—Dr. Michael Barnes receives award from American Psychological Association— 
 
 
WASHINGTON, DC – Dr. Michael Barnes, Chief Clinical Psychologist and head of DC Superior Court’s Child Guidance Clinic, has been selected by the American Psychological Association (APA) as the recipient of the 2012 APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Institutional Practice. Dr. Barnes will receive the award at the 2012 APA Convention in Orlando, FL this summer.  
 
The annual APA awards recognize outstanding practitioners in psychology. Recipients are judged through peer recognition, advancement of the public’s recognition of psychology as a profession, and relevant professional association honors. In particular, the APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Institutional Practice is awarded to individuals whose everyday dedication and contributions advance the field of human behavior and behavioral health. 
 
“Dr.  Barnes is incredibly deserving of this award; he is one of DC’s unsung heroes.  He and his staff work hard every day to help troubled youth overcome their challenges and build a brighter future.  His unwavering dedication to the juveniles who he sees and to the community is an incredible asset to the District,” said Chief Judge Satterfield.  “We at the Superior Court are not surprised, but are extremely proud of Dr. Barnes for this accomplishment.” 
 
Some of Dr. Barnes noteworthy accomplishments include strengthening the Child Guidance Clinic by implementing state-of-the art practices, as well as launching the Family Court Social Services Division’s juvenile sex offender program. The juvenile sex offender program, titled “SAVE- Sexual Abuse Violates Everyone,” is the only community-based model in the greater metropolitan area. He oversees the labor-intensive process to secure national accreditation for the division’s doctoral internship program, and collaborated with local universities to expand the breadth of internships for graduate and doctoral level students. He is also coleading the Family Court Social Services Division’s efforts to launch the first-ever Behavioral Health Diversion Program for juveniles with mental health issues.