Centerstone’s Linda Grove-Paul honored with lifetime achievement award

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Centerstone is proud to celebrate Vice President of Adult Services Linda Grove-Paul being honored with the Mae Cassady Lifetime Achievement Award from Women Excel Bloomington and the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

Grove-Paul has given more than 28 years of her behavioral health career working for Centerstone, starting as a therapist in 1998, then rising into management roles serving clients with addictions and substance use disorders.

While accepting the Mae Cassady Lifetime Achievement Award, Grove-Paul notes there is “still so much work to do” when it comes to caring for individuals with substance use disorders and reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health care.

“I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together, including expanding crisis services, substance use treatment, and innovative evidence-based behavioral health programs that have helped strengthen our communities,” Grove-Paul said. “Any success I’ve had has been made possible by the dedication, vision, and commitment of the many people I’ve had the opportunity to work beside throughout my career.”

Inspiring change and battling stigma

Bloomington’s STRIDE Center is a place where individuals experience mental health crises can seek immediate stabilization care and leave with a plan for continuing care. Grove-Paul was one of the visionaries behind STRIDE Center’s launch. She also pioneered one of Indiana’s early recovery coaching programs and has worked to shape the policies that govern resource accessibility for individuals with substance use disorder who have become involved in Indiana’s justice system.

Centerstone Director of Adult and Family Services Ashley Collins helped nominate Grove-Paul for the recognition.

“Linda inspires others — through her compassion, integrity and commitment to service — helping those around her to grow, lead and to make a difference in their own right,” Collins wrote in part of her nomination.

Mae Cassady was the founder and owner of Cassady Electrical Contractors. She was a pioneering leader in business who broke barriers as an electrician working in a male-dominated industry in 1960s Bloomington. She was also deeply committed to community involvement in Bloomington beyond business and lent her support to the Monroe County Community Foundation, the Monroe County History Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington and Ellettsville and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, among others.

About Centerstone: Centerstone is the largest nonprofit behavioral health organization in the United States. With more than 10,000 team members working at 360 locations in communities across the country, Centerstone provides healing and hope to people of all ages through mental health services, addiction care and social supports. Centerstone is a leader in operations for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Centerstone’s Foundation secures philanthropic resources to support the work and mission of delivering care that changes lives. Learn more at Centerstone.org.