May 2, 2024

2024 Nominations Open for Annual NCCHC Awards

The portal is open for NCCHC’s four individual annual awards and, new this year, the facility award for program of the year. Self-nominations or peer nominations are welcome. Individual awards cover lifetime achievement, communications, and leadership for seasoned, mid-career, and early-career correctional health professionals. The program of the year recognizes an outstanding program improves patient safety, demonstrates innovation, and/or uses data to drive change.

The deadline for all nominations is June 7. Awards will be announced and presented at the National Conference on Correctional Health Care on October 21 in Las Vegas. Criteria and information on all five awards are below:

R. Scott Chavez Program of the Year:

This award recognizes excellence in programs offered in NCCHC-accredited prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, including Mental Health and Opioid Treatment Programs. The Program of the Year should address medical, behavioral/mental health, or substance use disorder needs and demonstrate one or more of the following: Improvements in patient safety or care with demonstrable outcomes; Innovative patient safety or care program or process with demonstrable outcomes; Use of data to drive health care program or system changes.

Award Criteria

• Facility must be fully accredited and be in good standing with NCCHC
• Applicants need to have been site-surveyed between January 1, 2023, and May 1, 2024, to ensure compliance with standards
• Facilities cannot be under receivership

Bernard P. Harrison Award of Merit:

This lifetime achievement award is presented annually to an outstanding correctional health leader who has a long record of accomplishment and participation in NCCHC programs. It is a capstone to a career dedicated to quality correctional health care.

Award Criteria:

• Minimum 20 years in the field of correctional health care
• Demonstrated thought leadership and mentorship in correctional health care
• Significant contributions to the success of NCCHC and to quality health care nationally

B. Jaye Anno Award of Excellence in Communication

This award pays tribute to innovative, well-executed communications that have had a positive impact on the field of correctional health care. Eligible nominees include authors, presenters, educators, and content creators of communications that are innovative, multidisciplinary and have an impact on the field of correctional health care. The award is defined broadly to incorporate many types of communication vehicles, such as article series, presentations, publications, websites, and recordings.

Award Criteria:

• Demonstrated excellence in communications
• National or significant local impact

Edward A. Harrison Excellence in Correctional Health Care Leadership

This award is presented annually to an outstanding correctional health leader who leads by example, inspires others, and is committed to quality improvement in correctional health care.

Award Criteria:

• Minimum five years in the field of correctional health care
• Has held a leadership position in a correctional health care environment for at least two years.
• Demonstrated commitment to NCCHC’s mission 
• CCHP preferred (all nominees, regardless of credentials, will be considered)
• Demonstrates attributes such as significant contributions to the field, good corporate citizenship, compassion, and exceptional work ethic

Young Professionals Award

The Young Professional Award was created in 2018 to recognize the new and upcoming leaders in the correctional health care field. Self-nominated or nominated by peers, this individual is an outstanding correctional health professional who inspires others through his or her commitment to quality health care. This award is presented annually to an outstanding young professional.

Award Criteria:

• Minimum two years in the field of correctional health care
• Less than 46 years old
• Attributes such as leadership, dedication, initiative, and strong work ethic
• CCHP preferred (all nominees, regardless of credentials, will be considered)