental health challenges and needs. 

About NAMI Michigan

NAMI Michigan and its affiliates are dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life for persons, families, and others, who are affected by mental illness, including children with serious emotional disorders, through support, education, advocacy, and research. NAMI Michigan is committed to being the foremost advocate at the state level for persons affected by mental illness, including children with serious emotional disorders, and the leading proponent on consumer and family involvement in care, treatment, and recovery. The organization seeks to strengthen local affiliates to provide support, education, and advocacy in their communities and influence public policy, and coordinate affiliate, family, and consumer involvement to influence our public policy across Michigan. Find NAMI at www.namimi.org. 

About New Oakland Family Centers

New Oakland is among Michigan’s leading provider of mental health and substance abuse services. New Oakland seeks to provide individuals with acute mental health needs with alternatives to inpatient psychiatric hospitalization that help children, adolescents, adults, and families through challenging mental health related issues. In addition, New Oakland provides traditional outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment, psychiatric partial hospitalization and day programs, intensive crisis stabilization services (ICSS), and in-home services at 15 uniquely positioned, modern facilities. New Oakland has been serving the needs of adults, adolescents, children, and their families since 1991. Find New Oakland on the web at www.NewOakland.org.

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