Arisa Health has collaborated with Springdale Public Schools providing School Based services for over 25 years. Mr. Damon Donnell has been a key partner for much of that time. Our collaboration has led to enhanced services, supports, and access to critical needs of our clients and families. In the 2024–2025 school year we were able to serve 1,689 Springdale students on their school campus through our School Based program and 19 Springdale students in our Therapeutic Day Treatment program thanks to our work together. Mr. Donnell focuses on allowing all students to have access to the supports they need to be successful. He is dedicated to identifying any barriers or challenges, reaching out to problem-solve together, and following up to implement solutions that will have positive outcomes for all involved. Over the years, Mr. Donnell has supported our growth in expanding services, partnering on new programming, and providing behavioral health training and education to school district personnel. We are incredibly grateful for our work together to transform communities one life at a time.
Corporal Jeania Byrd has served as a deputy sheriff for nearly 20 years and has been the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator for the past four years, facilitating collaboration between law enforcement and mental health services. In this position, Deputy Byrd has become a champion of CIT and serves her community and profession with distinction. She trains officers and dispatchers in CIT and has built rapport with community members facing mental health challenges. She pioneered the Co-Responding approach, integrating therapists with law enforcement during mental health calls, and has trained multiple clinicians and intern students in this model, effectively assessing and supporting individuals in crisis rather than resorting to jail. Arisa Health presents this award recognizing Deputy Jeania Byrd for her commitment to helping vulnerable, sometimes forgotten individuals in our community and for bridging the gap between law enforcement and community mental health.