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Pacheco awarded mental health, education honors

Middleboro Gazette - 4/5/2018

BOSTON - Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) has been honored with two awards in recognition of his work on mental health parity and professional development education.

Commissioner Monica Bharel of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, presented Sen. Pacheco with a Certificate of Appreciation in acknowledgment of his legislative leadership for adults and children with mental illnesses and their families.

"Mental health supports must be smart and robust with humane, suitable care," Sen. Pacheco said.

"This is something I've been working on my entire career - whether through the preservation of Taunton State Hospital, securing civil commitment reform, increasing patient beds or implementing dual-diagnosis pilot programs for drug addiction, these are serious issues that require our attention and advocacy. I will continue to fight for mental health parity in Southeastern Massachusetts."

The Washington Center, a provider of immersive internships and academic seminars to higher education students, presented Sen. Pacheco with the Massachusetts Leadership Award in recognition of his advocacy on behalf of the Commonwealth's public education students and their professional development education.

Residents of the Commonwealth enrolled in Massachusetts state colleges and universities can receive scholarships to participate in the Massachusetts Initiative with The Washington Center.

The state has had a partnership with the Washington Center for 19 years, with an alumni base that grows stronger every year. The program sets its students on a course of achievement, leadership and engagement in their communities and fields of public service, business, law, medicine, education and more.

"Our educational systems should prepare our students for the 21st century economy," Sen. Pacheco said.

"The Washington Center provides real-world experiences for our students that beautifully supplement our state's public higher education system and positions them for success when they graduate. I am honored to receive the Massachusetts Leadership Award, along with my colleague in the House, Representative Mike Moran, and I look forward to continued collaboration with the Washington Center through the remainder of this session and beyond."