[Columbus, OH] May 3, 2025 – The Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) is proud to announce Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health as the recipient of the prestigious Ohio Psychological Association Thriving Workplace Award. This recognition highlights organizations that prioritize employee mental health, engagement, and well-being, setting the standard for workplace excellence across Ohio.

“We are thrilled to honor Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health for their exceptional commitment to fostering a workplace where employees can thrive,” said Dr. Robin Graff-Reed, OPA President. “Their dedication to mental health, well-being, and engagement sets a powerful example for businesses and organizations across the state.”

The Thriving Workplace Awards celebrate organizations that go above and beyond in creating positive work environments where employees feel supported and valued. The selection process included an organizational application, an all-employee workplace survey, and site visits conducted by OPA’s Thriving Workplace Committee. Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health stood out for their innovative programs, leadership commitment, and strong workplace culture.

The awards were presented at the OPA Annual Conference on May 3, 2025, at the Quest Conference Center in Westerville, Ohio, where Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health was celebrated for their leadership in workplace well-being.

To learn more about the Thriving Workplace Awards and how to apply for next year’s recognition, visit https://ohpsych.org/page/ThrivingWorkplaceAward. 

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About the Ohio Psychological Association
The Ohio Psychological Association is dedicated to advancing psychology as a science, profession, and means of promoting human welfare. Through initiatives like the Thriving Workplace Awards, OPA recognizes organizations play a critical role in supporting positive mental health and helping their employees to flourish.

For more information about how OPA can support workplaces, contact Karen Hardin at khardin@ohpsych.org or visit https://ohpsych.org/.

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ABOUT INCEPT
Incept is a multi-channel contact center that strengthens the relationship between our clients and their customers with every interaction. Please visit http://www.inceptresults.com/.

ABOUT OHIO PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
The Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) is currently the seventh largest state psychological association. They serve the public with a variety of educational programs on health, wellness and the mind-body connection, and with online resources, including a psychologist referral program. The OPA serves the public by recognizing businesses that are psychologically healthy and identifying best practices for a better work environment. Please visit http://ohpsych.org/

Columbus, Ohio, March 2, 2016 — In recognition of its efforts to create a healthy, high-performing work environment, three Ohio employers will receive the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2016 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Feb 27. The winners are Certified Angus Beef, Grants Plus, and Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library.

The organization are three of the six employers from across North America to receive the award this year, and are previous winners of the Ohio Psychological Association’s state-level Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, qualifying them to be nominated for the APA award. Certified Angus Beef won in the small not-for-profit category; Grants Plus in small for-profit category; and Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library in the government/military/educational institution category.

Each organization excelled in its efforts to foster employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance and employee recognition. Their respective organization’s comprehensive wellness program, flexibility, team-building and education opportunities and peer-to-peer recognition program are several examples of the workplace practices that helped each earn a 2016 award.

As part Certified Angus Beef’s quarterly integrative health goal for employees, the organization offers an optional online stress assessment and lets employees develop an action plan with an on-site wellness coach or psychologist. Ergonomic evaluations, yoga, company-provided Fitbits and blood pressure checks also help keep employees at the top of their game. CAB knows the importance of employee development. In 2014, it invested in 1,800 training hours to develop staff through a series of growth opportunities and offered tuition reimbursement.

Grants Plus’ nontraditional company structure is built on a foundation of flexibility, as the work is often completed by employees in their homes and on their own schedules. All employees, regardless of their working arrangements, even those who work as few as 20 hours per week, receive paid time off. Supervisors award quarterly prizes for employees who exhibit exceptional performance, and at social events with clients, the company publicly acknowledges individual staff members.

The library makes every effort on behalf of employee well-being, offering a full benefits, vacation and sick leave package to those who work 30 or more hours a week. Since it remains open evenings and weekends, the library offers flexibility in scheduling if someone needs time off. The library’s “Well Wishes” peer-to-peer recognition program lets staff members send kudos to a fellow employee. Staff has sent more than 300 Well Wishes since the program launched in February 2014.

“Employees notice when an organization legitimately cares about their well-being and are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, committed to the organization and motivated to do their best,” says David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, head of APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence. “Organizations like Certified Angus Beef, Grants Plus, and Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library recognize the importance of creating a work environment where employees and the organization can thrive.”

APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards are designed to showcase the very best from among the award winners recognized by APA’s affiliated state, provincial and territorial psychological associations. Nominees are evaluated on their workplace practices in the areas of employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance and employee recognition. Awards are given to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, as well as government, military and educational institutions.

More information about APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award winners is available at http://www.apaexcellence.org/media. Organizations interested in learning more about creating a psychologically healthy workplace or applying for an award in their state, province or territory can visit http://www.apaexcellence.org. The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program is a public education initiative from APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence.

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ABOUT THE OHIO PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

Located in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio Psychological Association is a membership organization of approximately 1,600 Ohio psychologists. Its mission is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and to improve people’s lives in Ohio. For more information, visit www.ohpsych.org.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA’s membership includes more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.

