assignment of general partnership interest

Assignment Of Partnership Interest

Jump to section, what is an assignment of partnership interest.

• Information about the partnership like the name of the business
• The type of interest being transferred
• The names and information of both the assignor and the assignee
• Information about the remaining partners

Common Sections in Assignments Of Partnership Interest

Below is a list of common sections included in Assignments Of Partnership Interest. These sections are linked to the below sample agreement for you to explore.

Assignment Of Partnership Interest Sample

Reference : Security Exchange Commission - Edgar Database, EX-10.37 15 dex1037.htm FORM OF AGREEMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF PARTNERSHIP INTEREST , Viewed October 25, 2021, View Source on SEC .

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Assignment of Interest Form: Everything You Need to Know

An assignment of interest form allows a limited liability company (LLC) member to assign their interest or ownership stake in the company to another person. 3 min read updated on January 01, 2024

Updated November 25, 2020:

An assignment of interest form allows a limited liability company (LLC) member to assign their interest or ownership stake in the company to another person. The information that you will need to include in this form depends on the laws governing LLCs in your state.

Assigning LLC Interest

LLCs are a popular business structure that offers certain features of both corporations and partnerships. Owners of a limited liability company are members, and each member's stake in the company is their interest. LLC members have the ability to transfer their interest by making an assignment of interest.

An LLC's operating agreement describes how the company will be run and dictates the requirements and limitations of members' interests in the company. If this agreement allows members to transfer their company interests, they can do so with an assignment of interest form. Every state will have specific rules for what you must include in this form before a member's interest can be assigned.

In most cases, an assignment of interest does not constitute a sale of a member's LLC interest. In many states, an assignment of interest only transfers the financial advantage of the stake or share, so the member who initially possessed the interest still retains his or her voting and managerial rights in the company while the assignee will not. Assignments of interest are commonly used as loan collateral, and once the loan is paid off, the assignment ends.

Furthermore, an assignment will only transfer a percentage of an LLC member's interest. You are not required to assign all of your stakes' financial benefits. Having the ability to transfer a portion of interest allows members of an LLC to use their ownership stake very flexibly. However, partial assignments can only be made if the LLC's operating agreement allows them.

Assignments and Partnerships

An assignment of partnership interest is similar to an assignment of LLC interest. Assigning a partnership interest involves a business partner assigning their right to financially benefit from the partnership to a new partner.

When writing an assignment of partnership interest form, you should be sure to include the correct information:

• Details about the partnership, including the business's legal name and its formation date.
• Contact information of the new partner who is receiving the partnership interest.
• Contact information of the old partner who is assigning their interest.
• Contact information of the other business partners.
• The monetary amount being exchanged for the partnership interest.
• The date where the assignment will be revoked.
• Signatures of all parties, including the assignor, assignee, and remaining partners.

The main purpose of this legal document is to record the assignment of the partnership interest.

Without a valid assignment of interest form, the new partner would have no way to force the old partner to fulfill the terms of the assignment. In addition to making sure that the assignment is enforceable, this document outlines what role the new partner will play in the business. For instance, the assignment of partnership interest form can dictate if the new partner will have any management or financial responsibilities in the business. Full partners, for instance, can usually make decisions for the business and will also have access to the business's financial records.

There are countless reasons that a business partner may wish to assign their partnership interest to a new partner:

• The business's needed cash flow has changed.
• A change has occurred in how the business allocates its assets.
• Implementation of a new partnership strategy.
• New regulations pose challenges for the business.

When assigning a partnership interest, there are several issues you must address:

• Which partner will assign their interest and who will receive the assignment.
• The rights of the assignee to participate in managing or operating the business.
• The location of the business partnership.
• The establishment date of the partnership.
• What the assigning partner will receive in exchange for assigning their partnership interest.

Whether you are a partner in a business or a member of an LLC, your ownership stake in the business entity likely provides you with a variety of rights. For instance, you may have the right to receive profits from the business and the right to receive business assets after the company dissolves. Depending on your operating or partnership agreement , you may be able to transfer these rights to another party in exchange for consideration.

If you need help with an assignment of interest form, you can post your legal needs on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.

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Assignment of Partnership Interest to Revocable Trust | Practical Law

Assignment of Partnership Interest to Revocable Trust

Practical law standard document w-005-7334  (approx. 11 pages).

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Assignment Of Partnership Interest

When you want to transfer the stake in a partnership to a new member, you’ll use an Assignment of Partnership Interest to outline the terms of the transaction.

• About document

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How it works.

Members of a partnership often need to transfer some or all of their stake to a new partner. Doing so can be a delicate process because it impacts the partnership as a whole, not just the seller and buyer.

To make the transaction as transparent as possible and to satisfy potential requirements in the partnership articles, the transfer should be recorded in an Assignment of Partnership Interest. As the document's name implies, its successful execution transfers a portion of the interest in the partnership from a current partner to a new partner.

What Is an Assignment of Partnership Interest?

An Assignment of Partnership Interest is a legal document establishing the terms under which stake in a partnership is transferred from an assignor to an assignee. In other words, the new partner (assignee) acquires the right to receive benefits from the partnership per the stake granted.

The particulars of the Assignment of Partnership respond, in large part, to the type of partnership in question. In some cases, the Partnership Agreement under which the partnership is formed doesn't allow for a transfer of interest to new members or does so only under specific circumstances.

It's also worth noting that a partnership carries both rights and responsibilities. A new partner who receives an interest in the partnership assumes all the Partnership Agreement obligations, including liabilities. However, some states place limitations on assignees' rights that don't recognize them on equal footing as the founding partners.

Other Names for Assignment of Partnership Interest

Depending on your state, an Assignment of Partnership Interest may also be known as:

Transfer of Partnership Interest

Partnership Interest Transfer Form

Transfer of Share in Partnership

Who Needs an Assignment of Partnership Interest

Most of the time, an Assignment of Partnership Interest is drafted by a partnership member who's looking to transfer their stake in a partnership. However, the interest assignee could also create the form if they believe specific clauses need to be included.

Other current members of the partnership are also typically involved in creating the document to ensure it's in line with the terms established in the Partnership Agreement. The terms of the agreement frequently place restrictions on the type and amount of interest transferred by each partner.

Situations calling for a transfer of interest may include the business's cash flow requirements, a need to reallocate business assets, changes in the overall partnership strategy, and changes in the regulatory landscape, among others.

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How to Create an Assignment of Partnership Interest with 360 Legal Forms

An Assignment of Partnership Interest needs to satisfy several parties. The assignor and assignee need to have their rights protected, and it must fall within the terms of the original Partnership Agreement. It's essential to use a form addressing all the details involved.

Let 360 Legal Forms help with our extensive library of attorney-vetted legal forms. The process is fast and easy. All you have to do is fill out our easy-to-understand questionnaire. Once complete, simply download your form as a PDF or Word document from your secure online account.

What Information Will I Need to Create My Assignment of Partnership Interest

To create your document, please provide:

Assignor: Full name and address of the partner transferring the business interest

Assignee: Full name and address of the incoming partner receiving the business interest

Partnership Details: Legal name and address of the partnership in which interest is being transferred, along with business purposes and other details

Remaining Partners: Names and addresses of the other members of the partnership

Consideration: Payment that the assignor will receive for the transfer of interest

Closing Date: When the assignment of interest will be executed

Assignment of Partnership Interest Terms

Warranties: A section of the Assignment of Partnership Interest clearly stating what the assignor promises are right about the interest and the terms of the partnership

Indemnification clause: A clause releasing each party from responsibility created by the other party's failure to act as the document requires

Implied terms: Terms and clauses including an agreement under law or custom even if they're not spelled out directly in the agreement

Exclusion clauses: A part of an agreement releasing a party from responsibility under a specific circumstance

Assignment of Partnership Interest Signing Requirements

To be legally enforceable, an Assignment of Partnership Interest must be signed by the assignor, the assignee, and all the remaining members of the partnership. If applicable, witnesses to the signing need to sign the document as well.

The signatures do not need to be notarized to be valid. However, you may choose to notarize the signatures to prevent any challenge arising at a later time.

What to Do with Your Assignment of Partnership Interest

Once the Assignment of Partnership Interest is signed (and signatures notarized if you so choose), distribute signed copies to every partnership member and the assignee. Keep a copy for your records and make sure the partnership's secretary records the transfer of interest in the minutes of the partnership. In some states, it may be necessary to file a document with the Commissioner of Corporations, and tax liabilities may arise based on the value of the interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. You can choose to notarize the signatures on the assignment document, but it’s not required for it to be legal and valid.

In theory, yes. However, this is not only inadvisable but could also result in legal issues down the line. Without the document to establish each party’s obligations, either may choose to back out of the transaction. Furthermore, it puts the partnership at risk, since the assignee ends up with a controlling stake in the business without explicitly being bound to the terms of the original Partnership Agreement.

When partnership interest is transferred, the assignor’s proceeds are typically treated as a capital gain/loss. But, some or all of the capital gains may end up as ordinary income if the assignor attributes it to unrealized receivables. State and local laws may also play a role and you’re well-advised to consult a tax attorney or CPA licensed to practice in your state.

Yes, the document can be used to transfer a partner’s interest to natural or legal persons in a general sense. However, it should be noted that federal tax audit rules may be affected for a partnership if one or more members is itself a partnership and the original agreement may prohibit this type of transfer specifically.

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Free Assignment of Partnership Interest Template for Microsoft Word

Download this free Assignment of Partnership Interest template as a Word document to make it easy to assign your interest in a partnership to a third party.

Assignment of Partnership Interest

THIS ASSIGNMENT (the “Assignment”) made and entered into on [Insert Date]

AMONGST: [Insert Name] of [Insert Address] (the “Assignor”)

– AND- [Insert Name] of [Insert Address] (the “Assignee”)

– AND-

[Insert Name] of [Insert Address] (the “Remaining Partner”)

A. The Assignor is the holder of a partnership interest (the “Interest”) in [Insert name of partnership interest] (the “Partnership”), a partnership previously established on [Insert date of initial partnership agreement] for the purpose of  and formed in accordance with an agreement (the “Partnership Agreement”).

B. The Assignor desires to assign the Interest to the Assignee and the Assignee desires to acquire the Interest from the Assignor.

C. The Interest acquired by the Assignee will include all rights in the Partnership previously afforded to the Assignor including the status as partner. The Remaining Partner has agreed and gives consent to such assignment according to the terms and conditions of this Assignment.

IN CONSIDERATION OF and as a condition of the parties entering into this Assignment and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which consideration is acknowledged, the parties to this Assignment agree as follows:

Sale and Purchase

1. By this Assignment the Assignor withdraws from the Partnership and to the fullest extent permitted by the Partnership Agreement, assigns all its rights, interests, title and benefits in the Partnership to the Assignee. The Assignee will become a partner in the Partnership taking the place of the Assignor in the Partnership with all the rights and obligations previously afforded to the Assignor. The Assignee, as a partner in the Partnership, will be bound by the terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement as amended. On assignment of the Interest to the Assignee, the Assignor will cease to be a partner in the Partnership.

Consideration

2. As full consideration for the assignment of the Interest the Assignee has submitted and the Assignor has accepted the following consideration: [Enter consideration]

3. The closing of the purchase and sale of the Interest (the “Closing”) will take place on [Insert closing date] (the “Closing Date”) at the offices of the Assignor or at such other time and place as the Assignor and Assignee mutually agree.

Representations and Warranties of the Assignor

4. The Assignor warrants that the Assignor has a general partnership interest in the Partnership and that the Assignor has the legal right to execute and perform an assignment of the Interest exclusive of the Assignor’s status as partner.

5. The Assignor warrants that the Interest is free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, restrictions and claims.

6. The Assignor warrants that on completion of this Assignment the Assignor will retain no residual interest or interests in the Partnership.

7. The Assignor warrants that the Assignor is not in any way in default of any of the expressed or implied terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement. The Assignor also warrants that this Assignment is in full compliance with all terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement.

8. The Assignor warrants that the Assignor is not bound by any other contractual agreement or legal requirement that would be violated by this Assignment.

9. The Assignor warrants that it has provided the Assignee with the most current copy of the Partnership Agreement inclusive of all amendments.

10. The Assignor warrants that no other consent is required from any third party or government entity authorising this Assignment except for those consents of the Remaining Partner contained in this Assignment.

Assignee’s Obligations

11. On Closing of this Assignment, the Assignee will observe and perform any and all terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement, relating to the newly acquired rights, that were previously binding on the Assignor. Transitional Rights and Obligations

12. To the full extent permitted by the Partnership Agreement, all income, rights, benefits, obligations and liabilities of the Interest will belong to the Assignor before the Closing and will transfer to the Assignee after the Closing. Consent of Remaining Partner

13. The Remaining Partner consents to the terms and conditions of this Assignment with the intent that the Assignee will become a partner in the Partnership with all of the rights, benefits, obligations and liabilities previously afforded to the Assignor under the Partnership Agreement as amended.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

14. This Assignment will be construed in accordance with, and exclusively governed by the laws of the [Insert state or country].

15. The Assignor and the Assignee submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the [Insert state or country] for the enforcement of this Assignment or any arbitration award or decision arising from this Assignment.

