Two Cincinnati women have been honored with Hamilton County's 2003 Child Case Manager of the Year Awards.

They are Jennifer Baughman, 24, a care coordinator at Hamilton Choices, and Debbie Stewart, 26, a family support worker in the Community Support Program at the Children's Home of Cincinnati.

The award was given by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. It honors outstanding mental health professionals who demonstrate commitment and dedication to improving the lives of people with mental illness.

To qualify for the award, case managers must have worked in the mental health field for two years and be nominated by a member of the community.

Baughman lives in Hyde Park and is a graduate of Bowling Green State University.

"Jen believes in kids and families and has a talent for getting the treatment team to work toward the family's goal," said Kay Brown, program director.

Stewart lives in Walnut Hills and is a graduate of Bryn Mawr University outside Philadelphia.

"She (Stewart) is a wonderful example of the care and commitment at Children's Home," said Marcy Robbe, director of Mental Health Services at Children's Home.

Hamilton Choices, West End, is a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based Choices Inc. It creates community teams that give people a voice in their care process.

Under a three-year contract, it manages a system of care for 260 children and adolescents a year in Hamilton County.

The Children's Home provides services for children and families in adoption, early childhood education and mental health.

Other winners are; Frank Gorman, volunteer of the year; Chris Livermore and Cornelius Lockhart, adult case managers of the year; Dr. James Brush and Barb Wincik, therapists of the year; Dr. Michael Sorter, psychiatrist of the year, and Terry L. Russell, leadership award.

If you are interested in starting your own business, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) has some information for you at its Starting and Nurturing Your Business Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Scarlet Oaks Instructional Resource Center, 3254 Kemper Road, Sharonville. For more information, call 684-2812.

A $500,000 grant from the Luther Foundation will help the Fine Arts Fund assist mid-sized arts organizations in Greater Cincinnati..

The organizations are: the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati, Children's Theatre, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, Ensemble Theatre, Fitton Center for Creative Arts, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre and Theatre IV.

Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley are co-trustees of the Luther Foundation.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.