Alternatives' Executive Director Dennis H. Rice has been awarded the prestigious Irvin Rutman Award by the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA). The award ceremony took place at the recent USPRA Annual Conference in Boise, Idaho where Rice was presenting.

The Irvin Rutman Award, named for USPRA's founding president, is presented to the executive director who demonstrated innovative leadership in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation, as well as in the promoting of the mission of USPRA. Mr. Rice was nominated for this national award by the Massachusetts Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (MassPRA).

In her letter of nomination, MassPRA Board President Lyn Legere said Rice is "Always ahead of the curve. Dennis emphasizes that mental health services providers have a responsibility to redefine our 'community' for the larger social good."

Legere goes on to say that in "meeting those challenges, Alternatives' purpose and values were shifted from asking, "What do we need from the community?" to "What can we do for the community?"

"I am very proud to be part of an organization that tries hard to be mission centered and value driven," Rice said in accepting this national award. "It tries hard to give our staff the tools to take an innovation and translate it into a reality; tries hard to provide the skills and supports needed to have every individual we serve have a successful life, a satisfied life, a community life."

Alternatives is a non-profit organization providing employment, residential and day services to over 1200 adults with developmental or psychiatric disabilities in 55 programs throughout Central Massachusetts.