Miscellaneous

16. Time is of the essence in this Assignment.

17. This Assignment may be executed in counterpart. Facsimile signatures are binding and are considered to be original signatures.

18. All warrants and representations of the Assignor and the Assignee connected with this Assignment will survive the Closing.

19. This Assignment will not be assigned either in whole or in part by any party to this Assignment without the written consent of the other party.

20. Headings are inserted for the convenience of the parties only and are not to be considered when interpreting this Assignment. Words in the singular mean and include the plural and vice versa. Words in the masculine gender include the feminine gender and vice versa. Words in the neuter gender include the masculine gender and the feminine gender and vice versa.

21. If any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Assignment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, it is the parties’ intent that such provision be reduced in scope by the court only to the extent deemed necessary by that court to render the provision reasonable and enforceable and the remainder of the provisions of this Assignment will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated as a result.

22. This Assignment contains the entire agreement between the parties. All negotiations and understandings have been included in this Assignment. Statements or representations which may have been made by any party to this Assignment in the negotiation stages of this Assignment may in some way be inconsistent with this final written Assignment. All such statements are declared to be of no value in this Assignment. Only the written terms of this Assignment will bind the parties.

23. This Assignment and the terms and conditions contained in this Assignment apply to and are binding upon the Assignor, the Assignee, the Remaining Partner and their respective successors, assigns, executors, administrators, beneficiaries, and representatives.

24. Any notices or delivery required here will be deemed completed when hand-delivered, delivered by agent, or seven (7) days after being placed in the post, postage prepaid, to the parties at the addresses contained in this Assignment or as the parties may later designate in writing.

25. All of the rights, remedies and benefits provided by this Assignment will be cumulative and will not be exclusive of any other such rights, remedies and benefits allowed by law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Assignor, the Assignee and the Remaining Partner have duly affixed their signatures under hand and seal on [Insert date]

_____________________________ WITNESS: ___________________________ Address: _____________________________ Occupation: __________________________ _____________________________ ______________________________

_____________________________ WITNESS: ___________________________ Address: _____________________________ Occupation: __________________________ _____________________________ _________________________

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• Assignment of Partnership Interest

Learn about the definition for this legal term.

• Bar Exam Prep
• Legal Terms
• Business Organizations

What is Assignment of Partnership Interest?

Unless otherwise stated in the partnership agreement, a partnership interest is assignable in whole or in part.

Related Business Organizations Terms

• Aggregate Theory
• Partner's Interest in the Partnership
• Assignment of Interest
• General Partner
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2007 California Corporations Code Article 7. Assignment Of Partnership Interests

Ca codes (corp:15671-15675).

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

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Exhibit 10.3

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF LIMITED PARTNER INTEREST  AND SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT AND AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

(VISTA HOUSING ASSOCIATES)

This Assignment and Assumption of Limited Partner Interests and Second Amendment to the Agreement and Amended Certificate of Limited Partnership (this “ Amendment ”) of VISTA HOUSING ASSOCIATES, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of California (the “ Partnership ”), is dated and effective as of December 14, 2012 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED III, a California limited partnership (the “ Assignor ”), ALVAREZ BRACERO LP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Assignee ”), BUCARE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, a Puerto Rico corporation (the “ General Partner ”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Assignor acquired a limited partner interest in the Partnership (the “ LP Interest ”) pursuant to the Partnership’s Agreement and Amended Certificate of Limited Partnership, dated as of May 5, 1981, by and between the General Partner, and the Assignor, as amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Amended Certificate of Limited Partnership (collectively, the “ Partnership Agreement ”), including but not limited to a 99% interest in all profits, losses and tax credits under Section 42 of the Code;

WHEREAS, Section 8.2.1 of the Partnership Agreement permits the Assignor to transfer and assign all or any part of the LP Interest to the Assignee;

WHEREAS, Section 8.2.2 of the Partnership Agreement authorizes the substitution of the Assignee as a Substitute Limited Partner in the Partnership;

WHEREAS, the Assignor wishes to assign the LP Interest to the Assignee as of the Effective Date for $21,900.00, and the Assignee wishes to accept such assignment of the LP Interest for the consideration and upon the terms and conditions of this Amendment;

WHEREAS, the Assignee is willing to undertake all of the obligations of the Assignor under the Partnership Agreement (the “ Obligations ”); and

WHEREAS, the General Partner desires to acknowledge such undertaking of the Obligations by the Assignee and to release the Assignor from the Obligations and all other liabilities in connection with the LP Interest. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and for other good and valuable consideration hereinafter described, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1.                   Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings attributed thereto in the Partnership Agreement.

2.                   As of the Effective Date and in consideration of Twenty-One Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars and 00/100 ($21,900.00) paid by the Assignee to the Assignor, and provided such consideration has in fact been paid to the Assignor, the Assignor assigns to the Assignee and the Assignee accepts from the Assignor, one hundred percent (100%) of the Assignor’s right, title and interest in and to the LP Interest, including, without limitation, the Assignor’s entire right to allocations of Profits and Losses and tax credits under Section 42 of the Code and all items entering into the computation thereof, and to all distributions of Cash from Operations, Net Refinancing Cash and surplus cash from a Disposition, however denominated, under the Partnership Agreement; provided, however, that (i) solely for purposes of allocating the Profits and Losses and tax credits from operations (collectively, the “ Tax Benefits ”) between the Assignor and the Assignee, the Assignor shall receive all Tax Benefits attributable to any day before December 1, 2012, and the Assignee shall receive all Tax Benefits attributable to December 1, 2012, and any day thereafter; and (ii) the Assignee shall receive all distributions of Cash from Operations or the Net Refinancing Cash or the surplus cash from a Disposition distributed by the Partnership after the Effective Date regardless of whether such distributions are attributable to any period prior or subsequent to the Effective Date.

3.                   The Assignor hereby represents and warrants the following:

a.        Authorization . The Assignor has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Amendment.  

b.       Conflicts . To the Assignor’s actual knowledge, the execution, delivery and performance by the Assignor of this Amendment and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (A) violate (1) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation the effect of which would be to cause or be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Assignor to perform any of its obligations under this Amendment, (2) any order of any governmental authority having proper jurisdiction over the Assignor, or (3) any provision of any indenture, loan agreement or other material agreement to which the Assignor is a party or by which it or any of its property is or may be bound, (B) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any such indenture, loan agreement or other material agreement or (C) result in the creation or imposition of any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, claim, equity interest, participation interest, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind with respect to the LP Interest.

c.        Enforceability . This Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Assignor and the terms hereof constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Assignor enforceable against the Assignor in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

d.       Title and Ownership . Assignor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the LP Interest and has full power and lawful authority to transfer, convey and assign to the Assignee all of the Assignor’s right, title and interest in and to the LP Interest in the manner contemplated hereby.  . After giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, neither the Assignor nor any person claiming under or through the Assignor has any valid claim to or interest in the LP Interest.

e.        Liens . The LP Interest is free from all mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, claim, equity interest, participation interest, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind created or authorized by the Assignor.

f.         The above representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Assignor shall survive the execution and delivery of this Amendment and the closing hereunder.

4.                   In consideration of the assignment effected hereby, the Assignee hereby assumes and agrees to discharge all of the Obligations pursuant to the Partnership Agreement from and after the Effective Date.  Assignee further covenants and agrees to promptly pay when due any and all transfer taxes and assessments resulting from the transfer of the LP Interest from the Assignor to the Assignee.

5.                   The Assignee represents and warrants to the Assignor that:

a.        Organization: Powers . The Assignee (i) is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, (iii) is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the performance by the Transferee of its obligations under this Amendment, and (iv) has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Amendment.

b.       Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance by the Assignee of this Amendment, the issuance of the Note and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (i) have been duly authorized by all requisite action and (ii) will not (A) violate (1) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation the effect of which would be to cause or be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Transferee to perform any of its obligations under this Amendment, (2) any order of any governmental authority having proper jurisdiction over the Assignee, (3) any provision of the organizational documents of the Assignee, or (4) any provision of any indenture, loan agreement or other material agreement to which the Assignee is a party or by which it or any of its property is or may be bound, or (B) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any such indenture, loan agreement or other material agreement.

c.        Enforceability . This Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Assignee and the terms hereof constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Assignee enforceable against the Assignee in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors, rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

d.       Consents and Approvals . Except for the Required Consents , no consent, approval or authorization from, or filing or declaration with, any Person or any governmental authority is required to be made by the Transferor to give the Assignee a perfected ownership interest in the LP Interest or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

e.        The above representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Assignee shall survive the execution and delivery of this Amendment and the closing hereunder.

6.                   The General Partner, on behalf of itself and its affiliates, hereby (i) acknowledges the assignment of the LP Interest and assumption by the Assignee of the Obligations pursuant to this Amendment and (ii) except as to paragraph 3, releases, remises and forever discharges the Assignor from all of the Obligations and from any and all other liabilities, claims, actions, or cause of actions, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, which they or the Partnership may have relating to or growing out of any action or inaction taken or not taken in connection with the LP Interest and/or this Amendment and the transaction described herein.  Accordingly, from and after the Effective Date, the Assignee shall be responsible for all of the Obligations of the Assignor under the Partnership Agreement. The General Partner covenants and agrees to (i) deliver to the Assignor a final 2012 audit, and a final 2012 tax return and Schedule K-1 in form and substance acceptable to the Assignor (the “ Tax Documents ”) on or before March 31, 2013.  If the General Partner shall fail, for any reason, to prepare and/or deliver to the Assignor any of the returns or other information required by this paragraph 6, the Assignor shall have the right to cause such returns and other information prepared at the sole cost and expense of the General Partner. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Assignor and its duly authorized representatives shall have the right to inspect and copy such portions of the Partnership’s books of account which are necessary or appropriate for the preparation of such returns and information; provided, however, it is expressly understood and agreed by the Assignor that such access is solely for the purpose of preparing such returns or other information that the General Partner failed to prepare and/or deliver as herein provided, and shall not be deemed to grant the Assignor any other rights with respect to the Partnership and/or the operation of its business.

7.                   By its execution hereof, the Assignee hereby agrees to become a Substitute Limited Partner of the Partnership and, subject to the foregoing provisions of this Amendment, agrees to be bound (to the same extent as the Assignor was bound) by the Partnership Agreement and the provisions therein as they relate to the Assignor or the LP Interest.

8.                   The Assignee is hereby admitted as a Substitute Limited Partner with respect to the LP Interest for all purposes of the Partnership Agreement and the Assignor hereby withdraws as a Limited Partner of the Partnership in accordance with requirements of Section 8.2.2 of the Partnership Agreement.  Furthermore, the address contained in Section 13.2.2 of the Partnership Agreement for the Substitute Limited  Partner shall be Alvarez Bracero LP, LLC, c/o Alvarez Bracero Associates, Inc. Carretera #21, Barrio Monacillo, Casa A-1, Calle Bulon, Ramal 841, Km. 0.4, Rio Piedras, PR 00921.

9.                   The parties hereto hereby confirm the continuing validity and enforceability of the Partnership Agreement, acknowledging that the Assignee shall succeed to all rights and obligations of the Assignor thereunder as of the Effective Date.  This provision shall be construed to amend the Partnership Agreement to the extent necessary to reflect the assignment of the LP Interest to the Assignee and to give effect to the other provisions of this Amendment.

10.               Except as otherwise provided in Section 2 hereof, the parties hereto hereby agree that the assignment of the LP Interest and the other transactions effected hereby shall be effective for all purposes as of the Effective Date.

11.               Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the Partnership Agreement and after consultation with its counsel, the General Partner hereby consents to the transfer and assignment of the LP Interest to the Assignee and the substitution of the Assignee as a Substitute Limited Partner with respect to the LP Interest pursuant to this Amendment without any conditions or requirements other than with respect to the representations, warranties, covenants and undertakings of the parties expressly set forth in this Amendment, including, without limitation, the Assignee’s (i) assumption of, and agreement to pay, the Obligations, and (ii) agreement to be bound by the terms of the Partnership Agreement. 

12.               The parties hereto hereby agree to reasonably cooperate in good-faith to effect any further amendments to the Partnership Agreement and to take such other steps as may be necessary or appropriate in order to more fully reflect and further evidence the assignment of the LP Interest and the other transactions effected hereby.

13.               This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts and all counterparts so executed shall constitute one agreement binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that all parties have not signed the original or the same counterpart.

[End of text; signature page follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered under seal as of the Effective Date.

ASSIGNOR :                                                        REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED III, a California limited partnership

By   National Partnership Investments, LLC, a California limited liability company, its general partner

By   Bethesda Holdings I, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company,

By   AIMCO/Bethesda Holdings, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation,

By /s/John Bezzant

Name: John Bezzant

Title: Executive Vice President

ASSIGNEE AND SUBSTITUTE

LIMITED PARTNER :                                         ALVAREZ BRACERO LP, LLC,

a limited liability company

By ALVAREZ BRACERO ASSOCIATES, INC., its sole member

By: /s/Felix Alvarez

Name:  Felix Alvarez

Title:  President

GENERAL PARTNER :                                      BUCARE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

                                                                              By:  /s/Angel R. Caban

Name:  Angel R. Caban

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Federal Circuit Reversal in Assignment Clause Case Highlights Importance of Contract Language in Intellectual Property Ownership

Contributors

Jeffrey S. Whittle

Karthika Perumal, Ph.D.

