NEW YORK STATE RECOGNIZES PIONEER OF FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES IN LEWIS COUNTY

 

Karen Boliver Honored for Embedding Family Voices and Lived Experience in Systems at All Levels 

 

New York State is honoring Karen Boliver, a Lewis County advocate, with the 2026 ‘What’s Great in our State’ Family/Caregiver Award, which recognizes family members or caregivers who use their lived experience to make a difference in their community through their professional or volunteer work. Boliver was presented with the award Tuesday during the event in Albany and recognized for her efforts to advance culturally responsive, peer-based support to reduce isolation, increase engagement, and improve outcomes for young people and their families. 

 

“Karen Boliver is representative of ‘What’s Great in Our State’ by playing a foundational role in strengthening family support, influencing policy, and improving cross-system collaboration,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “Through her leadership, families in Lewis County have been empowered, have clearer pathways to services, and stronger, more coordinated support.” 

 

Boliver, who serves as an associate director at the Northern Regional Center for Independent Living, has helped incorporate family voice and lived experience into systems at every level. Her work includes direct service and system building forts in Lewis County and across Central New York.

  

With 25 years’ experience, she has demonstrated sustained leadership in advancing family driven, youth-guided, community-based, and culturally responsive systems of care. As a pioneer of Family Support Services, she has helped advance culturally responsive, peer-based support for children, youth, and families that reduces isolation, increases engagement, and improves outcomes.  

 

Boliver’s advocacy has influenced policy and practice to be more family-driven, youth-guided, and collaborative, while addressing longstanding barriers such as stigma, fragmented systems, and inequitable access to care –especially for underserved communities. Her work reflects a deep understanding of the challenges families face and a steadfast commitment to ensuring they are met with respect, support, and opportunity. 

 

“Advocacy is a positive, persistent movement forward- with children, youth, and families, energized with passion, purpose, and strong professional partnerships with likeminded individuals,” Boliver said. “This recognition is not mine alone. It reflects the many people I’ve worked with over the past 25 years –families, colleagues, and community partners –each one shaping this journey. Together, we have navigated multiple systems, created opportunities, and worked to ensure that families are engaged, empowered, and supported to live their best lives- grounded in informed choice, knowledge, and respect. I share this award with all of you, noting that my lifetime of advocacy is passion-filled, and still in motion.” 

 

‘What’s Great in Our State’ recognizes individuals and programs that are successfully advancing the cause of children’s mental health in New York State and is celebrated annually during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Established in 2010, the day-long conference in Albany features a ceremony recognizing honorees, workshops, and an art show featuring artwork created by children receiving services from New York State’s mental health system.    

Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation recognizing Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the What’s Great in Our State event and the importance of fostering positive mental well-being among youth. Under her leadership, the state has undertaken key initiatives to improve youth mental health, including expanding Teen Mental Health First Aid training in schools, establishing the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, funding Youth Safe Spaces, and adopting strong digital and social media protections for young people, including the nation’s first bell-to-bell restrictions on smart phone use during school.

The event is sponsored by the state Office of Mental Health, Department of Health, Department of Education, Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports. In addition, several children’s mental health advocacy organizations sponsor the event, including the Council on Children and Families, the Early Care & Learning Council, Families Together in New York State, Inc., Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc., National Alliance on Mental Illness - New York State, New York State Network for Youth Success, and Prevent Child Abuse New York. 

 

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