CAROL THIESSEN MOWBRAY, Ph.D.
2005 Harold Hildreth Award Winner
APA Division 18 - Psychologists in Public Service
I am honored to speak on behalf of Carol Thiessen Mowbray, Ph.D. for Public Service Psychology’s highest honor, the Harold Hildreth Award . By way of background and support, let me note that Dr. Mowbray has contributed significantly to the scientific and clinical literature on mental health services for underserved populations throughout her career. Carol has been a pioneer in extending the science and practice of psychology to psychosocial rehabilitation services and settings. She is a positive and active model of psychology for students, consumers and colleagues.
Dr. Mowbray is Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work where she directs the NIMH-funded Center for Research on Poverty, Risk and Mental Health and holds an appointment in the Psychology Department. She is one of the nation’s premier researchers in the area of psychosocial rehabilitation. She has developed and evaluated a range of psychosocial rehabilitation interventions, including assertive community treatment and supported education, programs for adults who are homeless and mentally ill, and consumer-operated services. Carol is past Chair of the USPRA/IAPSRS research committee, former member of the APA CAPP SMI/SED Task Force, and active with the APA Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP).
Much of Dr. Mowbray’s research involves adults who are triply stigmatized due to minority status, low income, and psychiatric histories. Her work has focused on community integration and recovery for adults with serious mental illnesses, especially women; homeless persons; and those with co-occurring substance use disorders. Her research has been supported by NIMH, SAMHSA/Center for Mental Health Services, ACF/National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect, FIPSE in the Department of Education, and the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan. I could go on but I think the best way to convey the breadth of Carol’s career is to simply list the topics her work has addressed.
The list includes edited books on Women and Mental Health, Mental Health Consumers as Providers, Supported Education and Psychiatric Rehabilitation and publications on: Post-Traumatic Therapy for Children who are victims of violence, Child sexual abuse, Supported Education, Enhancing Vocational Outcomes, Research methods, Longitudinal Evaluation, Applying for Research Grants, Systems Change and Response to Change, Homelessness, Long-term disability, Consumer-run health services, Multi-site evaluation, Group homes, Gender and serious mental illness, Supported housing, Homeless shelters, Harbinger - the first replication of the Program of Assertive Community Treatment, Community-based case management services, Dual diagnosis treatment, Improving social work practice, Mothers with mental illness, Adult children of people with mental illness, Coping strategies in supported education, Positive parenting, Consumer satisfaction, Managed behavioral healthcare, Development of fidelity criteria, Community treatment and community psychology, Self-esteem and disability, Club houses and empowerment, as well as Plans and Comments on plans for Michigan State Mental Health.
The gamut of settings, interventions, and innovations in mental health services for the underserved: Education, service, research, evaluation, advocacy, systems change, policy…
We often use the term “cutting edge” when referring to the latest in innovative services, programs or technology. Well, if you were lucky enough to visit the cutting edge and you gingerly worked your way along, keeping your balance, you would near the point that is the very front of the cutting edge. That is where Carol Mowbray has lived most of her career, the place where new ideas are formed, tested and disseminated in ways that affect the lives and possibilities of real people. We can ask no more of a public service psychologist.
It is with utmost respect and admiration that we present the 2005 Harold Hildreth Award to Dr. Carol Thiessen Mowbray.
We had hoped that one of Carol’s sons, Nicholas or Orion, might be able to join us here today to accept this award but they were reluctant to be away and we certainly understand that decision. We wish the family strength and love in these difficult moments.
I spoke with Carol yesterday and asked her what she would like to say to her colleagues. Here is her response:
“Dear friends and colleagues,
Thank you so much for awarding me the Harold Hildreth award, the highest award presented by Division 18 to one of its members. Believe me, I would sincerely rather be here with you all at this convention than where I am now. I consider receipt of the Hildreth Award the highest honor and significant recognition of the importance of psychiatric rehabilitation.
I am honored and grateful.”
Thanks, Carol.