The Kenneth Barr Award was established by the Mental Health Connection in 2004 to recognize exemplary collaborative efforts and extraordinary contributions to improving the mental health system in Tarrant County. The Honorable Kenneth Barr, mayor of the City of Fort Worth from 1996 to 2003, provided leadership, vision and energy to the Mental Health Connection at a critical time in its development. Mayor Barr’s leadership galvanized the alliance, providing the impetus for influencing change and garnering significant resources to address a serious community issue.

2007 Recipient: Fort worth Museum of Science and History The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History received the second Kenneth Barr Award. The Museum served as the key community partner with Mental Health Connection by hosting "Fine Line: Mental Health/Mental Illness." The Museum offered space for the exhibit at no charge and waived its usual exhibit fee for visitors, making the exhibit accessible to a broad community audience. In addition, the Museum's expert staff was invaluable in designing the show, handling many of the logistics and supporting the marketing efforts. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History features traveling exhibits and four core exhibit galleries, including DinoDig® and KIDSPACE® ; the Noble Planetarium, Museum School®; and the Omni Theater, an IMAX dome seven stories high. Since the mid-1980s, the Museum annually welcomes more than 800,000 visitors, making it one of the most popular cultural attractions in North Texas.

2004 Recipient: Fort Worth Independent School District
     The first Kenneth Barr Award was presented to the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD), which was recognized for its innovation and vision as demonstrated in the creation of Family Resource Centers in partnership with numerous community mental health care organizations. Based on FWISD campuses, the Family Resource Centers help to improve learning and academic achievement by addressing the behavioral health needs of FWISD students and their families. The Family Resource Centers support FWISD’s mission of educational excellence.