WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools’ Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert was recently presented with the Doc Bowen Community Partner Award by the Bowen Center at the center’s annual board of directors meeting at Oakwood Resort Event Center.

Dr. David Hoffert

The award is given to individuals who promote and advance awareness and treatment of mental health issues within the community. The presentation of the Doc Bowen Community Partner Award honors and recognizes Hoffert’s work as a community partner with the Bowen Center, as well as his efforts to integrate mental health and substance use services in Warsaw Community Schools.

Presenters of the award included Bowen Center CEO Kurt Carlson, Matthew Graham, Kosciusko County Bowen Center director, and Jay Baumgartner, Bowen Center senior vice president of financial services and WCS school board member.

“Warsaw Community Schools is blessed with a collaborative partnership with the Bowen Center,” said Hoffert. “Their organization has assisted over the years with programming in drug and substance abuse, alternative education and mental health options for students and employees. As WCS has created a focus to identify students in mental health crisis, the Bowen Center has been a key leader in staff training. This award is an honor that signifies the partnership and hard work on behalf of students due to the collaborative relationship with the Bowen Center.”

The Doc Bowen Community Partner Award was created in honor of former Governor Otis R. Bowen, who strongly contributed to mental health services. The Otis R. Bowen Center is a community mental health center that has been providing services in numerous counties including Kosciusko County since 1961.