In recognition of its efforts to create a healthy, high-performing work environment, Certified Angus Beef received the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2014 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award (PHWA) at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 8. One of four employers from across North America to receive the award this year, the organization won in the small not-for-profit category. The organization is a previous winner of the Ohio Psychological Association’s state-level Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, qualifying it to be nominated for the APA award.

Certified Angus Beef excelled in its efforts to foster employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance and employee recognition. The organization’s wide-ranging wellness efforts, development opportunities and commitment to work-life balance are several examples of the workplace practices that helped earn a 2014 award.

Certified Angus Beef’s psychologically healthy workplace practices have reaped rewards for both the organization and its employees. Since beginning its health and wellness initiatives, the company has enjoyed single-digit renewal increases in health insurance premiums, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.

At Certified Angus Beef, division retreats, regular brainstorming sessions, biweekly breakfast meetings, team-building training, workshops and community outreach all build positive relationships among team members. Their progressive approach to health issues includes a comprehensive wellness program that pays for gym membership, provides periodic group stretch sessions, facilitates a bimonthly weight-loss management group, optional weigh-ins and blood pressure checks and offers 15- to 30-minute one-on-one coaching sessions. A clinical psychologist is onsite monthly as well, providing stress management sessions and confidential one-on-one appointments on company time at no cost to employees.

Employees are challenged and encouraged for career growth through opportunities for learning and development, including a yearlong, onsite Leadership Development Series that is open to all employees. The family-centered culture allows staff to deal with unexpected life needs, issues or emergencies with the full support of management. The company also sponsors the services of a certified financial planner, an attorney, a chair masseuse, and dry-cleaning and alteration services. All services are available at a substantial discount or free of charge.

“Forward-thinking employers such as Certified Angus Beef are going beyond the typical wellness program to focus on a broader view of well-being,” says David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, head of APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence. “When an employer is truly committed to helping employees thrive, psychologically healthy workplace principles become ingrained in the very norms, values and beliefs that are part of the organization’s culture. In turn, this helps employees perform at their best, on and off the job.”

APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards are designed to showcase the very best from among the award winners recognized by APA’s affiliated state, provincial and territorial psychological associations. Nominees are evaluated on their workplace practices in the areas of employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance and employee recognition. Awards are given to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations as well as government, military and educational institutions.

Organizations interested in learning more about creating a psychologically healthy workplace or applying for an award in their state, province or territory can visit apaexcellence.org. The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program is a public education initiative from APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence. View the list of past Ohio PHWA winners.

Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, one of the largest and most comprehensive programs for Multiple Sclerosis care and research worldwide, was presented with a Best Practices Honor from the American Psychological Association (APA) at the annual Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards ceremony held March 9 in Washington, D.C. The Mellen Center was recognized for its Employee Health Plan (EHP), which implemented a long-term strategic program called Healthy Choice. The program has transformed the organization’s workplace culture into one that focuses on fitness and healthy behaviors.

The Mellen Center has shown its commitment to its employees through its Healthy Choice program. This initiative is an example of a health and safety practice, one component of a psychologically healthy workplace. The Mellen Center was one of nine organizations to receive the Best Practices recognition in 2013. The organization is a previous winner of the Ohio Psychological Association’s (OPA) state-level Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, qualifying it to be nominated for APA’s Best Practices Honors.

“When we visited the Mellen Center as part of the evaluation process, it was clear from the moment we walked in that staff were energized, engaged and proud of the organization. They demonstrated in countless ways the best components of a healthy work environment. They stand as an example of the excellent workplaces Ohio has to offer,” says Dr. Robin Graff-Reed, chair of the OPA Psychology in the Workplace Network.

The Healthy Choice program has given employees a greater sense of ownership in their well-being through tools aimed at reducing stress, improving stamina and maintaining a positive self-image. If employees are diagnosed with any of six chronic conditions affected by lifestyle choices (asthma, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity and tobacco use), they join the EHP disease management program, where they work with their health care providers to set goals, manage the condition through diet and fitness, monitor their progress and prevent complications. All other employees join one of the EHP-contracted fitness centers, or have the option to log their exercise time with special tracking software. Employee participants can also earn discounts on their insurance premiums or even selected copayment reimbursements. More than 50 percent of employees with a chronic disease now participate in care management and the estimated cost avoidance is between 6 and 15 million dollars.

“Forward-thinking employers such as the Cleveland Clinic are taking steps to create a positive work environment where employees can thrive,” says David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, head of APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence. “In turn, employees are more engaged and committed to the organization’s success. This shared responsibility for creating a psychologically healthy workplace promotes an organizational culture that values well-being and performance and delivers results on both sides of the equation.”

The Best Practices Honors is a national recognition that highlights those local Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award winners with a single program or policy that contributes to a psychologically healthy work environment and meets the unique needs of the organization and its employees. Nominees come from a pool of previous local winners and are selected through a competitive evaluation and judging process.

More information about the Best Practices honorees and APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award winners is available at apaexcellence.org/media. Organizations interested in learning more about creating a psychologically healthy workplace or applying for an award in their state, province or territory can visit apaexcellence.org. The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program is a public education initiative from APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence.

Photo Credit: Larry Canner Photography. Photos Courtesy of the American Psychological Association. Used with permission.