The Montgomery County Behavioral Health/Developmental Disabilities recently honored Berta Britz and Betsy Gorski of RHD's Consultants in Context (CIC) at the department's annual Mental Health Luncheon.
Both women received awards for outstanding service and leadership in Montgomery County.
Britz won the Mental Health Recognition Award. At the ceremony, she was honored as "an amazing woman who shares her experience, strength and hope with all those who cross her path. Her humble presence is one of her truest gifts. She offers a tremendous amount of personal support by sharing her own struggle, and perpetuates the hope that recovery is possible for all. Her leadership in the internship program has allowed other peers to experience recovery in a way they never thought possible."
The department's Dr. Miller Award went to Consultants in Context director Betsy Gorski. Gorski's work in the mental health system has spanned more than three decades. After earning her Master’s in Social Work and Social Research she began her work as a therapist. In several roles through her career, she has showed a strong commitment to making sure that people are treated with dignity and respect. She has dedicated her life and her talents to working to assure that people who participate in services in the MH system receive the best treatment and supports possible.
Gorski was particularly cited for her role in the transformation to a recovery-oriented system of trauma-informed care. Her headlong leap into a person-driven, recovery-based approach to engaging people who experience mental health and co-occurring challenges has been remarkable. She not only believes recovery is possible, she demonstrates daily her commitment to it.
Gorski worked to ensure that services are helpful and effective and that the recovery values in we are all invested are demonstrated in the day-to-day work of our system. She devoted long hours to developing trainings for people in recovery, family members and mental health service providers.
Gorski led the way in gathering information and learning early in the County’s Journey of Hope Partnership for Recovery and played a pivotal leadership role in the transformation of case management to recovery coaching.
In her current role as Director of RHD's Consultants in Context, she has worked tirelessly to improve opportunities for growth for people living in the state hospital and in the community. Gorski is widely recognized for her outstanding understanding of recovery principles as well as ideas about how to translate them into action.
RHD's Consultants in Context works to support the recovery transformation of service systems through on-site consultation, training and technical assistance throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Our staff includes people whose training and experience support a holistic approach to recovery including peer specialists, psychiatric rehabilitation practitioners, nurses, certified addiction counselors, and licensed clinicians. Areas of specialty include peer support delivery and supervision, recovery planning, Wellness Recovery Action Planning, co-occurring and trauma informed services.
The Montgomery County Behavioral Health/Developmental Disabilities Department is an organization that strives to enrich the lives of people in a positive way, through a unique partnership with the community that ensures quality services.
Betsy Gorski of RHD's Consultants in Context speaks at the Montgomery County Behavioral Health/Developmental Disabilities annual Mental Health Award Luncheon