PITTSBURGH – Dr. Steve Jewell, corporate medical director of Pressley Ridge, has received the 2004 Marilyn Mennis Memorial Award from the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association (PCPA). This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate devotion, caring, leadership and advocacy on behalf of Pennsylvania’s children with special needs and their families.

Dr. Jewell, a child psychiatrist, has been with Pressley Ridge since 1983, directing mental health treatment for children and adolescents. Pressley Ridge’s education, treatment foster care, residential treatment and community-based services help more than 1,900 troubled children and their families daily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and Virginia as well as Portugal and Hungary.

“This award is a wonderful recognition of Dr. Jewell’s work and dedication, encompassing 20 years of daily psychiatric care for our children,” said B. Scott Finnell, President of Pressley Ridge. “Equally important, Steve is a tremendous advocate for children’s rights. His work to promote a just and effective system of care delivery has helped state legislators understand the needs of children and families and their service providers.”

Jewell received the award at the PCPA 2004 conference at Seven Springs, Pa. There, PCPA officials cited Dr. Jewell’s commitment to improve public behavioral health system for children. For two decades, Dr. Jewell has provided a remarkable amount of wisdom and guidance in child and adolescent services, as a senior administrator and psychiatrist for a premier agency, and as a champion for children and families.

“I am concerned that the system of care meets the needs of our families, so I have tried to work with public policy makers and those who regulate service delivery,” said Dr. Jewell. “I respect our legislators. My job is to give them the perspective of providers and psychiatrists, so they can make informed decisions.”

Dr. Jewell is the chairman of the child and adolescent psychiatry committee of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society. He serves on the Allegheny County Children’s Cabinet. He also serves on the executive committee of the Conference of Allegheny Providers where he is chairman of the children’s committee. In addition, he was appointed to serve on the first board of directors for Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health of Allegheny County. Dr. Jewell lives with his wife, Ilene, in Upper St. Clair.