Parent/Professional Advocacy League Gets Prestigious Award, Grant

WESTBOROUGH, MA - From Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital: Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital announces Partners in Excellence, an annual recognition event. The award acknowledges non-profit organizations with a positive standing in the community that share the goals, mission/vision and values of the Hospital; and are positively positioned to impact the lives of those with mental illness or substance use disorders; said Patrick Moallemian, Chief Executive Officer at Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital.

Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is proud to present one of its three 2018 award recipients: Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL). Along with this recognition, the Hospital will present PPAL with a check for $ 2,500 for their general funds at an event held on February 6th at 1:00pm, at 300 Friberg Pkwy, Westborough, MA 01581.

PPAL, is a statewide family-run organization dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children, youth and families through education, advocacy and partnership. PPAL began in 1991, offering support, information and advocacy to a handful of families, who identified their children with mental health needs, and has grown its scope and focus over the years. PPAL now has a vibrant network of more than 5,000 families across the state and this grassroots constituency directs its work. PPAL also provides education and information directly to professionals such as therapists, community based care managers, juvenile justice staff, nurses and school based staff. In addition, PPAL provides training and technical assistance to more than 350 family peer support providers each year. Participation from families with diverse cultural backgrounds is also essential to PPAL. PPAL’s staff is diverse and focused on actively including families from diverse ethnic and cultural populations. Outreach has included more than 200 community meetings and the distribution of materials in multiple languages in order to educate and involve families and community members. PPAL has a long history of collecting demographic information about the families its serves as well as capturing their needs, concerns and perspectives and including that perspective in all its programs.

Photo courtesy of Westborough Behavioral Healthcare Hospital