Brennan Francois, CEO of Parkridge Valley, received the Tennessee Hospital Association’s Senior Executive Meritorious Service Award for his work with several initiatives that are making a difference in the lives of individuals with substance abuse and mental health issues in the Chattanooga area.
Mr. Francois helped establish the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Crisis Intervention Team, designed to help police officers and other law enforcement personnel better understand the uncertainty and special considerations that accompany interactions with mentally unstable individuals in crisis.
The 40-hour training, which attracts law enforcement professionals from across the region, teaches officers how to de-escalate confrontations and decrease the use of force. Mr. Francois still serves as an instructor with the program and was recognized in 2012 as CIT Partner of the Year for his contributions.
Mr. Francois is also part of a Drug Court Consortium committed to building a network of mental health professionals and treatment resources for juvenile offenders. The Consortium works to get at-risk youth the help they need at a critical stage in their development, in order to keep them from making mistakes as adults that could negatively impact their futures.
In addition to these efforts, Mr. Francois also makes time to support causes such as the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults – earlier this year, he raised several thousand dollars for the Partnership’s Family Services Counseling by participating in the Dancing With The Stars Chattanooga benefit. He has also served on the board of Cumberland University Nursing School and supports organizations such as the Metropolitan YMCA, AIM Center and the Homeless Coalition.
“Brennan makes time in his extremely busy schedule to support and develop solutions that help law enforcement personnel, the court system and the wider community to effectively address the issue of mental illness,” said Darrell Moore, president and CEO of Parkridge Health System. “His efforts are extraordinary and we are pleased that the Tennessee Hospital Association chose him for this year’s honor.”