RecoveryPeople Annual Awards
In celebration of Recovery Month, RecoveryPeople annually recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions towards supporting recovery from substance use and related mental health challenges.
Timeline:
- Nominations open on June 15th
- Nominations close on August 1st
- Winners announced in September -- Recovery Month!
Award Categories and Criteria
Lifetime Achievement
Lifetime Achievement is awarded to an individual in recognition of their life’s work promoting recovery from substance use and related mental health challenges. Nominations are solicited from the Board and staff. The award recipient must:
- Publicly self identify as a person in recovery from substance use or co-occurring issues and/or an affected family member in recovery; AND
- Demonstrate accomplishments that reflect RecoveryPeople's mission, vision, and values.
Change Maker of the Year
Change Maker of the Year (Formerly known as the Person of the Year Award) is awarded to an individual who may or may not be in recovery themselves and who has made significant and positive change to substance use and related mental health recovery research, rights, access, policy or the ecosystem. Nominations are solicited from the recovery community. The award recipient must:
- Have made a significant and positive change to substance use and related mental health recovery research, rights, access, policy or the ecosystem; AND
- Demonstrate accomplishments that reflect RecoveryPeople's mission, vision, and values.
Peer of the Year
Peer of the Year is awarded to an individual or affected family member that has promoted or directly supported others in recovery from substance use and related mental health challenges using their lived experience and/or recovery support training. Nominations are solicited from the recovery community. The award recipient must:
- Publicly self identify as a person in recovery from substance use or co-occurring issues and/or an affected family member in recovery;
- Be, at the time of the nomination, a recovery advocate, a direct recovery service provider (e.g. Peer Specialist or Recovery House Manager), and/or a recovery workforce instructor or supervisor; AND
- Demonstrate accomplishments that reflect RecoveryPeople's mission, vision, and values.
Media Award of the Year
Media Award of the Year honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions in print, radio, podcasts, video, television, social media and/or online publications that provided information to the general public about substance use and related mental health challenges. Nominations are solicited from the recovery community. The award recipient must:
- Demonstrate leadership in their respective media area by accurately portraying individuals and/or affected family members in recovery from substance use and/or co occurring mental health challenges;
- Responsibly use persons and/or affected family members as resources;
- Decreased stigma, increased understanding or awareness, spread hope of recovery and/or effectively communicate the impact of policy decisions; AND
- Demonstrate accomplishments that reflect RecoveryPeople's mission, vision and values.
2023 Media Award of the Year
PRESS RELEASE Patrick Brown receives RecoveryPeople’s 2023 Media Award of the Year In recognition of his use of media to elevate his voice in media, of lived experience and substance…
2023 Peer of the Year Award
PRESS RELEASE Jessica Ruiz receives RecoveryPeople’s 2023 Peer of the Year Award. In recognition of her direct support to persons in recovery, RecoveryPeople is excited to announce Jessica Ruiz as…
2023 Change Maker of the Year
PRESS RELEASE Dr. Dawn Adkins receives RecoveryPeople’s 2023 Change Maker of the Year Award In recognition of her making significant and positive change to substance use and related mental health…
2023 Lifetime Achievement Award
PRESS RELEASE Dr. Lori Holleran Steiker receives RecoveryPeople’s 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award In recognition of her life’s work promoting recovery, RecoveryPeople is excited to announce Dr. Lori Holleran Steiker as…
2022 Media Award of the Year
PRESS RELEASE Greg Williams receives RecoveryPeople’s 2022 Media Award of the Year In recognition of his use of media to inspire others and to advocate for mental health and substance…