GAH President and Founder Awarded Presidential Citation by APA

Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen Awarded Presidential Citation by American Psychological Association Dr. Van Dahlen is recognized for her visionary leadership and her activism to harness the skills and generosity of mental health professionals to care for this nation's returning service members and their families  (From left) Melba J.T. Vasquez, Ph.D., President, American Psychological Association, and Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., Founder and President, Give an Hour™ In 2005, Dr. Van Dahlen created Give an Hour™, a nonprofit network of volunteer mental health professionals who provide free mental health services to U.S. troops, veterans, and their loved ones following deployment to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Born of her concern about the mental health implications of the war in Iraq, and started in her basement office, under her direction Give an Hour™ has grown into a 50-state network with 5,700 providers. She is frequently sought out by the press for her expertise on the psychological impact of war on troops and their families, and by the White House and top leadership of the Department of Defense as a thoughtful leader on mobilizing public, private, and community support for the nation's heroes. These efforts demonstrate her enduring commitment to doing good in the world, and to bringing the best that psychology has to offer to the needs of the community. In recognition of her many important contributions to psychology, the American Psychological Association presents Dr. Van Dahlen this Presidential Citation.