April 2, 2010

Caroline Haskell, CSU Monterey Bay's director of health and wellness services, is this year's recipient of the Jay Foss Clinical Services Award given by the Monterey County Mental Health Commission.

The award is bestowed annually to practitioners who have provided outstanding mental health services in the local community. It is named for the late Jay Foss, a former member of the commission.

Ms. Haskell will receive the award May 20 at the sixth annual Fiesta of Hope, a community event that raises awareness of the resources, treatment options and support available for those touched by mental health issues in Monterey County. The dinner will be held at the Embassy Suites in Seaside.

A staff member of the university since 1996, she is the founding director of the Personal Growth and Counseling Center and currently oversees all campus health and wellness services, including the PGCC, the campus Health Center and the office of Student Disability Resources. She provides counseling and psychological services for students, staff, and faculty and is an adjunct faculty member.

Ms. Haskell earned an M.S. in social work from Columbia University School of Social Work and a B.A. in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley. She is a licensed clinical social worker with the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners and a Board Certified Diplomate with the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work.

University staff members Barbara Sayad, Flo Miller, Gary Rodriguez, Margaret Keith and Lynne White Dixon signed the nomination letter, along with Dr. James Lake, a local psychiatrist, and Mary Lounsbury, a psychologist at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

"We have witnessed her extraordinary professionalism, creativity, leadership and demeanor. In our opinion, Caroline has demonstrated advocacy, integrity, clinical skills and passion .... She is extremely capable and resourceful as a clinician and administrator," the letter said.Separate letters of nomination were also sent by campus VP for Student Affairs Patricia Cardenas-Adame, Dean of the College of Professional Studies Brian Simmons, Director of Student Housing and Residential Life Don Yackley and Police Commander Earl Lawson. Several community members submitted individual letters as well.

Monterey County Superior Court Judge Adrienne Grover will be the featured speaker at the 7 p.m. dinner. She will talk on "Finding Hope in the Criminal Courts." Tickets are $45 and reservation deadline is May 1. To reserve tickets, call Janet Barajas of Monterey County's Health Department's Behavioral Health Division at 755-4856.