Working in mental health can be a tough job. Working in mental health and being a member of the U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve is doubly tough. That toughness is a defining quality of two employees at the Centra Wellness Network.
Last month, a representative from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presented Erin Barbus, clinical director at the Centra Wellness Network, and executive director Joseph “Chip” Johnston with the Patriotic Employer Award, according to a news release from Centra Wellness Network chief operating officer Karen Goodman.
The Patriotic Employer Award is given by the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve force.
The ESGR 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 organization is a voluntary group that advocates for mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizes outstanding employer support, increases awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolves potential conflicts between employers and their service members and acts as the employers’ principal advocate within the United States Department of Defense.
ESGR supports employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve by presenting Department of Defense awards to employers nominated by the guard or reserve employees.
Fellow employee presents award
Sgt. 1st Class Janeen Codden is a member of the National Guard and Reserve. She is also an employee of the Centra Wellness Network and supervises adult case management and peer support services.
Codden submitted her nomination for Barbus and Johnston – and said that Barbus and Johnston, along with the entire Centra Wellness Network organization — deserved the award.
Codden has a Master of Social Work degree and has been in a supervisory position for close to three years.
She balances her guard and reserve duties with the responsibilities of being a supervisor and working with people with severe and persistent mental illness and intellectual disabilities.
Codden said that any time she must request time off for a drill and extra training there is never a comment such as “you need to take time off again?”
Her direct supervisor, Barbus, notes that the organization is proud of what she was doing and it would continue to stand behind her.
Codden also wrote she was always very aware of the difficulties being faced throughout the United States in finding good, qualified staff, and that Centra Wellness was not immune to this problem.
Codden knew that leaving for training or other events required by the national guard and reserve would inevitably put an extra burden on others in the organization.
She knew that her leaving would put additional work on staff, but the staff has never responded negatively and had always accepted the duties willingly, supporting Codden and her commitment.
“I am proud and honored to be working for a company that honors my value of serving my country and values me as an employee,” Codden said.
Codden also wrote about the challenges of daily work in mental health treatment.
“Working in the mental health field can be challenging yet rewarding work and knowing that I have a whole organization behind me makes coming in to work a special gift that I am always grateful for, daily,” she said.
Barbus and Johnston were surprised with their award plaques, which were presented by Codden. The ESGR will also be forwarding an award plaque for Centra Wellness Network.