Samuel A. Savanich

By Jeffrey Whittle, CLP ; Karthika Perumal, Ph.D., CLP ; & Sam Savanich, CLP-A

In a split opinion issued Tuesday , and based on language in an assignment clause of a contract, the Federal Circuit overturned a district court's summary judgment that Core Optical lacked standing to sue Nokia, Cisco, and ADVA for infringement.

The case, involving a fiber optic patent, centers on the interpretation of the phrase "entirely on my own time" within an assignment clause of the inventor's contractual agreement with his former employer, TRW Inc.

Nokia, Cisco, and ADVA contended that Dr. Mark Core's assignment of his patent rights to Core Optical was invalid because these rights allegedly had been automatically assigned to Dr. Core's employer, TRW, at the time of the invention. The inventor's contract with TRW stipulated that any inventions developed during work hours were to be assigned to the company, while inventions developed entirely on his “own time” remained Dr. Core’s property.

Initially, the lower court granted Nokia and the defendants summary judgment, ruling that the invention was developed as part of the Dr. Core’s research, funded by TRW, and was at least in part “TRW time” and not “entirely” Dr. Core’s “own time.” Therefore, this court concluded that the patent was automatically assigned to TRW, and Core Optical, Dr. Core’s company, lacked standing to sue.

The Federal Circuit majority, however, decided on appeal that it was not clear if the Ph.D. research conducted by Dr. Core constituted the inventor's own time. On one hand, Dr. Core was free to use particular hours or days for his research with no accountability to TRW; and, on the other hand, he worked on projects connected to TRW’s business on TRW-funded fellowship, with reporting obligations to TRW. Therefore, the Federal Circuit vacated the judgment and remanded the case back to the district court for further proceedings, thereby allowing Dr. Core to proceed with his patent infringement lawsuit.

The majority opinion noted, “[b]oth Core Optical’s and Nokia's interpretations of how the years-long, TRW-funded research should be treated under the 1990 invention agreement are plausible based on the undisputed facts presented. However, which interpretation prevails has not been determined, acknowledging that the contract language does not have an unambiguous meaning when applied to these facts.”

In dissent, U.S. Circuit Court Judge Haldane Robert Mayer argued that the lower court was correct in ruling that the inventor did not develop the fiber optic patent on his own time.

This majority decision underscores the complexities and nuances surrounding intellectual property rights and the importance of clear contractual terms regarding intellectual property issues, especially for intellectual property developed by an individual during non-traditional employment, such as employees permitted to pursue research or consulting projects. Care should be taken when drafting assignment and other intellectual property related language to reduce risk of a finding of ambiguity as in this instance.

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NAMICon 2024

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June 4 to 6 in Denver, Colorado Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel

Join hundreds of passionate and vibrant voices from around the world to elevate mental health!

June 3 rd - Alliance Day

June 4-6 th - main convention.

Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel

NAMICon is where hundreds of dynamic and important voices unite to improve mental health for all through mental health awareness, education and advocacy.

It's where personal journeys are celebrated, positive change takes root, and new connections and community cultivate a safe space, fostering support, hope, and healing.

Why Attend?

Immerse yourself in a transformative experience!

There is something for everyone at NAMICon—whether you are living with a mental health condition, caring for someone who is, a NAMI grassroots leader, a mental health professional, or just starting on your mental health journey.

Come ready to attend over 50+ engaging sessions exploring important mental health topics and issues that matter most to you. Join dynamic discussions that challenge your thinking and share invaluable knowledge. Be inspired by meaningful moments and leave with new insights, tools and resources, that will reignite your passion for change.

NAMI Alliance Day

NAMI Alliance Day precedes the general attendance portion of NAMICon and is designed specifically for NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates. Presented by departments across NAMI National, this day is dedicated to supporting the great work taking place across the Alliance.   

Date: Monday, June 3, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Audience: Board Volunteers, Development Directors, Education/Program Managers, Executive Directors, Public Policy/Advocacy Leaders and Walk Managers.

We've curated an enriching experience with diverse tracks designed to explore and address critical aspects of mental health and well-being, ensuring that attendees will gain valuable insights and meaningful perspectives. Here's a glimpse into the compelling tracks we have lined up for NAMICon 2024.

Advocating for Access to Care Join discussions on breaking down barriers to mental health care, addressing disparities and advancing policies that promote accessible and equitable mental health services for all.

Hope for Caregivers via Research Delve into the latest research and innovative approaches that offer hope and support for caregivers. Explore how advancements in science and understanding contribute to the well-being of those who provide essential care to their loved ones.

Youth & Young Adults Tailored for the unique challenges faced by the younger generation, this track explores mental health issues specific to youth and young adults. Lead and engage in conversations about support systems, coping mechanisms and fostering resilience during critical life stages.

Workplace Mental Health Uncover strategies for creating mentally healthy workplaces. From stress management to cultivating positive organizational cultures, this track focuses on promoting mental well-being within professional environments.

Peer Stories In this powerful track, people with lived experiences share their stories, providing a platform for empathy, understanding, and connection. Explore narratives that inspire, educate, and foster a sense of hope and community.

Help Not Handcuffs (Justice Diversion) Discuss the intersection of mental health and the justice system, advocating for a transformative shift in thinking towards more compassionate and effective approaches. Explore alternatives to incarceration, emphasizing mental health treatment and support over punitive measures.

**Agenda is subject to change, check back for more detail as NAMICon gets closer.

• Alliance Day - June 3
• Day 1 - June 4
• Day 2 - June 5
• Day 3 - June 6

Welcome & Opening Remarks

#namifundraising: getting the most out of your social media strategy.

Let's get social! From Facebook to Instagram to TikTok, how are you promoting your NAMI Organization in the digital space to not only fundraise but to engage new, diverse audiences? Join the Field Resource Development Team as we discuss all things social media fundraising and awareness to build your local engagement strategy.

Building our Alliance by Reaching Diverse Communities

NAMI state and affiliate leaders are increasingly engaged in outreach, program and initiatives designed for diverse communities. They recognize that the need in these communities is great, that NAMI increasingly understands how to engage diverse communities and this engagement leads to new funding opportunities, new strategic partnerships and strengthening their organizations. This session will feature innovative ways in which NAMI at all levels - national, state and affiliate levels - are increasing their focus on engaging with diverse communities in new ways. This session will feature newly rolled out resources, tools and strategies to connect with diverse and minoritized communities.

Embracing Advocacy: Tools to Help You Succeed

Advocacy is a critical yet often neglected pillar of NAMI's work. In this session, you will learn about what resources are available from NAMI National to strengthen your advocacy impact from advocacy campaigns and publications to grants and hands-on guidance. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of NAMI-specific advocacy tools and how to use them for their own state and local-level policy priorities.

Guide to Measuring the Impact of NAMI Signature Programs

This presentation will serve as a guide to measuring the impact of NAMI Signature Programs through numbers and stories.  Through the presentation, hands-on activities, group discussions and Q&A, attendees will learn the role impact measurement plays in program growth, and sustainability, along with implementing strategies to measuring program outcomes. The session will also touch upon ways NAMI can help NSOs and NAs to track and retrieve their program data for ease of use.

How to Build a Grants Program

Join us for an overview of how to build a successful grants program. We'll cover how to find grants, tips for grant writing, and advice on how to prioritize grants when you have a small staff. We will also answer your grants-related questions and take feedback to develop additional, virtual grants trainings.

Playing Cupid: How to Match Volunteers to Your Organization’s Needs

Volunteers are the foundation for the work that NAMI Affiliates and NAMI State Organizations do. They provide programming, assist with events and operations, and join Boards of Directors. They strengthen ties to the communities served and broaden support networks. Given the important role they play, taking an intentional and strategic approach to recruiting volunteers can go a long way in meeting an organization's needs, and fostering a stable and sustainable volunteer base. In this session, participants will receive tips and tools on how to: 1) identify their organization's needs; 2) find volunteers with the skills and interests to meet those needs; and 3) match volunteers up to opportunities with their organization.

With a Little Help from My Friends – How can NAMI State Organizations help Affiliates maintain good governance?

All incorporated NAMI organizations have an obligation to remain in good standing in their jurisdictions, including any and all mandatory filings at the local, state, and federal levels. NAMI organizations operate as nonprofit entities with many of the same requirements as other corporate entities within their state. On occasion, these administrative necessities take a back seat to the well-intended ambitions to deliver on the NAMI mission. This session aims to share strategies that refocus NAMI organizations to meet their requirements under the law so that they are free and unencumbered to do all the wonderful and supportive activities that help those in their community.

Approaching our 50th anniversary: An update on our strategic planning process

Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

Daniel H. Gillison Jr. provides strategic leadership to NAMI through his role as Chief Executive Officer with more than 30 years of professional experience. He also currently serves on numerous boards, including the National Institute of Health (NIH)’s Advisory Mental Health Council, the Lululemon Global Wellbeing Advisory Board, the National Health Council Board of Directors, and the Austen Riggs Center Board of Trustees.

Recognized as a Change Agent in Lifestyle magazine and a Leader in the NonProfit Times 2022 Power & Influence Top 50 List, Dan has received numerous awards for his work advancing mental health equity, including the 2022 Hope in Action Award from Hope Center Harlem, the Honor of Distinction Award from the Bowman Foundation Annual Global Impact Awards, the American Mental Health Counselors Association 2022 President’s Award, and more.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan spearheaded the creation of the CEO Alliance for Mental Health , which brings leaders across the industry together under a unified vision to meet the unique and unprecedented challenges our most vulnerable communities are facing today. He is also the host of NAMI’s inaugural podcast, Hope Starts With Us . You can follow Dan on Twitter at @DanGillison .

Over the last ~6 months, we have been working with The Bridgespan Group to help us craft a strategic plan to guide the next phase of NAMI's impact journey. Today, we are coming together to share an update on the strategic planning process and an emerging vision for impact and theory of change to guide the work of our Alliance in the coming years. This vision outlines a path towards catapulting our impact by harnessing the full power we bring as a nationwide movement. It is informed by hundreds of voices across our Alliance and seeks to integrate the learnings and recommendations from 10X and DEI initiatives. Please join us to hear a preview of what lies ahead as we near our 50th anniversary.

Closing Remarks

Nami’s strategic planning process – an opportunity to contribute your input and perspectives.

Over several days, The Bridgespan Group will host workshops for leaders of the NAMI Alliance to share an update on NAMI’s strategic planning process and gather your input and perspectives. Your voice has been, and will continue to be, a critical component to this effort and we encourage you to join the conversation about our emerging strategy. Come help shape the next phase of NAMI’s impact journey!

Welcome Reception

We are so excited to welcome everyone to NAMICon 2024!! Join us as we kick things off in the Mile High City! There will be food, drinks, a DJ, games and lots of amazing people. Can’t wait to see you there!

75 years of NIMH: Progress and Priorities

Dr. Josh Gordon

Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. He oversees an extensive research portfolio of basic and clinical research that seeks to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.Dr. Gordon pursued a combined M.D.-Ph.D. degree at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Medical school coursework in psychiatry and neuroscience convinced him that the greatest need, and greatest promise, for biomedical science was in these areas.During his Ph.D. thesis with Dr. Michael Stryker, Dr. Gordon pioneered the methods necessary to study brain plasticity in the mouse visual system. Upon completion of the dual degree program at UCSF, Dr. Gordon went to Columbia University for his psychiatry residency and research fellowship because of the breadth and depth of the research opportunities there. Working with Dr. Rene Hen, Dr. Gordon and colleagues studied the role of the hippocampus, a brain structure known to be important for memory and emotional processes associated with anxiety and depression. He joined the Columbia faculty in 2004 as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry.Dr. Gordon’s research focuses on the analysis of neural activity in mice carrying mutations of relevance to psychiatric disease. His lab studied genetic models of these diseases from an integrative neuroscience perspective, focused on understanding how a given disease mutation leads to a behavioral phenotype across multiple levels of analysis. To this end, he employs a range of systems neuroscience techniques, including in vivo imaging, anesthetized and awake behavioral recordings, and optogenetics, which is the use of light to control neural activity. His research has direct relevance to schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and depression.In addition to his research, Dr. Gordon was an associate director of the Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute Adult Psychiatry Residency Program, where he directed the neuroscience curriculum and administered research training programs for residents. Dr. Gordon also maintained a general psychiatric practice, caring for patients who suffer from the illnesses he studied in his lab at Columbia.Dr. Gordon’s work has been recognized by several prestigious awards, including the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation – NARSAD Young Investigator Award, the Rising Star Award from the International Mental Health Research Organization, the A.E. Bennett Research Award from the Society of Biological Psychiatry, and the Daniel H. Efron Research Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

NIMH is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year. In light of this milestone, Dr. Gordon will discuss the contributions of NIMH research to current approaches to care of individuals with mental illnesses and highlight priorities for research aimed at advancing care in the future.

