Wayne Nonprofit Awards Annual Community Service Award

The Wayne-based PLAN of PA, which provides Planning, Trust and Care Management Services for adults with mental differences, has named Nancy Wieman, a champion of individuals with mental health challenges, as this year’s winner of its annual community service award.

PLAN honored Wieman, Montgomery County Deputy Administrator for Mental Health Services, as the 2011 Bernard White Community Service Award recipient at its Nov. 9 annual meeting held at Wayne Presbyterian Church.

“We considered a number of excellent professionals in the field, and Nancy was the unanimous choice,” said Len Smiley, Chairman of the PLAN of PA Board, who presented the award to Ms. Wieman. “Like Bernard White, Nancy had enormous foresight in ensuring that services for those with mental illness are provided in an adequate and meaningful way.”

Long before it became the standard of care, Wieman was an ardent proponent of community inclusion and incorporated voices of individuals with mental health conditions into all aspects of the county programs while ensuring that families are represented. 

The Bernard White Community Service Award is given in the spirit of one of PLAN of PA’s founders, Bernard H. White. White, along with his wife Frances, helped to establish Torrey House and the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of the Main Line. Mr. White also served as a Commissioner in Radnor Township for 10 years and was President of the Commissioners from 1968-1974. He died in 2006 at the age of 92.

In her role at the Office of Mental Health, Wieman manages $25 million in community-based mental health services; directs private agencies about service provision, policy and budget; and develops and implements Mental Health Department policies and procedures. In 2003, Wieman initiated the transformation of Montgomery County’s public mental health system to embrace and adopt the philosophy and best practices of the recovery movement.

“I am very honored to receive the Bernard White Community Service Award because of work that PLAN does to foster opportunities for persons with disabilities to live successfully in the community,” said Wieman. “The role of services has changed dramatically over the years of my career because recipients and their families have been willing to state clearly what works. 

“In Montgomery County we have committed ourselves to the growth of peer support as an opportunity to help each person live as a full, contributing member of the community of their choice,” she added. “It is my hope that this change will provide a sense of hope for persons with mental illness as they make their way in life.”

Before coming to the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health, Wieman worked at Norristown State Hospital in a variety of roles. She is the recipient of several awards, and volunteers in the community. She received a Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration from St. Joseph’s University.

PLAN of PA (Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Pennsylvania) provides Planning, Trust and Care Management Services to families of adults with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, autism and brain injury as well as other lifelong disabilities, utilizing a strength-based approach to maximize potential. PLAN looks to provide peace of mind for families who wish to assure that quality of life and care for their loved one continues—both now and in the future. PLAN currently serves the five-county Greater Philadelphia region of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.