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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 12, 2009
Contact: Meredith Pond
Telephone: 240-221-4298
mpond@iqsolutions.com
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Rockville, MD—Two national awards competitions recently recognized the SAMHSA News team at iQ Solutions for excellence in writing, editing, design, and layout for its work on the national newsletter of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The National Association of Government Communicators honored SAMHSA News with a “Blue Pencil Award of Excellence” in the “External Newsletter” category. Three consecutive issues are judged for quality of design, editorial content, and overall layout. SAMHSA News received the award for its July/August, September/October, and November/December issues, which focused on the topics of Web 2.0 capabilities, U.S. veterans returning home from Iraq, and parity in health care for mental health and substance abuse concerns. SAMHSA News topped more than 575 entries in the 2009 competition.
In addition, the International Academy of the Visual Arts honored SAMHSA News with its 2009 “Communicator Award of Excellence.” The award recognized the September/October 2008 print issue for its creativity, content, and relevance to the field.
“SAMHSA News deserves recognition for effectively highlighting SAMHSA’s work to stop substance abuse before it spreads in local communities,” said Ileana Quintas, president and CEO of iQ Solutions. “Its focus on prevention resonates with iQ Solutions’ emphasis on wellness and a higher quality of life. These shared values characterize our long and productive working relationship.”
SAMHSA News is published six times a year by the SAMHSA Office of Communications. The agency’s vision is to create “a life in the community for everyone” by building resilience and facilitating recovery for people with substance use disorders or mental health issues.
iQ Solutions has provided a variety of services to SAMHSA News since 1998. Design, editorial, and Web staff members now serve as the SAMHSA News team at iQ Solutions, led by managing editor Meredith Pond. The newsletter features highlights of SAMHSA grantees and programs, and other resources for substance abuse and mental health counselors and clinicians. It also provides timely information directly to people and families in need. Recent issues have focused on preventing teen substance abuse and suicide on college campuses, using Web 2.0 to enhance services to the homeless, and ending discrimination in insurance coverage for those who receive treatment for substance abuse or mental health issues.
In their most recent work for SAMHSA News, a dozen staff members from iQ Solutions’ creative services, editorial, and Web teams supported a redesign of the print version of the newsletter, coordinated with a redesign of SAMHSA News online, which now offers additional articles, resources, and extended storylines. To see the results, link to SAMHSA News.
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