Nashville, TN- The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Creating Homes Initiative (CHI) was recently chosen as the honored recipient of the 2002 National Lilly Reintegration Housing Award.

The Lilly Reintegration Awards, presented October 12 in New York City, are sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company and recognize healthcare professionals and patient advocates who have made outstanding contributions in helping people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to reintegrate into their communities.

The Creating Homes Initiative, a targeted, grassroots, local community, multi-agency collaborative operated by the department’s Office of Housing Planning and Development (OHPD), has

spearheaded the DMHDD’s expressed mission to develop and expand permanent housing options and services for people with mental illness. Established in August 2000, CHI has since assisted over 1680 Tennesseans find appropriate, permanent housing options.

Marie Williams, L.C.S.W., director of the OHPD, noted that the first place award was not the result of any singular effort, but the overall contribution of many dedicated people and organizations across the state.

"To be singled out for this award is an honor and it belongs to everyone who has contributed their time, energy and funding toward the realization of our goals," Williams said. "This is a team effort and with hard work we’ll continue our successes."

Elisabeth Rukeyser, commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities stressed the importance of CHI and its ongoing quest of providing safe, decent, quality, permanent and affordable housing options for people with mental illness.

"We are extremely honored to receive such a prestigious award," Rukeyser said. "But we cannot rest on our laurels. The lack of appropriate housing for people with mental illness remains a major problem in Tennessee. We must continue our efforts and work with individuals and communities to remedy this problem."

First place award winners received $5,000. Williams said this money would be put toward an upcoming anti-discrimination/stigma campaign.

"We need to continually let people know that it’s not ok to shun those with mental illness," Williams said. "This money will help further our goals and initiatives."

The Lilly Reintegration Awards were judged by an independent panel of psychiatric care professionals according to each program’s planning, execution, outcomes/evaluation and importance. The national awards were broken into six categories: advocacy, clinical medicine, education, housing, occupation and social support/rehabilitation. In all, 15 awards were presented with two winners in each of the six categories. In addition, three honorary awards were also handed out.

Among the winners of the 2002 Lilly Reintegration Awards were New York Governor George E. Pataki; John Milnor, distinguished professor and friend to Nobel Laureate John Nash; and MTV.

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