Donna Wells
Howard County Mental Health Authority
Employee of the Year
view the video about Donna
Donna Wells “never gives up [and] she’s not
afraid to tell it like it is.” She is
her nominator Andrea Ingram noted, “A Force to be reckoned with.” In many ways, Howard County Mental Health Authority is a reflection of Donna Wells'
commitment, tenacity and vision. She is its first, and so far only,
Executive Director. In the 13 years, she has headed the organization she has
molded it from the bottom up into an effective, caring agency that addresses
the mental health needs of both adults and children with serious mental
illness, particularly those without insurance and other resources. Last year along more than 2255 county
residents accessed the public mental health system, and many others were helped
through projects the agency helps fund.
Because of Donna’s commitment, persistence, know-how and leadership,
Howard County now has a Mobile Crisis Team, Mobile Treatment Team, a housing
program for people with mental illness, and mental health services for people
in the county detention center, to name just a few of her accomplishments. She’s
been particularly effective in building a system of care for children with
mental health needs.
According to Jane Walker, Executive
Director of the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health, “She has been an incredible leader,
bringing attention to the needs of many populations who have mental health
needs but who easily might have gone unseen – the homeless, children, older
senior citizens, people with chronic mental illness and their families.” Notes
Walker, Donna “is very good at building bridges and partnerships, including with
the local police department.”
Ask
Donna her proudest accomplishment she’ll say “that I’m proudest of the
partnerships we have developed across multiple community agencies over the
years to address the mental health needs of our community.”
In
typical Wells fashion she modestly credits her staff, (which now numbers 4.5)
for creating relationships that work, and keeping doors open. But really it was
the agency she virtually created and continues to lead that opens the doors,
and makes sure the services are there for all Howard County citizens, young,
and old, who are often overlooked, and too often stigmatized.
