Mental Health Expert Colleen Cicchetti, PhD, Among Honorees at NAMI Chicago Benefit

Dr. Colleen Cicchetti, PhD, Clinical Psychologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, is being honored with the Public Educator of the Year Award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for her service, leadership, and positive contributions to children’s mental health.

“Dr. Cicchetti’s innovative and comprehensive practices bridge a gap between services, professionals and children who need support,” said Alexa James, NAMI’s Executive Director.  “During her career, she has focused on developing and advancing strategies to connect children with mental health services and to equip providers such as social workers and teachers with the tools they need to identify children and youth who need intervention.”

Dr. Cicchetti founded the Center for Childhood Resilience (formerly known as the Community-Linked Mental Health Services Program) in 2004, where she is the Executive Director.  Her leadership has led to positive changes benefitting families across the nation. Dr. Cicchetti also has worked as a Clinical Psychologist at Lurie Children’s for more than 25 years.

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. The award will be presented at its 2018 Light the Darkness dinner on April 19^th  at The Geraghty in Chicago. The Light the Darkness dinner is an annual event to honor individuals making a difference in the mental health community, and to celebrate the lives of those impacted by mental illness.