Press Room
Karen Carpenter-Palumbo receives the Ramstad-Kennedy Award for Outstanding Leadership
(6/5/2009
)
New York State Commissioner Honored at National Gathering 
Syracuse, NY (June 5, 2009) – Karen Carpenter-Palumbo, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) was awarded the Ramstad-Kennedy Award for Outstanding Leadership by the National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) Planning Partners at the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors annual meeting today.
“Carpenter-Palumbo is an outspoken, innovative advocate and leader on behalf of recovery and for the people who still need help to recover and their family members,” said Pat Taylor, who made the award on behalf of the Recovery Month Planning Partners. “Her outstanding leadership and commitment include supporting and participating in Recovery Month activities in her state; prioritizing funding for recovery support and embracing the many pathways to recovery.”
The Ramstad-Kennedy Award for Outstanding Leadership was established in 2008 to honor the extraordinary efforts and passionate leadership of the Honorable Jim Ramstad (R-MN-retired) and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) in bringing equity to care for people with addiction and mental illness.
The award is given each year to the head of a state agency overseeing addiction prevention, treatment and recovery services for outstanding support for recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, including each September’s Recovery Month activities and programs.
Recovery Month is celebrating its 20th year of observance this September. This year’s theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Learn, Together We Heal" emphasizes the need to use all available resources, both in our communities and on the Internet, to educate people about the disease of addiction, seek help, and heal. It also celebrates those who have worked to advance the treatment and recovery landscape. Recovery Month is designed to help people understand there is hope and that help for alcohol and drug use disorders is effective and available. More information about Recovery Month can be found at http://www.recoverymonth.gov.
The Recovery Month Planning Partners work in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to carry out activities year round to support recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
Keywords: Ramstad-Kennedy Award, outstanding leadership, Karen Carpenter-Palumbo