"The Way Work Should Be"- Employee Workplace Well-Being Initiative

Jennifer Thompson

Jennifer Thompson has a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in the non-profit sector, including more than 15 years in non-profit healthcare. Acknowledged for her notable contributions, she was awarded the Gen2Gen Innovation Fellowship by CoGenerate in 2019 and recognized as a Healthy Communities Next Gen Fellow by the American Hospital Association in 2015. Jennifer is also an alumna of the Fund-Raising School of the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. In 2022, Jennifer assumed the role of Executive Director at NAMI Maine, providing visionary leadership, guiding the organization through strategic planning initiatives focused on addressing the mental health needs of individuals, families, and communities across Maine while staying true to its mission and vision. Under her stewardship, NAMI Maine recently celebrated its 40th year of dedicated service to the state. Before her tenure at NAMI Maine, Jennifer served as President of Health Equity Alliance, where her advocacy efforts centered on marginalized communities, particularly those impacted by HIV+ status and substance use disorder. Before her relocation to Maine, Jennifer spearheaded Pennsylvania's largest school-based food insecurity program. In addition to her professional roles, Jennifer holds positions on the NE Delta Dental and Carpenter’s Boat Shop Boards of Directors, contributing her expertise to furthering their respective missions. She also generously volunteers her time and skills to the Multiple Sclerosis Association. During her leisure time, Jennifer has a passion for cooking as a retired Chef, whittling wooden spoons, and exploring all that Maine has to offer.

Nicole Vera

Nicole Vera, a respected Deputy Director at NAMI Maine, boasts over five years of leadership, driving the organization's success with dedication. Known for her skills and commitment to excellence, Nicole ensures NAMI Maine's smooth operation, pioneering initiatives to support the community.

Before NAMI Maine, Nicole thrived in the start-up realm, aiding small businesses through grant-funded R&D, product commercialization, and business strategy development, including investor pitches.

Nicole holds an MBA from Southern NH University and previously owned New To You Recycled Fashion, earning accolades such as the NH Business Excellence Award. She also serves as Treasurer for Smithfield Volunteer Fire & Rescue and coordinates the Smithfield Food Pantry, showcasing her dedication to community service.

Driven by her passion and talents, Nicole remains committed to meaningful contributions to the non-profit sector and the broader community.

Discover "The Way Work Should Be" , an initiative designed for businesses to help them prioritize mental health and employee well-being. This tailored workplace program targets the business community, in offering a comprehensive approach that includes online and in-person courses on mental health and well-being as well as access to a resource library that includes videos, podcasts and a toolbox, along with information for developing a funding stream that includes building a NAMIWalks team.

Civilian Crisis Response: Transforming Public Safety Systems to Meet People’s Needs

Jackson Beck

Jackson Beck is a senior program associate with the Vera Institute of Justice’s Redefining Public Safety initiative. His work focuses on improving public safety system responses for people with mental health, substance use, and other unmet needs, with a focus on expanding access to specially trained civilian responders as an alternative to police. This has included researching and uplifting the promising practices of existing programs that are successfully dispatching civilian crisis responders to certain 911 calls, for which he was awarded Researcher of the Year in 2022 by CIT International. Jackson also provides technical assistance to support the development of these responses across the country, partnering with local practitioners and advocates to drive change in their own public safety ecosystems. Before joining Vera in 2018, Jackson assisted the communications team at Families Against Mandatory Minimums in Washington, DC. He also supported advocacy to expand resources for people in recovery with United Strategies in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Jackson holds a BA in political science from Yale University.

Christine Michels

Christine Michels is currently a Program Administrator with the City of Saint Paul and is responsible for the creation and implementation of Familiar Faces. Prior to working with the City of Saint Paul, Christine was the Emergency Services Division Director for Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Christine is a Human Services professional with over 25 years of experience in the fields of criminal justice, re-entry, housing, and homeless services.

Claire Ryder

Claire Ryder serves as the Director of Business Development and Innovation for the national health and human services organization, Resources for Human Development (RHD). RHD manages the fourth branch of the emergency response system in New Orleans, the Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit (MCIU). She co-leads the International Crisis Response Association (ICRA) and works as a consultant for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Claire has completed her course work for a doctorate in Population Health at Jefferson University and expects to defend her dissertation in August 2024. Her dissertation explores staff safety in civilian crisis response models. Claire has a master's degree in clinical psychology and spent six years in mobile crisis response and community trauma before moving into health administration where she has worked for the past 12 years.

Parallel to the implementation of 988 and unprecedented investments in crisis services, an increasing number of communities across the country have launched civilian crisis responses with a focus on 911 callers who would otherwise receive police responses by default. This discussion will examine the implementation of these programs in New Orleans and St. Paul, as well as the Vera Institute’s efforts to ensure that system changes are data-informed and accountable to directly impacted communities.

College Life with Psychosis: Transforming Educational Environments and Communities

Cecilia McGough

Cecilia McGough is a New York City/Boston-based mental health activist, nonprofit executive director at SWP, VASTS mentor at NASA Langley, keynote speaker, co-author, consultant, and former pulsar astronomer. Although being autistic and having schizophrenia, she refuses to let her diagnoses define her. McGough is the founder and executive director of the global nonprofit Students With Psychosis, a 501(c)(3) organization empowering student leaders and advocates worldwide through community building and collaboration. She currently serves as a VASTS mentor through NASA Langley Research Center and is a former Global Shaper and task force member of the World Economic Forum. In 2020 and 2022, McGough was consulted as a conference advisor for Healthevoices and is currently serving on the planning committee for the Women's Mental Health Conference at Yale from 2022 to the present. McGough made her mark early in her career at the age of 17 by co-discovering PSR J1930-1852, which has the widest known orbit around another neutron star. This discovery opened doors, leading to her publication as a co-author in the Astrophysical Journal and representation of the United States in the International Space Olympics in Russia. McGough's story as a radio astronomer is documented in the film "Little Green Men," and her advocacy journey can be seen in the PBS Documentary "Mysteries of Mental Illness," which is available for streaming on Amazon Prime. With over 40 million views, her journey has been featured in prominent media outlets such as CBS This Morning, Glamour UK, Fortune, The Boston Globe, Women's Health Magazine, Forbes, PBS, USA Today College, Healthline, Barcroft TV, Anthony Padilla, Daily Mail, The Indian Express, Astronomy Now, MTV University, Parade, TEDx, SBSK, WGBH, Mental Health America, Psychology Today, and more.

Rei Scott is one of two Presidents of the Students With Psychosis Executive Board. He has spoken at several events with SWP, including South Southwest MHTTC's First Episode Psychosis Conference and the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations' Early Psychosis Conference in 2022. Rei is also a social work student at Ohio State University who graduated from Columbus State Community College with his AAS in Social and Human Services. He is working on his Peer Recovery Specialist training which he hopes to finish this year. He has served on several other boards, including Mental Health America's 2023 Young Mental Health Leaders Council and a local Youth Action Board through the Community Shelter Board. He advocates for disability rights within his community but hopes to expand his reach further. As someone who is trans, disabled, and Jewish, he is very passionate about the lived experience perspective and the inclusion of minorities and intersectional identities in mental health research. He is especially interested in peer support and art as vehicles for change in the treatment process. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his cats, draw, and play video games.

Emeka Chima

Emeka Chima (he/him) is 25 years old and has been formally diagnosed with autism and paranoid schizophrenia. He currently lives in D.C., Maryland area. Since April 2020 he has been an active participant and Student Leader within the Student with Psychosis community which aims to break the stigma around mental illness. Chima received his Bachelor’s degree in the field of Information Systems Management in August 2022. Currently, he serves as co-President on the SWP Executive Board and as Peer Support Specialist for the First Episode Psychosis program OnTrack Maryland the latter since July 2022 serving fellow peers and their families through the eye-opening and transformative recovery process. As a mental health advocate, Chima has established many roles and is striving toward a more diverse and inclusive outlook on mental illness and psychosis which has been his prominent goal when facing the stigmatized culture throughout mainstream society. Chima has been a proponent and activist of achieving mental wellness and continues to represent his values through public speaking and storytelling. His advocacy work has reached numerous audiences in several virtual and in-person settings namely the Schizophrenia International Research Society in Florence, Italy, the Mental Health America Conference in Washington, D.C, and most recently a panel talk at Harvard Medical School. Chima has contributed his expertise to other platforms including an interview with CureTalk, the Students with Psychosis 2023 Annual conference, an interview with Youth Engaged for Change, a podcast with HealthHats, the Living with Psychosis podcast, and recent board member for the Young Adult Advisory Council for On Our Own of Maryland. An interesting fact about Chima is that his hobbies are playing cello and writing poetry.

Students With Psychosis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers student leaders and advocates worldwide through community building and collaboration. This session will be presented by three Students With Psychosis members. The panel will have a mix of storytelling and discussion followed by a Q&A. The discussion and storytelling will highlight intersectionality, academic accommodations, and action points on transforming community, workplace, and educational environments.

Crisis Can't Wait: Advancing Equity in Mental Health Care

Darcy Gruttadaro

Darcy Gruttadaro serves as NAMI’s Chief Innovation Officer. In this leadership role, she works with her team to advance NAMI’s strategic goals designed to address the mental health needs of youth and young adults, expand NAMI’s workplace mental health initiatives, and foster cross-cultural innovation and engagement across diverse communities.  

Darcy previously served as the director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), Center for Workplace Mental Health. In that role, she expanded the Center’s national reach through new strategic partnerships and by creating a broad array of high impact tools, trainings, and resources that met the immediate and unique needs of public and private organizations in diverse industries.

A nationally recognized expert on workplace mental health, Darcy served as the APA and APA Foundation’s lead media spokesperson on workplace mental health. She has been quoted in multiple major media outlets including the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, ABC News, Bloomberg Business, and more.

Darcy received the 2020 APA Leadership Award in recognition of her achievements and stature as a nationally recognized leader on workplace mental health issues and more.

Before joining the APA Foundation, Darcy served in multiple senior level roles at NAMI.  She practiced law at the Harris, Beach law firm in upstate New York, concentrating her legal practice on healthcare, mental health, and related issues.

Aleta Barnett

Aleta Barnett, BA, graduated from Edinboro University with a Bachelor in Sociology.   Aleta has a long history in social services, working with people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges.

In 2019 Aleta started at NAMI Keystone as the Mental Health advocate and was able to assist many families and individuals with information around mental health and provide resources. In 2021, Aleta was promoted to Director of Education and Support and worked to provide NAMI signature classes and trainings across the state.

September, 2023, Aleta became the Director of Mental Health Equity and Community Engagement.   Aleta is passionate about educating minority communities with information and resources about mental health. With the new position it will allow Aleta to concentrate more on bringing more educational events and resources to the communities that are underserved.

Angelina Hudson

Angelina Brown Hudson, MPA is the Executive Director of NAMI Greater Houston. In this position, Hudson determines and executes strategic initiatives, collaborations, and partnerships to improve services, resources, treatment care, and recovery outcomes of people with mental illnesses in Greater Houston--an area that encompasses Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.

An organization executive leader since 2011, and a mental health advocate, spokesperson, and trainer on the local, state, and national levels for more than two decades, Hudson has targeted much of her focus on earlier identification of those facing a mental health condition; removing barriers to mental health services and supports; de-criminalizing those living with mental health conditions by encouraging appropriate treatment options; and connecting adults disabled by their mental health diagnosis to supported-employment opportunities, cross-training, and entrepreneurial development.

Sheldon Jacobs

Dr. Jacobs earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University and his Master of Arts and Doctorate of Psychology degrees from Alliant International University. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist and he has been providing individual, couples and family therapy to individuals from various walks of life for the past 17 years. He is currently employed with the Clark County Department of Family Services where he has worked in a clinical capacity for the past seven years. He previously worked for the Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice Services for six years. He opened his own part-time private practice, Dr. Sheldon A. Jacobs Counseling Services in September 2020, where he works with youth, adults, and professional athletes. He has taught at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Phoenix-Las Vegas Campus at the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

Dr. Jacobs was appointed by Nevada Governor, Steve Sisolak, in July 2019 to serve on the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors. He is the President on the NAMI-Southern Nevada Board of Directors, and he was appointed to the Hope Means Nevada board in 2021, which focuses on addressing youth mental health and suicide prevention amongst teenagers across the state of Nevada. In June 2022, Dr. Jacobs was elected to the Board of Directors for NAMI National, which makes him the first Nevadan to ever serve on the national board. He was elected to the NAMI National executive committee, as secretary on June 7, 2023. Dr. Jacobs founded and chairs a coalition that is comprised of mental health professionals that addresses the shortage of minority mental health providers in Southern Nevada. In this role, Dr. Jacobs has created a pipeline for students of color to enter the field of mental health at the high school and college levels. The coalition also provides outreach efforts to underserved and underrepresented communities of color to increase awareness of mental health.

When Dr. Jacobs is not practicing, he is usually giving back to his community by offering town hall discussions centered on mental health at schools, community centers and churches. His goal is to normalize mental health so that more underrepresented communities feel comfortable accessing services. Because of his work in the community, Dr. Jacobs has received numerous local and national awards. In 2023, Dr. Jacobs was one of the only mental health professionals in the country to be given his own column in a major newspaper. His “Mental Health Matters” column is a monthly publication featured in the Las Vegas Review Journal that focuses on various topics related to mental health. Lastly, Dr. Jacobs has published several professional journal articles and he released his highly anticipated memoir in November 2020, titled “48: An Experiential Memoir on Homelessness” where he went undercover as a homeless man for 48 hours in downtown Las Vegas to raise awareness for homelessness and mental health. Half of the proceeds from his book sales have gone to various organizations in Nevada and Southern California that serve the homeless population. 

