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Apalachee Center honors Garrison with Hero Award for behavioral healthcare

For Clay Today
Posted 1/16/25

TALLAHASSEE – Apalachee Center honored three of the state’s champions for behavioral healthcare Monday morning, including Florida Rep. Sam Garrison. The House of Representatives Speaker Designate …

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Apalachee Center honors Garrison with Hero Award for behavioral healthcare


Posted

TALLAHASSEE – Apalachee Center honored three of the state’s champions for behavioral healthcare Monday morning, including Florida Rep. Sam Garrison.

The House of Representatives Speaker Designate joined the Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris and Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young.

“Although Sam calls Clay County home, his work here in the Legislature and his statewide leadership and championship for behavioral health qualify him as a behavioral health community hero in every community in Florida,” Dr. Reeve said. “It’s my great honor to present Apalachee Center’s 2024 Community Hero Award to Speaker Designate Representative Sam Garrison.”

Apalachee Center is the largest comprehensive behavioral healthcare organization in the Big Bend Region, committed to helping North Floridians recover from substance use disorder, mental illness, emotional distress and behavioral challenges. With locations in Leon, Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties, Apalachee Center serves insured and uninsured Floridians living in a 5,500-square-mile area.

"The success of Apalachee Center's mission depends on our community partners and especially on community heroes – those leaders in public life who have championed the expansion and accessibility of behavioral healthcare services," said Jay Reeve, PhD, President and CEO of Apalachee Center and Chair of Florida's Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder. "We are so fortunate in Florida to have the advocacy and support of Representative Garrison, Secretary Harris and Sheriff Young, each of whom has strengthened both local and statewide behavioral healthcare systems and, in doing so, has saved countless lives across this region and Florida.”

Former Florida House Speaker James Harold Thompson, a member of Apalachee Center’s Board of Directors, participated in the awards presentation and imparted knowledge on the future speaker in his speech.

Previous award recipients include Senator Bill Montford, Senior Advisor for White House Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and Former Florida State Representative Alan Williams, Former Florida Rep. and Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Halsey Beshears, Florida Rep. Jason Shoaf and Alison Tant, Florida Sen. Corey Simon and Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil.