TCU receives Kenneth Barr award

Susan Garnett, Mental Health Connection Chair and Deputy CEO of MHMR of Tarrant County, presents the Kenneth Barr Award to TCU chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. (Photo by Glen E. Ellman)

Fort Worth, Texas

11/29/2011

Now more than 12 years past, the 1999 shooting at Wedgwood Baptist Chuch that killed three adults and four teen-agers in southwest Fort Worth remains a city tragedy.

But out of that calamity, public and private mental health agencies of the city and region worked together at the urging of then-mayor Kenneth Barr '64 to create a region-wide plan to prevent future incidents. The result was the formation of Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County, a coordination hub for mental health delivery systems in the area.

On Monday, Mental Health Connection presented its Kenneth Barr Award for only the fifth time to TCU, recognizing the university's exemplary collaborative efforts and extraordinary contributions to improving the mental health system in Tarrant County.

"TCU has not only hosted Mental Health Connection events many times through the years," said Susan Garnett, Mental Health Connection Chair and Deputy CEO of MHMR of Tarrant County, "it has shown support through the engagement of professors and students with the community and mental health agenies and programs. We owe a debt of gratitude. TCU has been a wonderful community partner."

Accepting the award, TCU chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. stressed that mental health is an important issue on the university's campus.

"More and more, we're seeing students than ever before come to us with mental health concerns and issues," he said. "Part of it is growing up and part of it is life today. Thank you for the valued service you all provide to our community."

Barr, mayor of the Fort Worth from 1996 to 2003, provided leadership, vision and energy to the organization at a critical time in its development, the group's website states.

The award was presented at the start of Mental Health Connection's 5th annual Bridging the Gap Symposium at TCU, highlighted this year by an update on the Health Care Affordability Act, presented by Marjorie McColl Petty '68, regional director of a five-state area of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A former Kansas state senator and member of the Topeka City Council, Petty also serves as policy repreentative for department secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Petty applauded TCU's contributions to mental health programs.

"It shows from the values they stand for and the communication of that support," she said.

On the Web:
Mental Health Connection: http://www.mentalhealthconnection.org/index.php