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Meridian Staff Honored at 2010 Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards Luncheon

Gainesville, FL - Meridian staff were honored at the 2010 Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards Luncheon, Tuesday, June 8, 2010 held at the Best Western Gateway Grand. Efforts of Meridian staff on joint, interagency projects resulted in increased efficiency and effectiveness, as well as, cost reductions and savings.

The local representatives, members of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council), are meeting to ask for the resources that people with mental illnesses and addiction disorders need to live full and productive lives.

Meridian’s David Murphy, Vice President of Information Technology, Alan Paulin, Director of Outpatient Services, and March Ann Livengood-Peacock, IT Business Analyst, served on a Referral Process Team which developed an Electronic Referral and Reporting Web-Based System. This innovative system will allow for Meridian services delivered to our child welfare agency referred clients to be even more secure, accurate and timely. Through joint efforts by both Meridian and Partnership for Strong Families, building and testing this system throughout the year, the team was awarded with a Davis Productivity Award Plaque.

The safety net in Florida is near collapse and in dire need of stimulus, said Maggie Labarta, President/CEO of Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. The national healthcare reform agenda must include mental health and addiction services, which are vital to keeping us strong, safe and productive.

In addition to the Referral Process Team, Alan Paulin, Meridian’s Director of Outpatient Services, was a part of a 20-member Circuit 3 Foster Care Redesign Team that reduced the number of children in foster care. This team adapted and implemented a plan from DCF Circuit 4 that reduced the number of children in out-of-home care by 53% over two years, well ahead of the 2012 deadline for achieving this milestone. Team members produced the highest reduction statewide in 2009 and saved $2,782,260. Their achievement was presented at the Child Welfare League’s National Conference in January 2010. Their efforts resulted in a Davis Productivity Notable Cash Award.

Since 1989, the Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards have publicly recognized and rewarded state employees and work units (including those with non-government organizations) whose work significantly and measurably increases productivity and promotes innovation to improve the delivery of state services and save money for Florida taxpayers and businesses. Visit http://www.floridataxwatch.org/dpa/index.php for more information about the Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards.

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare’s mission is to promote recovery by offering solutions to those facing mental illnesses, addictions and other social challenges. Meridian partners with law enforcement, schools, health clinics, county government and court services and serves over 20,000 individuals per year in 11 Counties in North Central Florida.