Turner earns BHECN's Champion Award
CHADRON – Chadron State College graduate student Chelsea Turner was honored this week with the Champion Award from the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN). She has worked in mental health services for 11 years and is pursuing licensure in clinical mental health counseling. Annual BHECN awards are given for distinguished service, ambassadorship, and courage to recognize individuals who make a significant impact in the behavioral health field in the state of Nebraska.
Turner is a services coordinator with Western Community Health Resources in Chadron serving the Panhandle. She provides support and resources to patients with severe to persistent mental health diagnoses. She works with several community organizations to make connections between services, consumers, and professional partners. Following graduation, she plans to practice in a therapy setting in the Panhandle.
According to her nomination, Turner regularly goes above and beyond to provide compassion and empathy for her client base, including creating a Community Essentials Pantry, which provides items not covered by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Turner helps patients with eating disorders and enjoys supporting Nebraska's youth.
“This award was truly a surprise and such an honor. I am so humbled to be recognized for the work I do in the mental health field,” Turner said. “I have a strong passion for helping others and mental health services are near and dear to my heart. I feel so blessed and full of gratitude for this honor and I am thankful to those who nominated me.”
BHECN created the Champion Award to recognize professionals who are champions for behavioral health in their community.
"As we were reading through the award recommendations this year, it became clear that an additional award was needed to recognize behavioral health professionals who provide outstanding service to people living with mental illness," said BHECN Ambassador Program Coordinator Ann Kraft.
The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN), pronounced "beacon," was established in 2009 by Legislative Bill 603 to improve access to behavioral health services, for all Nebraskans through the development of a skilled workforce. It is a unique partnership among the state legislature, academic institutions, and community partners to create a statewide workforce solution for the shortage of licensed behavioral health professionals. For more information about BHECN, visit unmc.edu/bhecn.
Category: Campus News, Student Awards & Achievements