Ashley Floyd

Ashley Floyd is the Program Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Nevada, a grassroots mental health nonprofit that provides education, support, and advocacy at no cost for individuals impacted by mental health conditions or challenges. Ashley leads the staff who implement NAMI SNV programs, services, and opportunities that support and inspire peers and families to know they are not alone, and that recovery is possible. Ashley was drawn to the field of mental health from her own lived experience as a peer since youth and a family member of individuals who live with mental illness. For the last seven years, she has served in several volunteer roles with NAMI as a trained Peer and Family Presenter, Support Group Facilitator, Teacher, Youth Presenter, and State Trainer for four NAMI programs. She has been especially involved in outreach and partnership work with NAMI in the Black/African Ancestry community and Faith/Spiritual Communities. She served as Outreach Coordinator of Volunteers for NAMI SNV from July to September 2019, Program Coordinator from October 2019 to August 2022, and Program Director from September 2022 to present. 

Before her non-profit work, Ashley worked in higher education as a Leadership Development and Special Events Coordinator at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Ashley’s education includes earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, a Master of Science in Leadership and Policy Studies, and Certificates in Organizational Leadership, Management, and Human Resources. Ashley feels blessed daily to use her lived experience, education, and skills to further NAMI’s mission and support the quality of life and mental health of the Southern Nevada community. In the community, Ashley is a member and ministry worker of New Antioch Christian Fellowship, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Las Vegas Branch 1111, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Las Vegas Alumnae Chapter, the Nevada Minority Health and Equity Coalition (NMHEC), and PACT Coalition. Ashley is also a Companionship Instructor for Pathways to Promise.

This session will provide innovative ways that communities are tackling the need to advance equity in access to mental health care for people in Black/African Ancestry communities experiencing serious mental health conditions. Participants will learn about strategic partnerships, building community, new resources to use in outreach and more. Much important work is happening on 988, this session explores how we leverage that work for good. Speakers listed are placeholders and to be confirmed.

From Roots to Resilience: Fostering Healthy Minds in Youth

James Garofalo

James Garofalo is a distinguished figure in the mental health sector who has made significant strides from his early diagnosis of ADHD at age 5 to becoming a leader in mental health advocacy. His experiences, marked by early struggles and a transformative enlistment in the US Army, shaped his empathetic approach and drive in the field.In 2018, James took a significant step by founding a mental health clinic that became renowned for its patient-centered and comprehensive care. His visionary leadership and innovative strategies led to the clinic's rapid acclaim and subsequent acquisition by a national healthcare conglomerate, amplifying his impact across the industry.Currently, James serves as a Cofounder & CEO of a growing intensive outpatient and psychiatric clinic in Colorado. James continues to push boundaries in mental health care and encourages his team to do the same. His leadership emphasizes a culture of compassion, advanced treatment methodologies, and a staunch commitment to destigmatizing mental health.

Christina Camomilli-Starkey

Christina Camomilli-Starkey is a double board-certified nurse practitioner w/ a passion for mental health in children & teens. Christina began her advocacy for kids & adolescents in 1996 as an RN in the Pediatric ICU. In 2001, she graduated with her master’s in nursing & worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in a pediatric primary care clinic as well as at a center for children with special needs. The best “work” experience of Christina’s career began in 2003 with the birth of her daughter, Erin. Christina took time to be a full-time mother to Erin & later also to her brother, Brad, who was born in 2006. Perhaps the most pivotal time in Christina’s career began in 2018, when her daughter began to show signs of mental illness. Erin faced many challenges & roadblocks in her pursuit of remission. Christina’s knowledge as a pediatric nurse practitioner & mother were ineffectual in her attempts to navigate the world of mental health. Christina’s efforts to advocate for her child were impeded. Erin lost her battle with mental illness & died by suicide on September 5, 2019. This was the moment that the true work of Christina’s life began. Christina graduated from UCCS Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences in 2022 with a post master’s certificate and started work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Our presentation explores how children's early thought & behavior patterns can lead to mental health issues. It highlights the limitations of current systems & attendees will be challenged to think innovatively & more inclusively. Featuring a mother's story about losing her teen to suicide, this session emphasizes the need for awareness & action in nurturing children's creative development & mental well-being, urging proactive steps from parents, educators, leaders, & health professionals.

Hope Anchored in Evidence: Empowering Caregivers through Mental Health Literacy

Pernille Bülow

Pernille Bülow, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Mind Blossom, a 501(c)(3) public charity providing free of cost mental health education to under-resourced and historically marginalized communities. Pernille received her PhD in Neuroscience at Emory University, followed by a short post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. In her academic research, Pernille uncovered novel brain development mechanisms, significantly advancing our understanding of how the developing brain adapts to its environment. As a first generation immigrant and college graduate, Pernille was not introduced to the concept of mental health literacy until her early 20s. Throughout her undergraduate and doctoral studies, she experienced firsthand the therapeutic and empowering effects of delving into the intricacies of the human brain and psychology. This knowledge not only facilitated her personal recovery from a serious mental illness but also equipped her with the tools to provide crucial support to family members grappling with mental health challenges. Together with academic collaborators, Pernille is now conducting research on the social and economical effects of mental health education programming. Pernille’s passion, and Mind Blossom’s mission, is to democratize mental health knowledge with a particular focus on empowering caregivers and people at risk. Pernille has been featured on various webinars and podcasts and is a writer at Psychology Today.

This session delves into the science behind the underappreciated potential of mental health literacy for caregivers supporting people with mental illnesses, highlighting its positive effects on their well-being and coping skills. We explore the broader social and economic implications and the current gaps in knowledge. We end by putting forth innovative, practical and accessible solutions for implementation.

Mission Zero: NH's Collaborative Initiative to Eliminate Emergency Department Boarding

Julianne Carbin

Julianne Carbin, MSW is the Deputy Director, Division for Behavioral Health at the NH Department of Health and Human Services. Julianne works in partnership with other state agencies and community partners to advance statewide policy, funding and program initiatives aimed at building a comprehensive, integrated, and high quality behavioral health continuum. Prior to working for the state of NH, Julianne spent 13 years working as part of Wisconsin’s community based mental health system. She served as Executive Director of NAMI Wisconsin where she worked in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance grassroots policy, funding, public outreach, and peer support initiatives statewide. Prior to that she worked as the Executive Director of a county based nonprofit that provided supported employment services to individuals with serious mental illness. Julianne has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts (Rhetorical Studies) and Master’s degree in Social Work (Mental Health).

Susan Stearns

Susan Stearns is Executive Director of NAMI New Hampshire.   Prior to becoming Executive Director in January 2022, she served as the agency’s Deputy Director and has been employed by NAMI New Hampshire for more than a decade.   Susan has worked in the non-profit sector in New Hampshire for over 30 years, advocating for families, children, and individuals with disabilities.   Throughout her career, Susan has been first and foremost an advocate, often testifying at New Hampshire Legislative hearings and interfacing with policymakers.   As Executive Director, she leads NAMI New Hampshire’s policy work, as well as representing the organization on a number of boards, committees, and commissions.   Her personal experience advocating for loved ones in both the child and adult mental health systems drives her passion for transforming New Hampshire’s system of care in order to improve the lives of all Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide.   Susan does this work because no mother’s child should have to fear seeking help for a medical condition because of stigma and discrimination.

Despite adoption of a 10-Year Mental Health Plan and significant investment, NH continues to face emergency department boarding. NH DHHS and its partners developed the Mission Zero initiative to address 3 key drivers to this issue – front door, inpatient supply & coordination, and back door issues. Through this collaborative initiative the partners have forged an alliance to help all Granite Staters access the right care at the right time so that they can live full lives in their communities.

NAMI On Campus: Creating a Space for Student Advocates

Sofia Amezcua

Sofia Amezcua serves as NAMI National’s Manager of Youth and Young Adult Initiatives, where she oversees the NAMI on Campus initiative. Prior to joining National, Sofia both interned and worked at NAMI California where she focused on the NAMI On Campus High School program. In those roles, she supported the development of new curriculum and materials, and worked to make an on-campus club model accessible for both in-person and virtual students to meet the evolving safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sofia is motivated by her experience supporting friends and loved ones experiencing mental health challenges in college, and her mission is to ensure that youth and young adults receive early education to learn how to support themselves and their loved ones and live fulfilling lives. Sofia holds a BS in Business Administration from Sonoma State University.

Marielle Luhdorff

Marielle Luhdorff is the youth programs coordinator at NAMI California. She supports and provides oversight to youth programs including the NAMI On Campus High School (NCHS) program, which empowers high school students with the tools and resources they need to raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma on their campuses. Marielle previously worked with organizations such as Active Minds and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to engage her peers in mental health awareness and education at Sacramento State University. Drawing on this experience with peer health education and peer support organizations, Marielle advances NAMI's mission to combat stigma and improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

NAMI On Campus (NOC) is NAMI’s high school and college initiative supporting student-led mental health clubs. Students are empowered to lead the change on their campus to destigmatize mental health and educate their community. Learn in this session how students across the nation can make an impact on their campuses through NOC and how to bring NOC to your community.

Our Job Is Not Done: A Renewed Focus on Mental Health Parity

Roland Behm

Roland Behm is the co-founder of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership and a past chair of the board of directors of the Georgia chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He is the father of two children, one of whom, his son Kyle, died by suicide in August 2019. A lawyer by training and practice, Roland has been advocating for mental health and suicide prevention for more than thirteen years, including drafting portions of the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act (2022).

Kim H. Jones is the Executive Director of NAMI Georgia. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, dedicated to building better lives for those affected by mental illness. As executive director, Kim H. Jones is responsible for the strategic management and financial operations of NAMI Georgia. NAMI Georgia is responsible for supporting 21 local NAMI Affiliate’s across the state of Georgia. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, education, training, marketing, and business development. Mrs. Jones is also a member of: the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission, appointed by the late Speaker Ralston, the Crisis Intervention Team Advisory Board, and the DBHDD 988 Advisory Board. She is also co-founder of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership (GMHPP). Under her leadership, NAMI Georgia’s advocacy and GMHPP were key to the passage of the Mental Health Parity Act, Georgia General Assembly - HB 1013 which ensured that behavioral health and physical health are covered equitably by public and private insurance.

Jennifer Snow

Jennifer Snow is the National Director of Government Relations and Policy for NAMI. She is responsible for developing and implementing NAMI’s overall federal agenda to advance public policies that support people with mental health conditions. She and her team work to ensure an integrated federal strategy, overseeing the analysis of and strategic response to Congressional and administrative activities.

Mental health is health, but too often health insurance won’t cover mental health care equally, or at “parity,” with physical health care. However, the fight for parity is heating up again with new federal rules aimed at ensuring that services are available without long waits or excessive out-of-pocket costs. States are also finding innovative ways to ensure people can access mental health benefits with fewer barriers. Hear from policy experts about what new tools exist to enforce parity.

Stress: Science, Symptoms and Healing Strategies

Devika Bhushan

Dr. Devika Bhushan is a pediatrician, public health leader, author, and keynote speaker with expertise in health innovation, stress and resilience, trauma-informed systems, and gender and health equity. Dr. Bhushan serves on Stanford's adjunct faculty, as Chief Medical Officer at Daybreak Health, which brings virtual mental health support directly to youth in schools, and as a senior strategic advisor to entities that aim to advance health, innovation, and equity, ranging from non-profits to a venture capital fund. She also serves on the Boards for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the California Partners Project. She is an award-winning mental health spokesperson, first disclosing her own mental health journey publicly while serving as Acting Surgeon General for California. She appears in the documentary BrainStorm (2025) and leads a newsletter community (askdrdevikab.substack.com) and YouTube channel/podcast (youtube.com/@drdevikab) to share evidence-based insights for well-being. Dr. Bhushan trained at Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins. She is a parent, an immigrant, and a first-generation Indian-American.

Rachel Gilgoff

As a board-certified general pediatrician, child abuse pediatrician, and integrative medicine specialist, Dr. Gilgoff brings a multidisciplinary approach to ACEs, toxic stress, healing, and well-being. Over the course of her career, she has been the Medical Director of the Clinical Innovations and Research Team within Center for Youth Wellness, and co-founder of the National Committee on Asthma and Toxic Stress. She co-developed the Resiliency Clinic, a group clinic intervention model to treat toxic stress. More recently, she co-created the “Stress Busters: Clinical Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating Toxic Stress,” a free, on-line course to help health care professionals develop their clinical response to childhood adversity and toxic stress through a comprehensive exploration of seven evidence-based, stress management strategies, called stress busters. In addition, she helped develop the ACEs Aware Stress Busters Resource Webpage, sharing tools and resources to prevent and heal toxic stress for all of us. She is currently an advisor with the California Aces Aware Initiative, clinician at GetzWell Personalized Pediatrics clinic in San Francisco, and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Gilgoff is dedicated to addressing health issues resulting from child abuse and toxic stress, creating systems of care that incorporate the science of stress biology and wellness, and collaborating across sectors to develop multidisciplinary, integrative, human-centered, and holistic approaches to healing.

