Our History
Over Three Decades of Collaboration for Awareness, Education, and Advocacy
The Behavioral Health Awareness Coalition was founded in 1991, and was originally known as the Mental Illness Awareness Week Coalition (MIAWC). Under the umbrella of NAMI Knoxville, the MIAWC operated as a planning committee to include representatives from other groups for Mental Illness Awareness Week activities, and was chaired by Marsha Shields. The MIAWC's guiding principles included mental illness awareness, education, and advocacy with a collaborative approach.
Eventually, this small but mighty group of individuals furthered their efforts to plan and promote activities year-round. Many of these activities began to focus on behavioral health advocacy. At this point, a process was introduced to formally elect officers and a consistent meeting schedule was put into place. In 2004, the group saw a need to develop and approve the Coalition's first set of bylaws.
In 2010, the MIAC evolved its name to the Behavioral Health Awareness Coalition of East Tennessee (BHACET) to ensure substance abuse advocacy inclusion. The BHACET also expanded it's focus to the East TN Region as a whole, and started hosting regular meetings of the Executive Committee. At this point, an Administrative Assistant position was formally designated in order to maintain proper organizational management.
The BHACET then recognized the need to establish independence from the NAMI Knoxville in 2014, and became officially incorporated. A logo, website, and social media account were created, in addition to the development & approval of formal policies and procedures in 2017.
Eventually, this small but mighty group of individuals furthered their efforts to plan and promote activities year-round. Many of these activities began to focus on behavioral health advocacy. At this point, a process was introduced to formally elect officers and a consistent meeting schedule was put into place. In 2004, the group saw a need to develop and approve the Coalition's first set of bylaws.
In 2010, the MIAC evolved its name to the Behavioral Health Awareness Coalition of East Tennessee (BHACET) to ensure substance abuse advocacy inclusion. The BHACET also expanded it's focus to the East TN Region as a whole, and started hosting regular meetings of the Executive Committee. At this point, an Administrative Assistant position was formally designated in order to maintain proper organizational management.
The BHACET then recognized the need to establish independence from the NAMI Knoxville in 2014, and became officially incorporated. A logo, website, and social media account were created, in addition to the development & approval of formal policies and procedures in 2017.