Words to Deeds

​ Paradigm Awards

Recognizing leaders in criminal justice and mental health who champion efforts to end criminalization of individuals with mental illness by supporting proven strategies that promote early intervention, access to effective treatments, a planned reentry, and the preservation of public safety.

Words to Deeds XVI Paradigm Awards 2022

Law Enforcement Champion

• Lisa Heintz - Director of Legislation and Special Projects , California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Presented by Kathy Jett - Senior Policy Consultant, Shatterproof

State Champion

• Stephanie Welch - Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health, California Health & Human Services

Presented by Brenda Grealish - Executive Officer, Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health

Community Champion

• Sandri Kramer - Director of Community Relations and Special Projects, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services

Presented by Adrienne Shilton - Director of Public Policy and Strategy, The California Alliance of Child and Family Services

Words to Deeds XII Paradigm Awards 2019

Judicial Champion

• Honorable Eileen Moore - Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal

Presented by Honorable Stephen Manley - Judge, State of California, Santa Clara County Superior Court

Law Enforcement Champion

• Wendy Still - Chief Probation Officer, Alameda County

Presented by Kathy Jett - Senior Policy Consultant, California Forward

State Champion

• Mark Grabau, PhD - Forensic Services Division, California Department of State Hospitals

Presented by Stephanie Clendenin - Director, California Department of State Hospitals

Words to Deeds XII Paradigm Awards 2018

Law Enforcement Champion

• Charles Dempsey - Detective III, Officer-In-Charge of the Administrative Training Detail, Mental Evaluation Unit, Los Angeles Police Department

Presented by Linda Boyd - Clinical Program Manager II, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Judicial Champion

• Honorable James Bianco - Site Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court Mental Health Court

Presented by David Meyer - Clinical Professor, Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, USC Keck School of Medicine

Behavioral Health Champion

• Kita Curry, PhD - Chief Executive Officer, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services

Presented by Stephanie Welch - Executive Officer, Commission on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health

Words to Deeds XI Paradigm Awards 2017

Law Enforcement Champion

• Terri McDonald - Chief Probation Officer, Los Angeles County

Presented by Kathryn Jett - Senior Policy Consultant, California Forward

State Champion

• Tina Wooton - Manager, Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness; Chair, California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission

Presented by Toby Ewing, PhD - Executive Director, California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission

Lifetime Achievement

• Charles Walters, PhD - Chief Probation Officer, Los Angeles County

Presented by Honorable Stephen Manley - Judge, Santa Clara County Superior Court

Words to Deeds X Paradigm Awards 2016

Law Enforcement Champion

• George Gascon - District Attorney, San Francisco County

Presented by Jennifer Johnson - Deputy Public Defender, San Francisco County​

State Champion

• Bill Brown - Sheriff-Coroner, Santa Barbara County

Presented by Martin Ryan - Sheriff-Coroner, Amador County; Immediate Past President, California State Sheriffs' Association

County Champion

• Jackie Lacey - District Attorney, Los Angeles County

Presented by David Meyer - Professor, USC Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, USC Keck School of Medicine

Words to Deeds IX Paradigm Awards 2015

Legislative Champion

• Senator Jim Beall - California State Senator

Presented by Judge Stephen Manley - Santa Clara County Superior Court

Behavioral Health Champion

• Linda Boyd, RN, BSM, MN - Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Emergency Outreach Bureau

Presented by David Meyer - Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

Judicial Champion

• Judge Richard J. Loftus, Jr. - Santa Clara County Superior Court

Presented by Charles Walters - Council on Mentally Ill Offenders

County Champion

• Jo Robinson, MFT - Director, San Francisco Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health Services

Presented by Patricia Ryan - California Behavioral Health Directors Association (Retired)

Words to Deeds VIII Paradigm Awards 2014

County Champion

• Susan Adams - Marin County Supervisor

Presented by Elizabeth Howard Espinosa - California State Association of Counties

Behavioral Health Champion

• Mark Refowitz - Director, Orange County Health Care Agency

Presented by Patricia Ryan - California Mental Health Directors Association (Retired)

Law Enforcement Champion

• Norm Hurst - Deputy Chief, San Bernardino Sheriff's Department (Retired)

Presented by Steve Moore - San Joaquin County Sheriff-Coroner

Criminal Justice Champion

• Lisa Rodriguez - San Diego County Assistant District Attorney

Presented by David Meyer - Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

Words to Deeds VII Paradigm Awards 2013

Community Champion

• Mark Gale - California Treatment Advocacy Coalition, Former Chair, NAMI California Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee and Criminal Justice Workgroup

Presented by Sharon Aungst - Partnership for Community Excellence, California Forward

County Champion

• Scott Macdonald - Santa Cruz County Probation Chief

Presented by Mack Jenkins - Probation Chief San Diego County

Law Enforcement Champion

• Curtis Hill - Former San Benito County Sheriff Coroner, Former Executive Officer, California Board of State and Community Corrections

Presented by Adam Christianson - Stanislaus County Sheriff; 1st Vice President, California State Sheriffs' Association

Lifetime Achievement

• David Meyer - Clinical Professor and Research Scholar, Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

Presented by Patricia Ryan - California Mental Health Directors Association (Retired)

Inaugural Words to Deeds Paradigm Awards 2013

Community Champion

• Tona Wakefield - Bringing Our Community Home, Santa Barbara

Presented by Bill Brown - Santa Barbara Sheriff-Coroner

Judicial Champion

• Judge Stephen Manley - Santa Clara Superior Court

Presented by Sharon Aungst - Partnership for Community Excellence, California Forward

Law Enforcement Champion

• Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca

Presented by David Meyer - Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

State Champion

• Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg

Presented by Pat Ryan - California Mental Health Directors Association

County Champion

• Jennifer Johnson - San Francisco County Public Defender

Presented by David Meyer - Institute of Psychiatry, Law and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

Lifetime Achievement

• Helen Thomson - State and County Elected Official

Presented by Mike McGowan - Yolo County Supervisor