This lecture will review the four stress responses; the role of positive, tolerable, and toxic stress, how getting stuck in 'survival mode' impacts health; and concrete healing tools and strategies for both children and caregivers to thrive after adversity. This will include: Dan Seigel’s Window of Tolerance, Bruce Perry’s “Regulate, Relate, Reason,” and stress-informed approaches to supportive relationships, sleep, nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness, nature, and mental health care.

A Curious Trip: The Present and Future of Psychedelic Treatments for Mental Illness

Dimitri Perivoliotis

Dr. Perivoliotis has been involved in mental health treatment and research for over 20 years, with a focus on developing innovative applications of evidence-based psychotherapy for improving functioning and quality of life in people with serious mental illness (SMI). He currently is a staff psychologist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCSD School of Medicine. His primary research and clinical interest is psychedelic-assisted therapy. He oversees the design and implementation of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and other psychotherapeutic services at the VA San Diego Neuromodulation Program, a recovery-oriented clinic for Veterans with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Dr. Perivoliotis is a co-investigator and study therapist on a pilot study of MDMA-assisted brief cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy for Veterans with PTSD and their partners, the first of its kind at the VA San Diego (principal investigator: Dr. Leslie Morland). Previously, he served as Lead US Adherence Rater for the Lykos Therapeutics (formerly Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Public Benefit Corporation) Phase III clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. He also managed an award-winning psychosis clinic and psychosis training program at the VA San Diego. Along with Dr. Aaron T. Beck and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, he co-developed a promising new approach to cognitive therapy for promoting recovery in people with SMI and co-authored the book, Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy for Serious Mental Health Conditions .

This talk will describe the current landscape of psychedelic treatment for mental illness in the United States. Topics will include the legal status of psychedelic treatments, a synopsis of the most studied treatments and their corresponding research findings, the applicability of recovery principles in psychedelic treatment, recommendations for individuals pursuing these treatments and for their families, and finally, challenges and open questions in the field.

Building Collaborations in Faith Communities

Chris Miller

Dr. Chris Miller is a religious studies teacher at a Catholic High School in the San Francisco Bay Area. He most recently worked for Catholic Charities Santa Clara County supporting the Community Action Poverty Simulation program as well as serving as the youth and young adult coordinator at a 5,000-family parish in San Jose, CA. Prior to this position, Chris taught theology and served as director of campus ministry at a Catholic boarding school in Connecticut. He also worked as the Director of Youth Ministry at a Catholic parish in Palo Alto and worked as a Catholic middle school teacher in Gilroy and San Jose, CA. Chris is currently enrolled in a post-master’s Certificate in Spiritual Formation at Boston College and recently earned a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Notre Dame de Namur University and a Graduate Diploma in Canon Law through Saint Paul University. In 2019, he graduated with a doctoral degree in education from the University of San Francisco, focusing research on the Kairos Retreat experience in Jesuit High Schools in the United States. A graduate of Santa Clara University, where he received a bachelors’ degree in History, a California Teaching Credential, a master’s degree in Education, and a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministries, Chris is also an alum of Boston College where he completed a post-master’s program in youth and young adult faith. Chris currently serves as co-chair of the Pastoral Care and Mental Wellness Ministry Network through the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, a member of the California State Mental Health Policy Workgroup, a member of the NAMI National FaithNet Steering Committee, and a member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Faith Communities Task Force.

Ray Merenstein

In 2002, Mr. Merenstein returned to his native Denver after a decade of health care advocacy work in Washington, DC. Over the course of the next four years, he served as Vice President for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation’s $250 million Imagine the Miracles comprehensive campaign. In December 2005, Ray launched RDM Communications tying his political, media and fundraising acumen into one package on behalf of government, non-profit and corporate clients. He has guided capital campaigns from $250,000 to $25,000,000 as well as lead consultant on strategic plans, communication audits, annual funds, endowment campaigns, and board development. Ray became Executive Director of NAMI Colorado (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in January 2021.He holds a master’s degree in mass communication from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Tulane University. He has been quoted or published in the Wall Street Journal, Science, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Business Week, USA Today, and Nature as well as testified before Congress.Mr. Merenstein presents regularly to health and communication groups locally and nationally. He served as chair Colorado’s Special Education Advisory Committee, and currently sits on Colorado’s Rare Disease Advisory Council. Ray and his wife, Ilana Steinberg, live in Denver and have one son and two daughters. Ray loves Paddington and Lemon Meringue Pie.

Babu Mathew

Babu has been serving on the NAMI Colorado Board Directors from 2018 and as President from 2020. He currently serves his second term as Secretary on the NAMI State President’s Council and since 2019 on the NAMI Faithnet National Advisory Committee. Along with his board leadership at NAMI Colorado, Babu has been collaborating with the NAMI CCIE team on Faithnet outreach to interfaith communities and Chai & Chat initiative that centers on destigmatizing the conversation around mental health and wellness in South Asian communities. For his outstanding contribution in raising public awareness about mental illness, reducing stigma in diverse communities, Babu was presented with the NAMI Cross-Cultural Innovation and Engagement Award at the NAMICon 2023. His lived experience as a family peer for over a decade has shaped his calling to be a passionate Mental Health Advocate. Since 2015, the local NAMI Family Support Group has been a safe sanctuary and support for him. He is a certified teacher for the NAMI Family-to-Family program and Program Leader for the NAMI Family & Friends. He has completed the Mental Health First Aid training. Babu has attended NAMI National Conventions from 2016 and the 2020 CIT International Conference. Back in 2014, he led a Refugee Mentoring Project from his church in collaboration with the Lutheran Family Services and the Denver Rescue Mission. He has over 2 decades of experience in Sales & Marketing in India and the U.S. He lives in Morrison, Colorado with his wife of 40 years.

Cynthia McKnight

Pastor Cynthia McKnight is a devoted advocate for mental health and well-being initiatives within faith communities, serving as NAMI's FaithNet Manager. With a passion for fostering community engagement, Cynthia leads training sessions, facilitates stakeholder meetings, and supervises grantee sessions, all aimed at advancing mental health awareness and support. Drawing upon her educational background from Hinds College and DeVry University, Cynthia brings a wealth of expertise in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as Mental Health advocacy. Her robust skill set, coupled with exemplary communication and organizational abilities, enables her to navigate complex challenges and achieve impactful outcomes. Guided by her unwavering faith and commitment to transcending barriers, Cynthia is an inspirational force, empowering individuals to embrace their divine calling and live lives of purpose and passion. As the visionary Founder of Revolving Hearts Outreach Ministries, she utilizes her gifts in writing, intercession, preaching, and teaching the Gospel to uplift and inspire countless lives. Cynthia's radical and authentic ministry approach resonates across diverse demographics, facilitating transformative experiences and fostering healing and restoration. Her recent publication, "Ladies’ In Waiting" (Sister Fix Your Crown), exemplifies her dedication to empowering women through testimonies of faith, mental and emotional health, and perseverance. With a heart for service and a commitment to making a difference, Cynthia McKnight continues to shine as a beacon of hope within the Christian community and beyond, leaving a lasting impact on all who encounter her ministry.

 Doug Beach is the Executive Director of NAMI Greater San Antonio, a NAMI Family to Family Instructor and leads a Family Support Group for families impacted by a mental illness.  In 2016 Doug helped launch PATHWAYS TO HOPE, a conference for mental health professionals, clergy, lay leaders, social workers, educators, law enforcement, family members and people living with a mental health diagnosis.  After the 2020 Pathways to Hope Conference, Doug led the formation of the Bridges to Care San Antonio initiative in conjunction with the COSA Dept. of Human Services.  

Doug is the past Chairperson and current Member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (BHAC) of the Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services and is the Chair of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Local Mental Health Authority, the Center for Health Care Services.  He is also the Co-Chair of the Bexar County Task Force on Mental Health and Criminal Justice.

Do you want to unlock the power of unity & purpose within your faith community by embracing the transformative potential of collaboration? If so, please join us for an engaging session on community collaborations & engagement. Participants can expect insightful conversations on developing collaborative partnerships to implement the FaithNet and the ABCs of relationship building. This session will also explore potential challenges, conflicts & the benefits of working with diverse communities.

Creating a Culture of Care; Prioritizing Employee Wellness in the Workplace

Kristen Rasmussen

Kristen Rasmussen has more than 35 years of experience in the behavioral health field, with a decade of service at ICAN. Currently, Rasmussen holds the position of Chief Clinical Officer at ICAN, a nonprofit provider of innovative home and community-based interventions in Upstate New York. Rasmussen earned a Bachelor of Science in Cultural & Women’s Studies from SUNY Empire State College. Additionally, she holds a Master of Social Work degree from Syracuse University. Rasmussen began her work with ICAN twenty-one years ago as an Independent Contractor. She joined the Executive Team ten years ago. Rasmussen is a trauma-focused mental health practitioner who embraces the intersection of trauma, social justice, and equity throughout her work. Rasmussen sees deep wells of value in combining traditional and non-traditional methodologies in her service to others. Since 1998, she has led workshops and training on various mental health, behavioral health and wellness topics. She has presented at numerous professional conferences, colleges, and community organizations. As a strong advocate for wellness in the workplace, she also facilitates yoga, breath work, and meditation sessions with the staff. Her efforts have played a significant role in positively impacting the organization’s culture. Kristen leads ICAN’s Inclusion Coalition. The organizations Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging coalition that guides the initiatives and policies to ensure that ICAN remains an employer and service provider that values racial, gender and ability diversity. Kristen and her partner Kent live in Utica, NY. They have three children, Britt, Emma, and Lukäs, and a grandson, Quinn.

Jeremy Butler

Butler has spent more than 25 years working in the behavioral health field. In his current role, as Chief Innovation Officer, he oversees the agency’s Independent Practice Association (ICAN IPA), Elevate CNY Sports Complex, Community Education and Training Department, and School-Based Services. He has spent the bulk of his career building high performing teams. He has designed, developed, and delivered hundreds of trainings at the local, state, and national level. He is a certified trainer in a variety of training disciplines ranging from Cornell University’s Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Mental Health First Aid for Youth, Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP), PBIS, Peer Mediation, to Screening of Persons through Observational Techniques (SPOT) through LSU, among many others. Butler earned a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Syracuse University. He is the current Co-Chair of the NYS Children’s Behavioral Health Coalition’s School-Based Mental Health Coalition, the MV Regional Youth Justice Team and a former past President of the Oneida County Youth Services Council. In addition to running his own training and consulting business, Butler is also an Event Specialist for Grand Dynamics International (GDI), helping to lead the design, delivery and implementation of EPIC Leadership Development Experiences from coast to coast for some of the most prestigious companies in the world. Butler has a passion for the outdoors and has spent 20+ years providing Adventure Based learning and Leadership Development for groups on various High Ropes Challenge Courses located throughout the Adirondack Mountain Region in upstate New York.

In this interactive discussion, participants will learn about innovative ways to prioritize workplace wellness, to help staff achieve a strong work-life balance. We will explore ways to incorporate DEIB-Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, into existing workplace culture to create environments where staff feel valued, seen and heard which in turn empowers them to have more to give to clients. We will offer practical ways to think differently and transform culture for stronger outcomes.

Creating Access In Mental Health Deserts

David Kendrick

David Kendrick Jr is a Purple Heart Veteran from New York who has taken his experience in the military to speak and inspire others. “In Iraq I was severely injured and my life was changed forever,” Kendrick Jr. recalls. After losing friends, and going through a long recovery himself, David Kendrick Jr. saw it as his duty to be a Mental Health advocate for others. This would have David speaking across the country opening up, being vulnerable, and educating others on his story, the importance of Mental Health, and more.

Creating access to care for people living in mental health deserts. Just like a food desert (an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food), we have mental health deserts in America. A mental health desert means there is a large area where people have limited access to affordable and mentally nutritious services. In my session, I want to teach people how to advocate for access to mental health care in their remote communities.

Crisis Intervention: Explore the Memphis Model with CIT Maine

Hannah Longley

Hannah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with many years of experience in community mental health and crisis services. She has many years working in crisis response, initially as a crisis worker, then as the clinical manager for the crisis services for Kennebec and Somerset Counties. In this work, she worked collaboratively with community providers and first responders in planning and responding to the community. During this time, she also provided mental health support for first responders. Hannah was then contracted as a Psychological Health Coordinator with the Maine Army National Guard before coming to NAMI Maine. Her work includes working with first responders and regional councils across the state in the implementation of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), Mental Health First Aid, and programming involving the mental health of first responders and veterans, as well as the lead regarding advocacy initiatives. Hannah is a member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and a nationally approved instructor for Critical Incident Stress Management for individuals and groups. Hannah was awarded the Maine Chiefs of Police Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement in 2022, the James Durant Civilian Recognition Award by the Maine Association of Police in 2023, and the Sam Cochran Criminal Justice Award at NAMICon 2023.

CIT International discusses the 5-legged stool of the Memphis Model, however oftentimes the primary focus of work is on police officer training. Critical components of a successful program also include community collaboration, a vibrant and accessible crisis system, behavioral health staff training, and family, consumers, and advocates collaborate and educate. CIT Maine has built a solid foundation with data and collaborations for individuals and communities.

