The award is presented annually to a professional who has made significant contributions to the treatment, or understanding of, chemical addiction while supporting strong 12 Step recovery principles with personal passion and commitment. The award’s namesake, Fr. Joseph Martin S.S., was the co-founder of the Father Martin’s Ashley treatment center and creator of the Chalk Talk on Alcohol which became a mainstay of addiction education for decades. He passed away in 2009. Previous Father Martin award winners include Jerry Moe, Robert Ackerman, Ph.D., Debra Reynolds, Dr.PH and Donald Kurth, MD.The award was presented by Steve Kendrick, MBA, chief operating officer for the Father Martin’s Ashley treatment center; sponsor of the award. Kendrick said: “Dr. Claudia Black has changed the lives of people she has never met by sharing her knowledge about the effects addiction has on children and family members in her numerous books and presentations. She and Father Martin met early in her career and Fr. Martin saw the spark of passion that she had for her work. That spark grew into a remarkable career of helping people. He would be so proud that we’re presenting her with the award that bears his name.”

The award ceremony is held each year at the National Conference on Addiction Disorders (NCAD). The NCAD conference draws nearly 1,000 addiction professionals and those who provide ancillary services to the field.

Claudia Black holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Psychology from Columbia Pacific University, and a Masters Degree in Social Work and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Welfare from the University of Washington. She is one of the original founders of, and serves on the Advisory Board for, the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) and is currently a Senior Fellow and Addiction and Trauma Program Specialist at The Meadows Treatment Center in Arizona.

During the span of her career, she has written more fifteen books, many published in several other languages, and created over 20 educational videos that have become mainstays in the field of addiction treatment and recovery. She also addresses issues that are common to the addicted, such as relapse, anger and depression and broke a barrier many years ago by openly discussing physical and sexual abuse in the context of addictive families. She has taken her message throughout the U.S. and the world, most recently in Iran appearing via satellite on an Iranian television show. Dr. Black and her husband, Jack Fahey, live in Washington State.