Lives in the Balance Recognition Awards

Do you know someone who has embraced and implemented the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach? Someone who -- perhaps against tough odds -- has championed the CPS model in his or her home, school, or treatment facility...who’s gone above and beyond to advocate on behalf of behaviorally challenging kids and let others know that the CPS model can help?

It’s time for some recognition!

Each year, Lives in the Balance recognizes educators, clinicians, staff members, and parents for their efforts on behalf of kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and for helping others learn about, embrace, and implement the CPS model. But we need you to tell us who these trailblazers are! And this is the place to do it!

The 2011 award recipients were recognized at the First Annual Lives in the Balance Conference on Collaborative Problem Solving in Augusta, Maine, on November 14, 2011.  Here is a brief description of each recipient:

Kristin Fink is a School Counselor at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Orange, California. Kristin has been central to school-wide implementation of the CPS model, and started a class devoted to helping students learn how to effectively collaborate with school staff and their parents.

Jamie Seeley is an Administrative Assistant from Emerald Hills Elementary School in Bonney Lake, Washington. In her role, Jamie became quite familiar with the kids who were sent to the principal for discipline and started the CPS movement in her school.

Leigh Fahlquist is a primary therapist at Shodair Children’s Hospital in Helena, Montana. Leigh is the co-chair of Shodair’s Collaborative Problem Solving Committee, which meets weekly to discuss CPS implementation, training and evaluation.

Aaron and Wendy Rousseau are parents in South Berwick, Maine. After attending one of Dr. Greene’s training sessions, the Rousseaus became extremely involved with implementing CPS within their daughter’s school (Central School) and have come to believe strongly in the CPS process.

You can meet them all in the Annual Conference section of this website.

We'll be recognizing new Trailblazers every year. To submit a nomination, CLICK HERE.  When filling out the nomination form, you'll be asked to write a narrative describing why you think the nominee should be chosen for a Recognition Award. Be sure to include ways in which the nominee has used or is using the CPS model to better meet the needs of behaviorally challenging kids and how this person has worked or is working to change the ways challenging kids are viewed and to advocate on their behalf. Nominees must be residents of North America. After reviewing all completed nomination submissions, five semi-finalists are selected every year in each of the three categories. Lives in the Balance then contacts each semi-finalist for a personal interview and the Directors of Lives in the Balance choose one award recipient in each category.

So start nominating!  And if you have any questions about the nomination process or Trailblazer Recognition Awards, email us at info@livesinthebalance.org.  

Thanks!