Empowering Wellness Through Support

Kimberly Comer

Kimberly Comer is the President and Co-Founder of Ceeport Health LLC., a mental health peer support organization headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. Kimberly is a Nationally Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS), Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) with the State of Florida, a Copeland Institute certified Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) trainer and is certified to teach as well as facilitate all of the peer and many of the family signature classes in addition to the support groups developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Kimberly is a NAMI Florida Board Member as well as the NAMI Florida Peer Leadership Council Representative and a Mental Health Court Advocate. She has delivered presentations on the impact of peer support in mental health recovery at National Conferences throughout the US. She has been actively involved in advocating for mental healthcare reform in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Florida, as well as on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Prior to her relocation to Florida, Ms. Comer was the Executive Director of NAMI Greater Indianapolis and served on the board of directors for NAMI Indiana - the NAMI state organization.

Diane Banks

Diane Banks is originally from Charlottesville, VA and currently lives in El Paso, TX where she proudly serves as the Chair for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Peer Leadership Council. She also serves as the NAMI Texas National Peer Representative, where she was the NAMI Texas State Peer Representative for over six years. She has amplified the Peer voice ensuring that people with lived experience of a mental health condition are able to have access to resources to improve their quality of life. As an 18-year Army Veteran she also serves on the NAMI National Service Member, Veteran, & Family Council (SMVFC) where she works tirelessly to provide hope to Veterans, active-duty personnel, and family members of those who served or are serving. Diane is one of the chosen contributors to NAMIs first book, “You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health”. She is a Certified Mental Health Peer Support Specialist who is trained in various NAMI Signature Programs, Initiatives and Trainings. As founder of Monarch Mental Wellness, LLC. she uses her platform as a mental wellness strategist to instill hope and transform lives. Diane holds a Master of Science Degree in Forensic Psychology and is currently working on finishing her dissertation from Walden University to complete her doctoral degree in Forensic Psychology. She is a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success and a lifetime member of Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. Diane’s purpose and passion is to improve the lives of all peers to include people of color, and those impacted or involved in the Criminal Justice System.

This session focuses on how to utilize the knowledge that we have as peers to facilitate our own wellness as peers. There will be an emphasis on staying well while working as a peer in the mental health field.

Echoes of Transformation: Going from Patient to Provider

Paris Scobie

Paris Scobie is Host of the top 1.5% globally ranked podcast, Live Well Bipolar, Author of Crooked Illness: Lessons From Inside & Outside Hospital Walls and Speaker for NAMI Valley of the Sun. She shares how she went from being a patient struggling from inside the walls of a psychiatric hospital newly diagnosed with bipolar to returning to work at this same hospital years later. This unique perspective of being both a patient and provider has allowed Paris to share her experiences on what truly made a difference for her to help others. Paris received her BA in Psychology from The University of Arizona and her MBA in Healthcare Administration from Western Governors University. Today, Paris uses her platform to highlight the stories of her guests who inspire hope in her day after day. After conducting over 200 interviews on her podcast, Paris has seen the great power that lies in each of our stories. They hold the power to eliminate stigma for ourselves and others while featuring resources that are impactful. Through storytelling, Paris illustrates how each conversation demonstrates the value our lives hold through the strength of community. Paris works to illustrate how everything she told herself she could never have or be is everything she has become today. Stay connected with Paris and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/livewellbipolar/

My session is focused on the 3 biggest lessons I learned going from being a patient when I was hospitalized at 19, struggling tremendously with my mental health, to returning to work at this same facility 4 years later. These 3 lessons are: the power of our thoughts, the role of cultivating support networks and the importance of tracking habits. I will expand on the powerful lessons I learned being on both sides – as a patient in the system and as a dedicated worker striving to make an impact.

How The Digital World Potentially Reinforces Insecure Attachment in Relationships

Barbara Nosal

Coming Soon!

Dr. Grant is an internationally recognized and award-winning media psychologist, author, published researcher, Doctoral Addictions Counselor, speaker, educator with specific expertise in technology's impact on mental health, and National Advisor of Healthy Device Management for Newport Healthcare. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), served as the 2022 President of the APA Division 46 (The Society for Media Psychology & Technology), currently serves as a Division 46 Executive Board Member At Large, Chair of the APA (D46) “Device Management & Intelligence” committee, is an APA Advocacy Division Partner Liaison, APA Science Partner, and also Treasurer of the California Psychological Association Division VI (Media Technology and Communication). Current projects include an international publisher commissioned “Healthy Device Management and Practices of Good Digital Citizenship” guidebook and companion curriculum/group process workbook designed specifically for clinicians, treatment programs, educators, and professionals, serving as Chapter Leader, Co-Editor, and contributing author in collaboration with a cohort of global experts on a series of white papers to be published in a special handbook by Springer Publishing (in partnership with Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development) a paper recently published in the international journal Addictive Behaviors, as a chapter author on the beliefs, behaviors, influences, and impacts of device-centric engagement for two different academic handbooks with specific focus on media psychology and science, and working with the “Youth Services Committee” of the National Association of Behavioral Healthcare on the creation, development, and launch of their new national “Youth Services Cyberhealth” campaign.

The possible unfavorable influence of a caregiver's device engagement on attachment style is the basis for a research investigation currently being conducted by the session presenters. These two globally-recognized experts in healthy device management, attachment, family systems, and adolescent treatment will discuss this issue, their research study, and offer recommendations to help avoid the potential negative impact of a caregiver's device use on attachment bonding with their children

Roadmap to Change: How NAMI Kansas is Impacting the Criminal Justice System

Brittany Harmes

Dr. Harmes began her role as the Project Director of NAMI Kansas’s Justice Involved Project in December 2021. This project places NAMI signature programs inside of local county jails and state correctional facilities. In this role, she is responsible for the coordination, implementation, and expansion of this project. In 2019, Dr. Brest received her PhD from WSU in Community Psychology with an emphasis on mental health and trauma. Prior to her current role, she previously worked for the Kansas Department of Corrections as a parole officer for two years and within the El Dorado Correctional Facility. Dr. Harmes has also previously worked on a research team where she focused on evaluations with mental health organizations and work with Consumer Run Organizations.

Itzel Moya is a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) in the state of Kansas and obtained her Masters of Social Work through Fort Hays State University in 2021. She is the director of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Project for NAMI Kansas. In this role, Itzel is responsible for networking with the counties involved and providing education regarding NAMI signature programs. She is an advocate for bringing more mental health resources to Western Kansas, a primarily rural area. Itzel is also an advocate for mental health education in the Latinx/ Hispanic communities. She was one of the founding members for the NAMI Southwest Kansas affiliate and is currently the Chair of the NAMI Southwest Kansas affiliate.

Becca Lane is the National Peer Education Programs Manager at NAMI National. She manages NAMI Signature Education Programs, NAMI Peer-to-Peer and NAMI In Our Own Voice. She Becca joined NAMI National a year ago after spending six years on at the affiliate level with NAMI Philadelphia. She held numerous positions during her tenure at NAMI Philadelphia including NAMI Ending the Silence Coordinator, Youth & Young Adult Education & Outreach Manager, and Education and Advocacy Manager. Becca is a subject matter expert in her own experiences living with a mental health diagnosis and has brought a wealth of knowledge in growing NAMI programs in Philadelphia from the ground up. She also has many years of experience in publicity and journalism on both a local and national level. As both a publicist and a journalist, one of the primary skills she has developed is how to shape a narrative to the reach the largest possible audience.

Participants will learn about two NAMI Kansas projects: Assisted Outpatient Treatment and the Justice Involved Person Project that are placed in courts, jails, and state prisons. The impact, success, and lessons learned from these projects alongside how NAMI Kansas has adapted signature programming for correctional settings will be discussed. Finally individuals will hear from Becca Lane at National on how to work with National on these adaptations and what fidelity looks like for these programs

Telling Your Story Through Drawing Comics: A Guided Workshop

Jeannie Mecorney

Jeannie Mecorney spent 25+ years as a graphic designer in film, print, television, and the Web. She became a professor teaching digital art and publication design and created a graphic design degree at Cañada College in Redwood City, California. Currently she is creating a graphic memoir describing her childhood in the 1950s, growing up with a father diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, a codependent mother, and a lack of resources for her father and family.* The process of drawing her trauma allowed her to break through denial and work on lifelong failed strategies learned in childhood. Adapting her drawings as zines** she shared her story at the 33rd Annual Boston International Trauma Conference in 2022. That same year she presented her work at the Graphic Medicine Annual Conference at the University of Chicago where she described the importance of understanding past painful experiences through drawing. Creating these short comic zines has proved to be an invaluable process towards the larger memoir project. She has exhibited at several Zine Festivals including the San Francisco Annual Zine Festival. Her easy and fun workshop will show you how to create a short comic zine from a single piece of paper. Attendees do not have to be artists! * http://www.mecorney.com/memoirmecorney.mov

Graphic Medicine can be explained as the intersection between the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare. These stories in book or short zine format create reader empathy through heartfelt, intimate drawings. As visual creatures we are moved by pictures and images. I believe in the importance of story and that we are all able to draw our stories. Join me for a look at current graphic medicine novels and create your own short [8 page] personal zine from a single piece of paper.

The Impact of Mental Health Conditions and Suicide on Executives

Michael Ortoll

Mike has spent 40 years in the insurance industry on the carrier and brokerage side, advising large firms on managing risks. He is a partner at BRP Group and CEO at iPEO Solutions.

Mike is the founder of Christine Ortoll Charity (COC), in honor of his daughter, who passed away from a fentanyl overdose in 2020. COC is a 501C3 produces media to inspire and provide hope for those affected by mental health and/ or substance abuse.

Our first production is a feature documentary called "One Second at a Time: Battling the Monster of Addiction" which is a story of his daughter's struggle with mental health and substance abuse for ten years. It is told via Christine's journals she left behind following her overdose, experts and loved ones. To date, it has won 59 film festivals as one of the most impactful feature documentaries   of the year. This will be available via major streaming platforms by summer 2024. 

Mike also began a national initiative to develop recovery programs at every college in the US, as students between 18-25 are one of the highest at-risk groups. He produced a mini doc, called "Safety Net: Helping College Students in Recovery Thrive" which showcases the successful recovery community, called LIFT,  he helped build at his alma mater, Florida State University.

He lives in Tampa with his wife Laureen and has a son, Michael and two stepdaughters, Jordan, and Hannah.

Mike is a Miami native with strong ties to the Cuban/ Latino community. 

 He is an active speaker in the commercial  insurance industry and an activist for mental health / substance use disorders. 

Nicholas Abid

Dr. Abid is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also has an MBA from the Broad School of Business at Michigan State.

He completed a full rotating internship at Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital (now Metro Hospital) and was one of the first DOs to do a Residency in Psychiatry at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry by the ABONP (MD) and the ABONP ( DO). He is a Fellow of the APA and American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists. He is a member of the AMA and AOA.

Dr. Abid practiced Community Psychiatry in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Massachusetts in community hospitals, CMHCs, and in private practice, for 27 years before joining Wellcare Health Plans in 2006.

At Wellcare, he has held a number of positions within the company including Behavioral Health Medical Director and Sr. Medical Director, Pharmacy. He was Behavioral Health Medical Director for the SMI specialty plan for Staywell, now Sunshine, Health serving almost 3 Million health plan members in Florida and 120,000 seriously mentally ill, after Wellcare was purchased by Centene Corporation.

Now in the Centene Pharmacy Services division, Dr. Abid is responsible for utilization review for pharmacy services for the 23 million members in Centene’s Medicare, Medicaid and Exchange lines of business across the United States.

Dr. Abid has been on the faculty and taught medical students at MSU, Chicago COM, NECOM and NOVA SE.

He is currently on the Board of NAMI Florida and is a Board Member of Oakland Community College Foundation in Detroit Michigan.

Dr. Abid is married, has 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 4 dogs

Mike Radu has seen the healthcare industry from many sides: from payer to provider to regulator. As its CEO, this diverse perspective has given him the ability to shepherd AbsoluteCare to its full potential as an innovator in value-based healthcare for the most vulnerable and chronically-ill individuals many of whom are impacted by behavioral or substance used disorders. Mr. Radu’s payer experience included was Regional President of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid and dual Medicare plans; and EVP/President of WellCare’s Medicaid PDP. He also ran business development, clinical operations, and quality/risk adjustment departments for several health plans. Mr. Radu began his career in the provider space, running various value-based medical groups in Arizona. He was part of the founding team and COO of Optum Care, the multi-state medical group and accountable care organization (ACO) for commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid patients under value-based care relationships. He also served as CEO of a regional hospice and palliative care organization. Mike’s policy background includes running a lobbying/government affairs organization for UnitedHealthcare and serving as Senior Advisor for CMS in the Innovation office, working for ACO programs. Mike graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology and from USC with an Master’s in Business Administration.

