Annual Awards
The following awards are presented annually at the NHADACA Annual Meeting.
List of Services
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Counselor of the Year AwardList Item 1
The Counselor of the Year is employed as an addiction counseling professional for not less than three years. This person works with clients/patients for a sustained period with individual or group contact to foster recovery from addictive disorders. This person demonstrates to the satisfaction of his/her peers, full compliance and support of the NAADAC Code of Ethics. Additionally, the following areas of competence and skill should be used to identify candidates for this award. The recipient demonstrates outstanding performance in some or all of the following competence areas: assessment, treatment planning, case management, communications, administrative skills, individual/group/family counseling, referral, professional relationships and professional integrity.
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Thomas McTague Lifetime Achievement AwardList Item 2
Thomas McTague died in 1996 and the award was created in his honor in 1998. Dr. McTague was chosen because he approached the substance use profession as a "calling" more so than a job. He was militant about ethics and ethical practice. He strongly believed in integrity, honesty, trust, compassion, tolerance and caring. He ran the substance use program at the NH Technical Institute and some would say he was NHTI. He was a power of example, mentor, teacher and cheerleader. The role he played inspired young people to come into the profession when much of the profession was aging.
The recipient of this award has a minimum of 15 years in the addiction counseling profession or administration. This person is making or has made a sustained and significant contribution to the advancement of addiction counseling.
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Lifetime Advocacy AwardList Item 3
The recipient of this award has worked a minimum of 15 years in the addiction counseling profession or administration. He/She possesses a strong dedication to the addiction profession as demonstrated by his/her involvement in, and commitment to, a variety of key organizations.
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Legislative Advocacy AwardList Item 4
The recipient of this award is currently a member in good standing of the Association and has demonstrated ongoing advocacy for issues related to the profession and or the public who may benefit from the services of the professional addiction counselor. This work may be related to protecting the rights of the client, advocating for improved access to treatment or establishing public standards of care. He/She has kept the members of the association informed on current legislative events as well as led the association in establishing a public voice in appropriate issues of concern.
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Kathleen Taylor Legislator Award
This award is made to a NH legislator or Policymaker who has made a visible or measurable contribution to support the workforce development of the addiction profession or has supported the public’s need for prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services through advocacy.
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President’s Award
The President’s Award is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of an individual or group to the addiction profession. It is presented to an individual, institution, or corporation in recognition of a long and continued commitment. It reflects the Association’s appreciation for their support of the addiction profession. The recipient is identified by the President with the Executive Committee confirming the selection. There is no requirement to present this award each year and no limit to the number of recipients in a given year. Unlike other awards, this award is given at the discretion of the President, who determines the purpose and requirements of the award. It is recommended that it be given based on achieved merits as they apply to the support or professional development of the recipient and his/her contributions to the addiction profession.
Past Award Recipients
Click here to see the 2024 award nominees