AUGUSTA — Crisis & Counseling Centers was recognized for its “vision and treatment of individuals with co-occurring disorders” at the recent annual meeting of the Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine.

Crisis & Counseling Clinical Director Michael Mitchell accepted the award.

The agency provides crisis services for Kennebec and Somerset counties and serves individuals with mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, according to a news release about the award.

“We are exceptionally proud of the work we do in the community and are especially appreciative when our partners single us out for recognition,” Mitchell said. “This shows that not only do we make a difference in the lives of those we serve, but that we are seen as a valuable team player in helping Maine be the best.”

The agency also provides health care services to correctional facilities in Maine.

“We are committed to helping people understand how they become stuck in criminal and anti-social behavior and what they can do to break loose,” Mitchell said. “This treatment is not only important for these individuals, but also crucial to us as a society.”

Catherine Chichester, executive director of the Collaborative Serving Maine, said: “We wanted to recognize (Crisis & Counseling) for supporting integrated services for people who have both mental health and substance abuse issues as well as other complex conditions.”

Chichester said the work Crisis & Counseling has done helps people who enter the correctional system with complex disorders, and it addresses the specific needs of that population to help keep them out of jail.

The collaborative presented three awards to individuals:

* Kennebec County Sheriff Randy Liberty was recognized for working to advance treatment for individuals experiencing a co-occurring disorder while incarcerated.

* Former Crisis & Counseling CEO Andrew Loman was recognized for his years of commitment to advance recovery for co-occurring disorders.

* Mary Haynes, clinical director at Community Health and Counseling in Bangor, was recognized for “visionary guidance and dedication to co-occurring treatment.”