Judith Knox Behavioral Health Advocate Of The Year Award

Katie Underwood, RN, Emergency Services director, received the Judith Knox Advocate of the Year Award. The award recognizes an individual who has made an impact in mental health and/or substance abuse advocacy. 

Katie has helped transform how individuals from Unison Health, Wood County Hospital, Bowling Green Police Department, Bowling Green Fire Department, Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Harbor Behavioral Health, and other local organizations handle the mental health crisis in our community. She has participated in weekly crisis meetings through the Wood County Crisis Team that problem-solves various system issues and specific consumer obstacles. The team has been able to make transitions smoother for psychiatric crisis services from The Link to a mobile crisis team managed by Unison. Through their collaboration, these groups were better able to serve the individuals and have had success, especially with the high utilization of these services. “We have been successful in arranging better housing, more intense treatment plans, and providing additional services,” said Katie. She has dedicated herself and her career to helping people with their physical health issues and sees mental health as a necessity in treating the whole person. 

Katie was nominated by Aimee Coe, Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) executive director and was invited to a dinner in the fall of 2019, where she was recognized. The award was presented to Katie by Judith Knox herself, the award’s namesake.

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