Mental Health/Recovery Director earns state honor

Psychologists from across Ohio have chosen Dr. Joel Mowrey, executive director of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County, to receive the group’s 2013 Ohio Psychological Association’s Public Sector Psychologist of the Year Award. 

“Dr. Mowrey has devoted his professional career to many roles in the public sector: clinician, teacher, intern supervisor and administrator,” the association’s public sector committee stated in announcing the award. “He has been extremely active in community outreach through teaching and support of the National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI).”

Joining the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County in March 2008 as associate director, Dr. Mowrey has had a significant impact on area services in planning and monitoring mental health and addiction services in the county, according to the Public Sector Committee of the association, which has 1,600 members.

Mowrey’s particular support for suicide prevention and persons with serious mental illness and development disabilities also was cited by the committee. He became the executive director in July 2012.

“I’m honored to receive this prestigious award and humbled that receiving it also honors the fine work of the community members and staff of the Mental Health & Recovery Board,” said Dr. Mowrey.

“It also demonstrates that local government agencies like our board, with the help of community partners, can successfully plan and fund critical local services that benefit citizens,” Mowrey added.

The Mental Health & Recovery Board plans, funds and monitors public mental health services, addiction treatment and 24-hour crisis services for Portage County residents. Services are funded through a network of community agencies: Coleman Professional Services, Townhall II, Children’s Advantage and Family and Community Services. Funded mostly by levies, the MHRB has a 1-mill renewal levy on the November ballot, Issue 3.

Dr. Mowrey traveled to the state Ohio Psychological Association’s annual conference Nov. 1 to receive the award. A Ph.D. graduate from Bowling Green State University, Dr. Mowrey is an adjunct assistant professor of psychology at Kent State and Ashland Universities and an assistant professor of psychology in psychiatry at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).  He currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Akron Area Professional Psychologists (AAPP).

Mowrey joined the MHRB staff after working as the clinical director for Children’s Advantage, a mental health center for children, teens and families in Portage County. He is well-known to many in Portage County as a professional who focuses on achieving what is best for individuals with mental illness and addictions.  A Cuyahoga Falls resident, Mowrey is a licensed clinical psychologist.  He completed his internship at Duke University Medical Center.