Attention children and teens: Did your mother work hard, speak up and keep asking until you received the health care attention and treatment that you need? If so, the Tennessee Justice Center invites you to nominate your mother as a "Mother of the Year." Any mother or foster mother can be nominated. Mothers from across Tennessee will be selected for recognition as a "Mother of the Year." The mothers named "Mother of the Year" will receive a framed certificate of recognition and appear on the Tennessee Justice Center website and blog.

It is easy to nominate someone as "Mother of the Year." Simply write a few paragraphs on one sheet of paper to explain why your mother is your health care hero. Then put your name, your mother's name, your address and phone number on the paper and mail it with a photo of you and your mother to the Tennessee Justice Center, 301 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37201. Tennessee Justice Center cannot return photographs. Nominations along with digital pictures can also be sent by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Nominations must be received by April 9, 2010.

"Our annual 'Mother of the Year' recognition acknowledges the struggles, sacrifices and devotion of Tennessee mothers. They are an inspiring example of how Tennessee parents bravely persist and overcome obstacles to obtain care that their sick and disabled children need and legally should receive," said Michele Johnson, managing attorney at the Tennessee Justice Center, a non-profit public interest law and advocacy firm based in Nashville.

Johnson added, "This is the second year that we have invited Tennessee children and teens to nominate their mothers. Our office receives calls every day from mothers who inspire us with their dedication to their children. We want to celebrate these mothers and all the mothers we don't get to talk with, but who are real heroes."

The Tennessee Justice Center (TJC) is a non-profit public interest law and advocacy firm serving Tennessee's families. It gives priority to policy issues and civil cases in which the most basic necessities of life are at stake and where advocacy can benefit needy families statewide. TJC works to empower its clients by holding government accountable for its policies and actions. TJC was established in 1996 and is located at 301 Charlotte Avenue in Nashville. For additional information about the Tennessee Justice Center and its services, visit www.tnjustice.org or call 615-255-0331.