Woodruff Prize
This video was produced by Second Story Productions to illuminate the Woodruff Foundation's history and interests, and to honor the 2008 Woodruff Prize award winner, EDEN, Inc.
2010 Woodruff Prize
The Woodruff Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Woodruff Prize, which seeks to honor and award clinical excellence. The Foundation recognizes the difficult conditions under which front line clinical staff currently works. Increased demands on productivity, heightened documentation requirements, flattened organizations offering fewer chances for promotion, and erosion of morale due to staff cuts have all contributed to difficult working conditions. Further, pressure on agency budgets has limited training and education investments. The Foundation understands that clinicians have now have fewer opportunities to learn new approaches, upgrade skills, familiarize themselves with special populations, or refresh their practice, which ultimately slows the potential for clinical growth and client change.
The Woodruff Foundation therefore wishes to direct the 2010 Woodruff Prize to support the kind of learning opportunities that are limited in this difficult environment. $12,000 will be awarded to a clinical staff member of a Cuyahoga County-based behavioral health organization. The prize will be granted to the agency where the winner works, and split roughly into thirds to pay expenses in these three categories:
- the winner's travel and training costs
- the winner's release time
- other clinical learning, training or development costs at the agency.
Eligibility
Clinical staff members of nonprofit behavioral health agencies that are based in Cuyahoga County and have the treatment of mental illness and/or addiction as their mission are eligible. Eligible staff must have direct interaction with clients and may be case managers, community support workers, social workers, therapists, nurses, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, or physicians. Clinical administrators are eligible for this award, but other managers are not.
Nominations
Candidates must be nominated by a past or present colleague, co-worker, or supervisor. The nomination form asks for information about the candidates' excellence in client care and team communication, and potential to apply the content of the training chosen as an award in their workplace.
Though staff at any level of an organization can submit a nomination, the Executive Director must also sign. This will attest to the agency's support for the worker's participation and commitment to the agency's pursuit of the training the winner chooses.
Selection
Nomination forms will be reviewed by the Woodruff Prize Committee, which is comprised of Woodruff Foundation Trustees and community members.
Finalists will be chosen, and some interviews may be conducted as follow up. We expect that many outstanding nominations will be received; the winner is likely to be one of many who would learn and benefit from a training opportunity not typically available during this time period.
Award
The $12,000 Prize will be presented at the 2010 Woodruff Forum, scheduled for November 2, 2010 from 12-2 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The prize will be paid in the form of a grant to the agency where the winner works, and used to cover costs of:
- the training of the winner's choice, including: conference registration(s), tuition, workshop or school fees, textbooks or other learning materials, and travel and lodging for training or education.
- the winner's release time for the training, and
- other clinical learning, training or development activities at the agency.
It is the expectation of the Foundation the $12,000 will be split roughly in thirds to cover the costs described above. The award is intended to be expended by December 31, 2011. The Foundation will request a brief report on how the award was used, to be submitted by February 1, 2012.
Nomination Materials
Nominations are due September 24, 2010. Please feel free to contact the Foundation with questions.
