Date: March 15, 2004
Contact: Peter Wilson
(202) 336-5910
- or -
Luana Bossolo
(202) 336-5899

American Psychological Association Honors Connecticut State Senator for His Commitment to Mental Health Care

WASHINGTON – The American Psychological Association (APA) awarded Connecticut state Senator Kevin B. Sullivan its 2004 State Legislator of the Year Award for his strong advocacy of mental health care issues and his leadership in achieving comprehensive mental health parity in Connecticut. Sen. Sullivan was honored at a luncheon during APA’s annual State Leadership Conference in Washington, DC.

“State Senator Kevin Sullivan has shown strong leadership by pushing to make Connecticut the first state to broaden its law from partial parity to full parity for mental health coverage. We’re delighted to present this award to someone who has worked to stop discrimination against mental health by achieving real equality in insurance coverage for his state,” said Russ Newman, PhD, JD, American Psychological Association’s executive director for professional practice.

Sullivan’s legislative accomplishments include full parity for mental health coverage, regulation of HMO mental health benefit administrators, state capitalization of increased supportive housing and related services, creation and funding of the statewide Community Mental Health Strategies Board, greater maximization of federal Medicaid rehabilitation option funding for community mental health services, and plans for a new geriatric mental health pilot program.

Senator Sullivan represents the 5th District towns of West Hartford, Bloomfield, Burlington and Farmington. He is currently serving as President Pro Tempore of the Connecticut State Senate. In addition to his 18 years in the state legislature, Senator Sullivan is Vice President for Community and Institutional Relations at Trinity College.

The American Psychological Association (APA), located in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its 53 divisions and its affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science and profession, and as a means of promoting health, education, and human welfare.

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