Ronald Manderscheid, left, is “noted for ... introducing consumer participation in federal workgroups and consumer assessments of the mental health care system,” said NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark, right.

The NASW Foundation in December honored Ronald W. Manderscheid, recipient of its 2009 Ruth Knee/Milton Wittman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health and Mental Health Policy, at a ceremony held in the national office.

Manderscheid is executive director of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Directors and an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“[Manderscheid] is known both nationally and internationally throughout the mental health field as a leader who works with all groups to advance mental health research, care and the well-being of mental health consumers in the community,” NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark said in her introductory remarks.

“He is particularly noted for his work with the consumer and family communities and for introducing consumer participation in federal workgroups and consumer assessments of the mental health care system,” Clark added. “Such assessments are now commonplace in the field.”

After expressing his appreciation to the NASW Foundation for honoring him, Manderscheid devoted his remarks to the topic of health care reform. “The essence of health reform is moving toward social justice,” he told guests, who included family of the late Milton Wittman. He said social workers have a “huge role to play” in making the U.S. health care system more equitable.

Manderscheid was unable to attend the March 2010 ceremony at which the NASW Foundation honored its other 2009 award recipients: Samira K. Beckwith, who received the Ruth Knee/Milton Wittman Award for Lifetime Achievement in Health and Mental Health Practice; and John E. Hansan, who received the International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award for Advancing Public Understanding of the Social Work Profession.

Get more information on the Foundation’s recognition awards and read biographies of the 2009 recipients.