Kennebec Behavioral Health Received Pro Patria Award

Kennebec Behavioral Health (KBH) has been awarded the Pro Patria Award from the Maine ESGR (Employers in Support of Guard and Reserve) Committee. ESGR, a program of the Department of Defense, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States.

 

The Pro Patria Award is presented annually to a public sector employer that has demonstrated the greatest support to Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and practices, including adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve. This is the highest level award that may be bestowed by an ESGR State Committee.

 

KBH’s Access Center Director, Dennis Dix is a Captain in the US Army Reserve Medical Services. CPT Dix originated the nomination of KBH for the award. “KBH has policies in place to protect employment, retirement, leave earnings, as well as support to ensure continuity of healthcare coverage. The support goes above and beyond expectations. I am routinely called upon to engage in special health care missions, including behavioral health care following a military related sentinel event, suicide prevent briefings, or to enhance access to care where shortages exist due to a lack of providers or an increase in demand for service. KBH has always supported my availability to the needs of our military, while consistently supporting behavioral health care efforts and improvements in care quality to our Service Members and Families”.

 

Josh Scoggins, state chairperson for the Maine ESGR presented the award to Kennebec Behavioral Health during a ceremony at Camp Keyes in Augusta. “Serving in the Guard or Reserve and having a civilian employer can be challenging for both the service member as well as the employer” stated Scoggins. “Having civilian supervisors supportive of their employee’s military service is a vital part of the continued success of our nation’s military”. Paramount to ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce. According to Scoggins, Kennebec Behavioral Health was selected because agency leadership has demonstrated the greatest support to veterans, Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and enabling practices, including adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve. “This award reflects the exceptional support Kennebec Behavioral Health has provided their employees who have answered and continue to answer their nation's call to service as a member of the Guard and Reserve” he stated.

 

Tom McAdam, KBH chief executive officer expressed his heartfelt appreciation that KBH was selected as this year’s Pro Patria Award recipient. “It is an honor for us to receive this recognition and a privilege for our organization to be able to support our staff members who are actively in the military. It’s an opportunity for us to serve through supporting our staff who are serving our country” stated McAdam.

 

Kennebec Behavioral Health was founded in 1960 and operates clinics in Waterville, Skowhegan, Winthrop and Augusta. For more information, or to schedule an appointment for any KBH service, call 1-888-322-2136. Information can also be found at www.kbhmaine.org.

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