DHA Alumna Dr. Celia Thomas Receives the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation Leonard W. Smith Mental Health Hero Award

Celebrating Dr. Celia Thomas, DHA ACHE

The DHA Alumni-Student Network is thrilled to celebrate the incredible recognition of one of our esteemed alums. The Ethel & James Flinn Foundation recognized Dr. Celia Thomas (Cohort 2011), the chief operating officer at Alternatives for Girls, for advocating for and supporting young women in the Detroit area.

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation honored Dr. Thomas with the Leonard W. Smith Mental Health Hero Award. This recognition is a testament to her unwavering commitment to mental health advocacy and her transformative work in the human services field. As COO at Alternatives for Girls, Dr. Thomas has helped countless young women access critical resources and make life-changing strides toward stability and success.

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation interviewed Dr. Thomas, who expressed surprise and gratitude at receiving the award. She also reflected on the success stories she has experienced while working at Alternatives For Girls.

Congratulations, Dr. Thomas, on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for being so dedicated to improving the lives of young women and contributing to the ongoing evolution of mental health care.

Alternatives for Girls (AFG) began in 1987 as a community effort to support girls and young women in southwest Detroit. Originally a small, volunteer-run program operating a five-bed emergency shelter in a neighborhood church, AFG has evolved into a multi-service agency with over 75 employees. For nearly 4 decades, the goal has remained the same: help those experiencing homelessness and other risks avoid violence, early pregnancy, and exploitation.

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation is a private foundation that uses its resources to improve the quality, scope, and delivery of mental health services in Michigan. The foundation was founded in 1976 by Ethel “Peggy” W. Flinn to honor her parents and brother James while focusing on philanthropy related to mental health research. Peggy, a registered nurse and Red Cross volunteer during World War II was dedicated to children's health and served on the Board of Trustees of Children’s Hospital of Michigan. She provided initial funding for the Foundation and established an endowment upon her death in 1994.