Dr. Caitlin Ryan Takes Home NALGAP's Founders Award

On August 24, The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies (NALGAP) will present the 2014 Finnegan-McNally NALGAP Founder's Award to Dr. Caitlin Ryan. Following presentation of the award, Ryan will present an overview of her groundbreaking research and family intervention work to prevent substance abuse, suicide and HIV and to promote well-being for LGBT young and young adults by promoting family acceptance and support.

"I'm thrilled to receive the Founder's Award, especially as NALGAP celebrates 35 years of service," said Ryan. "I've had the privilege of working with NALGAP in the formative years of the LGBT health movement and deeply appreciate their critical contribution to improve the lives of LGBT people. As addiction professional and allies, NALGAP shares our focus in the Family Acceptance Project on the vital role of families in prevention, treatment, recovery and well-being for LGBT people."

NALGAP will present the award during the 2014 National Conference on Addiction Disorders/Behavioral Healthcare Leadership Summit at the Saint Louis Union Station Hotel during the NALGAP 35th Anniversary plenary and reception, which is open to the community.

On Monday, August 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Ryan will convene a special session at the conference with multi-ethnic religious leaders who provide pastoral care to LGBT youth and adults, with a focus on prevention and supporting recovery from alcohol and other drug abuse.

The evening will include a screening of the Family Acceptance Project's award-winning film and family education resource "Families are Forever," which documents the journey of a religiously conservative family from struggle to acceptance and support of their young gay son. ??All are welcome to attend both of the events.

"The Finnegan-McNally NALGAP Founders' Award is given at the discretion of the NALGAP Board of Directors to individuals whose professional and/or volunteer activities over a period of 25 years or more reflect the examples set by NALGAP's co-founders (Dana G. Finnegan, Ph.D., and Emily B. McNally, Ph.D.), support and further NALGAP's mission, and improve opportunities for LGBT individuals to benefit from substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery support programs and services," said NALGAP board president, Philip T. McCabe CSW, CAS, CDVC, DRCC, Adjunct Instructor at the Rutgers University Center of Alcohol Studies. "This award is given to Dr. Ryan in recognition of her 40 years of leadership and service in building the field of LGBT health and mental health."

The Family Acceptance Project is a research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to prevent health and mental health risks for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) children and youth, including suicide, homelessness and HIV and to promote their well-being -- in the context of their families, culture and faith communities.

The FAP puts research into practice by developing an evidence-based family model of wellness, prevention and care to strengthen families and promote positive development and healthy futures for LGBT children and youth. FAP provides training and consultation on their family-based prevention and intervention approach across the U.S. and in other countries.

NALGAP, The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies is a membership organization founded in 1979 and dedicated to the prevention and treatment of alcoholism, substance abuse, and other addictions in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer communities.

The conference and award presentation will also be in recognition of NALGAP's 35th Anniversary. NALGAP was founded at Rutgers Summer Institute of Alcohol Studies in 1979.

NALGAP is a co-sponsor of the 2014 National Conference on Addictive Disorders/Behavioral Leadership Summit, held at the Union Station Hotel, 1820 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103