Awards & Recognitions
CBHA proudly recognizes individuals whose leadership, advocacy, and dedication strengthen California’s community behavioral health system. Through our awards, CBHA honors champions who are advancing access to care, promoting health equity, uplifting consumer voices, and advocating for policies that support community-based behavioral health services. The categories are:
Health Equity Champion Award: Given to a policy maker or community member who champions health equity in their work. They made significant contributions toward eliminating health disparities and ensuring that all individuals have access to the highest standard of health and healthcare.
Consumer Advocate Award: Given to those who utilize lived experience to impact behavioral health policy change that benefits clients across CA.
Behavioral Health Champion Award: Given in recognition of a policy maker or advocate who has provided leadership that positively impacts the behavioral health field.
CBHA Member Advocate Award: Given to a CBHA member whose leadership, engagement, and advocacy help strengthen the CBHA membership community and advance the association’s policy priorities.
2026 CBHA Award Recipients
Behavioral Health Champion
Assemblymember Corey Jackson, District 60, State of California
Health Equity Champion Award
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, District 28, State of California
Member Advocate Award
Josefina Alvarado-Mena, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, Safe Passages