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Through mhca’s history, one of the greatest benefits of membership has been the opportunity for members to learn from, inspire, and challenge one another. Innovation has long been a defining characteristic of the mhca community, as member organizations continually develop new approaches to strengthen behavioral healthcare delivery, workforce sustainability, access to care, operational effectiveness, and community impact.
To recognize and elevate these efforts, mhca established the Most Innovative Member Recognition. Each year, mhca honors member organizations whose work demonstrates meaningful innovation and advances the field of behavioral healthcare.
HOW ARE INNOVATIONS IDENTIFIED?
All mhca member organizations are eligible to be considered for recognition. Innovations may be identified through:
- Presentations delivered during mhca conferences and virtual learning sessions
- Member nominations or self-nominations
- Initiatives highlighted through mhca collaborative and peer learning activities
YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS
Conference attendees are encouraged to provide feedback and session ratings through the conference app and other evaluation tools. Member feedback helps identify initiatives that are impactful, relevant, and meaningful to the field.
While audience feedback informs the overall recognition process, selections are based on the innovative merit and impact of the initiative itself, not presentation style or production quality.
HOW INNOVATION IS EVALUATED
Recognized innovations are evaluated using a standardized rubric designed to reflect mhca’s commitment to advancing practical, impactful, and forward-thinking behavioral healthcare solutions.
Evaluation criteria may include:
- Impact on outcomes- improvements in care, access, workforce, or organizational performance
- Originality and creativity of the approach- introduces a novel approach or significantly reimagines existing models within behavioral healthcare
- Scalability and replicability- can be adapted and implemented by other mhca members across different markets
- Sustainability- shows evidence of long-term viability, including funding, workforce integration and operations
- Alignment with emerging priorities and challenges in behavioral healthcare
Innovation is inherently difficult to measure because it often involves new approaches, evolving models, and creative responses to complex challenges. mhca defines innovation as the implementation of meaningful solutions that improve care, strengthen organizations, address emerging needs, and advance the behavioral healthcare field.
FINAL SELECTION PROCESS
At the conclusion of each calendar year, mhca staff will compile and review nominated and identified innovations using the established evaluation rubric and member feedback collected throughout the year.
Final selections will be made based on overall innovation impact, relevance to the field, and alignment with mhca’s mission and strategic priorities.
Selected organizations will be recognized annually during the mhca Annual Meeting as mhca’s Most Innovative Members.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Complete this nomination form and submit to Kiara Kuenzler at
mhca Most Innovative Member Recognition
Nomination Form
Thank you for helping recognize innovative work happening across the mhca community. Please complete the brief form below to nominate an organization or initiative for consideration.
If you would like to nominate an organization that presented on their innovative initiatives in the past year, below is a list of 2026 member sessions, along with links to supplemental materials:
[insert list of 2026 presentations and links]
Nominated Organization
Organization Name: _______________________________________
Primary Contact Name & Title: _______________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________
Innovation Title
What is the name of the initiative, program, model, or innovation being nominated?
Brief Description
Please provide a short overview of the innovation.
(2–4 sentences)
What makes this initiative innovative?
(Check all that apply)
☐ Improves client or community outcomes
☐ Expands access to care or services
☐ Strengthens workforce recruitment, engagement, or retention
☐ Enhances operational or financial sustainability
☐ Uses technology or AI in a meaningful way
☐ Advances integrated or collaborative care
☐ Addresses an emerging challenge in behavioral healthcare
☐ Introduces a creative or unique service model
☐ Demonstrates measurable impact or results
☐ Could be replicated by other organizations
☐ Other: _______________________________________________
Impact & Results
What impact has this initiative had so far?
(Examples may include outcomes, efficiencies, workforce impact, financial sustainability, engagement, or lessons learned.)
Why should this initiative be recognized by mhca?
(Optional)
Supporting Materials (Optional)
Please attach or provide links to any supporting materials, presentations, articles, dashboards, or outcome summaries.
Submitted by: _____________________________________________
Date: ____________________________________________________