John Kissinger

John Kissinger and his wife Lona have been residents of Florida since 2003. They have four children and many grandchildren. He has a BS from Georgetown and an MBA from Columbia. After completing graduate school, he went on to serve on active duty in Vietnam, as an Army Officer. Following the military, he began his career in corporate finance as a commercial banker serving in a wide variety of line and staff roles during 35 years at Chase Manhattan and Sumitomo Mitsui. He was also head of the American Enterprise Fund in Slovakia after retiring from banking. He is currently on the Board of OBP Surgical Inc., a medical products company and has served on a number of local and not for profit boards. In retirement he and a colleague set up a macroeconomics study group shortly after he moved to Florida in which he has been actively involved to the present, as part of his efforts to stay current and engaged in retirement. He enjoys swimming, Biking, golf and Tennis. He and his wife have traveled extensively in business and for pleasure.

"I Never Liked Lasagna": Navigating the Layers of Eating Disorders

Risha Hegde

Meet Risha Hegde, a dedicated premedical student hailing from the state Georgia. With an academic journey centered around the complexities of the human mind, Risha majored in psychology with a keen focus on neuroscience, delving into the intricate workings of the brain.Passionate about the intersection of psychology and medicine, Risha aspires to become a psychiatrist, blending the realms of science and empathy to enhance mental health care. During their college years at the University of Georgia, Risha served as the president of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter, demonstrating leadership and commitment to fostering a supportive community for mental health advocacy.Risha is not only an advocate in words but has actively contributed to the cause by founding and leading peer groups dedicated to addressing issues of disordered eating and body image. Through these initiatives, Risha has made a meaningful impact, providing a safe space for individuals to share experiences and support one another on their journeys toward mental well-being.Beyond academic and advocacy pursuits, Risha is a social butterfly who thrives on meeting new people and connecting with fellow mental health advocates everywhere. With a genuine enthusiasm for forging connections, Risha is poised to make a lasting impact on the field of mental health, bringing a unique blend of academic expertise, compassionate leadership, and a deep commitment to promoting psychological well-being.

This session will spotlight eating disorders, body image, and the post-COVID impact. Leading "Body Talks," a peer-led program at the University of Georgia, and serving as the former NAMI chapter president, highlights the transformative impact of open discussions about eating disorders and their stigma. I value unfiltered dialogues when it comes to this subject, and believe presenting facts, ideas and my own experiences at NAMICon will continue the candid conversation to foster support and resilience.

Addressing the Mental Health Myths and Barriers for Men in the Black/African Ancestry Community

Mark Harrison

Mark received my undergraduate degree from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a Masters’ Degree in Public Administration, from the University of Maryland College Park and his second Masters’ degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Prior to college, Mark served in the United States Army in a unit that supported the 82nd Airborne. My passion as a community servant leader, especially in the arena of Black men and boys dealing with mental health issues. Seeing the issues that black boys and men dealing with mental health struggles and several losses of close friend to suicide Mark launched a mental health Advocacy organization named Endangered which birthed the new Name of Three Hundred and Sixty Fifth.Currently, Mark has launched a new initiative with his Fraternity Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc. (Alexandria Fairfax, Va). A five-part series entitled Healing Our Brothers that is created to provide a safe space for Black men to have a non-judgmental open dialogue to address barriers and trauma associated with Mental Health and Wellness while providing resources and tools for support and healing. His passion for mental health has offered him the opportunity to speak locally and nationally on several platforms to include radio and print.Mark lives by the motto by one of his famous artist “Jay Z” In order to heal – you must first reveal!

Goal is to start conversations about mental health in African American men and develop a tool kit for supportive resources, impactful programs, educational resources, and access to additional support when needed.Evaluate the mental health concerns of men and how it affects us as men in the space; Discuss and share resources that will help other brothers in their walk-in fatherhood centered around building the family and assisting in maintaining relationships.

Body Empowerment Project: Preventing Eating Disorders in BIPOC Youth

Clara Pritchett

Clara Pritchett, an impassioned advocate for social justice and mental health, serves as the Executive Director at Body Empowerment Project. Leading a team of 40 volunteers, she spearheads eating disorder prevention efforts and oversees daily operations, guided by her dedication to body liberation and social equity. Beyond her role at Body Empowerment Project, Clara advises the National Alliance on Mental Illness Next Gen Board, leveraging her expertise to propel mental health initiatives forward. A Brown University alumna with a degree in Africana Studies, Clara's academic background enriches her work. At Brown, she crafted and taught a course on "Diet Culture and Fatphobia in the US," and her thesis, "It is a War on the Body: The Racial Construction of the American Obesity Epidemic," earned honors. With a robust history in volunteer management, fundraising, and curriculum design, Clara authored the BEP curriculum and contributed to organizations like NAAFA and Direct Action for Rights and Equality. A Philadelphia native, Clara is deeply rooted in her community, actively addressing mental health, body liberation, and systemic racism within the public school system. Her advocacy and expertise continually drive progress in the realms of mental health and social justice.

Learn about the work of Body Empowerment Project, a Philadelphia based nonprofit with the mission of reducing eating disorder risk and giving adolescents the skills to live peacefully and healthfully in their bodies specifically in populations that lack access to care, from their executive director Clara Pritchett. Get an overview of the eating disorder care landscape, why prevention is so important, and get a taste of the activities students are doing in Body Empowerment Project workshops each week.

Cultivating Resilient Thriving in Ourselves and Others

David Palmer

Dr. David Palmer is a champion for dynamically diverse students, blending three decades of expertise in special education with personal insights from his own journey with ADHD. As the driving force behind Inclusion Matters Education Services (IMES), he champions the unique strengths of neurodivergent learners, pushing beyond traditional support to celebrate their potential. An award-winning researcher and certified ADHD, ASD, and Trauma professional and educator, Dr. Palmer's approach is deeply rooted in empathy and a commitment to inclusivity. His advocacy is personal, shaped by his role as a father to six, five of whom are neurodivergent teens, offering him a firsthand understanding of the nuances of neurodiversity. This intimate perspective makes Dr. Palmer not just an expert but a trusted guide for families, educators, therapists, and community leaders on similar journeys. Dr. Palmer's vision extends far beyond his professional achievements; he envisions a world where dynamically diverse individuals are empowered to leverage their unique talents and abilities to fulfill their passions and live their purpose. His commitment to this cause is evident in his dedication to family and students, his enjoyment playing guitar, unquenchable thirst for learning, and love of telling dad jokes. At NAMICon 2024, Dr. Palmer will share his transformative insights and strategies for fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates every individual's capabilities while cultivating thriving resilience. His session is a source of inspiration and a practical guide for creating a world where dynamically diverse children are seen, valued, encouraged, and prepared contributors in all aspects of life.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the challenges of supporting others who are neurodevelopmentally diverse (neurodivergent, trauma-impacted, or navigating mental-health challenges), while struggling to balance their needs with your own well-being and sense of purpose? Explore the Resilient SEQUOIA Model to support others while cultivating your well-being. Learn key strategies for understanding, empathy, and practical support, transforming life into a journey of growth, resilience, and thriving.

Cultivating Youth Leadership: Mental Health Programs on Campus

Amanda Wilson-Eck

Amanda Wilson-Eck has been with NAMI-OC since 2020. She began her work as a program coordinator for Transitional Aged Youth programs and has since become the Youth Programs Manager. Amanda has worked closely with Orange County transitional-aged youth to give them a platform to share their unique journeys and educate young adults to support their mental well-being.

Austin Messick

Austin Messick has been with NAMI-OC since 2019. He started as a volunteer after a mental health challenge and has worked his way up to the Associate Director of Programs role overseeing all classes, support groups, presentations, programs for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), CIT for first responders and NAMI-OC's innovative programs. Austin has experience with mental health as a family member and peer. He is a certified In Our Own Voice speaker and Peer-to-Peer teacher.

Amy Durham is celebrating her 10th year with NAMI Orange County.  As the CEO, she has successfully funded seventeen innovative programs for her affiliate. She currently serves on the CIT Board of Directors and is also a CIT Trainer and a trained CIT Coordinator. At NAMICon 2023, Amy and her Signature Programs managers presented on their innovative program C.A.R.E. Together. Amy's career has focused on non-profit development. As a family member she is passionate about providing programs that promote understanding, stigma-reduction and empathy

Sharing the innovative programs offered to teens & young adults at NAMI Orange County that can be adapted for any NAMI affiliate. Programs include NAMI on Campus Clubs, “Happy Hour” self-care nights, Honest Hour webinars, and our Anxiety Sucks podcast. These programs empower TAY to take charge of their mental health and share their experiences. We will also discuss how we partner with local high schools to offer Ending the Silence.

Finding Your Happiest Place Within with Karena Dawn

Karena Dawn

Karena Dawn, mental health advocate and co-founder of Tone It Up, the leading women’s fitness community, is a wellness entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, NAMI board advisor, and founder of the mental health charitable foundation, The Big Silence Foundation. For more than a decade Karena Dawn has empowered millions of women around the world to live their healthiest and happiest lives. Her lifelong passion for fitness, mindfulness, and spiritual empowerment has made her a leader in the wellness space. Dawn has been featured in Forbes for creating a “fitness empire” and on the Create & Cultivate 100 List honoring women who are masters in their field. She has also headlined the POPSUGAR Play/Ground Festival and has been a keynote speaker at the PoWer Up Women’s Conference. She is a mindful meditation coach for Chopra Global, and a regularly featured speaker and instructor for TED Women, and other national platforms. More info, copy & paste the media kit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HdfXKhrG6mDlp77XbSC7RhLqBZVWIQ6A/view?usp=drive_link

Join Karena Dawn, founder of Tone It Up, the leading fitness and lifestyle brand, and of The Big Silence mental health foundation, for a revitalizing experience that will awaken your body and mind. Karena shares practices and tools to guide and inspire you to turn your challenges into triumphs. Through fun, meditation, movement, and an inspirational and educational mental health discussion, she will motivate you to feel confident, empowered, fulfilled, and excited about life’s journey.

Health Care, Not Handcuffs: Shaping the Future of Crisis Response Workforce

Leah G. Pope, Ph.D., is a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Behavioral Medicine in the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry (Division of Behavioral Health Services and Policy Research). Trained as an anthropologist, Dr. Pope has extensive experience conducting mixed methods research in public mental health and criminal justice. Dr. Pope’s research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Science Foundation, and private foundations including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the van Ameringen Foundation, the Wenner Gren Foundation and the Sozosei Foundation. Dr. Pope's current work focuses primarily on crisis response, with research projects on the implementation of the 988 crisis line in New York State, the development of the crisis response workforce, and a randomized controlled trial of Crisis Intervention Team training for police officers.

Dr. Amy Watson is a Professor at the Wayne State University School of Social Work. For the past two decades, her research has focused on police encounters with persons with mental illnesses and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model. Dr. Watson has also conducted research and provided consultation to programs serving persons with mental illnesses with criminal legal system involvement. These include CIT programs, mental health courts, and prison reentry programs. Her current work is focused on developing crisis services and reducing the role of law enforcement in crisis response. This includes NAMI funded work focused on crisis response workforce development, evaluation of 988 and mobile crisis team implementation, and analysis of 911 calls that could be diverted to non-police responders. She is currently the President of the Board of Directors of Crisis Response Programs and Training. Previously, she served on the CIT International Board of Directors from 2016-2021, as President of the Board 2020-2021. Earlier in her career, she worked as a probation officer on a team serving clients with serious mental illnesses and as a Forensic Social Worker/Mitigation Specialist working on death penalty cases. She has a BA in Criminal Justice from Aurora University and an AM and PhD from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.

Michael Compton

Michael T. Compton, M.D., M.P.H. is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, in the Division of Behavioral Health Services and Policy Research. He is also a Research Psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, which is part of the New York State Office of Mental Health. Dr. Compton is triple-boarded in psychiatry, preventive medicine, and lifestyle medicine. He has maintained continuous NIMH research funding for more than 20 years, conducting research on first-episode psychosis, the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of collaboration between law enforcement and mental health, and several other areas. His research has led to more than 250 publications. He is also very interested in incorporating public health and prevention into psychiatry, one means of which is by addressing the social determinants of health. His books include a manual for police officers responding to persons with mental illnesses, a guide for patients with first-episode psychosis and their family members, a textbook on the complex connection between marijuana and schizophrenia, and six American Psychiatric Association books: The Clinical Manual of Prevention in Mental Health (2009); The Social Determinants of Mental Health (2015), Marijuana and Mental Health (2016), The American Opioid Epidemic: From Patient Care to Public Health (2019), Struggle and Solidarity: Seven Stories of How Americans Fought for Their Mental Health through Federal Legislation (2023), and Entangled: How People with Mental Illnesses Get Caught Up in Misdemeanor Systems and Pathways to Reform (forthcoming).

Providing health care, not handcuffs, when a person is experiencing a mental health crisis requires a workforce prepared to do this crucial work without relying on law enforcement unless significant safety or criminal concerns are present. This session will highlight NAMI-funded work being done to lay the foundations for this workforce and elaborate the steps for establishing it as a new professional role—that of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Crisis Responder (CBHCR).

Peer Support Specialists Credentialing Standards: Update on SAMHSA’s Model Standards

Amy Brinkley

Bio Amy Brinkley CAPRCII, CRS/CHW Recovery Support Systems Coordinator, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Amy Brinkley is a nationally recognized advocate for mental health and substance use recovery with 14 years of direct lived experience. Motivated by personal recovery experience and losses, including the suicides of three brothers and her mother's overdose, Amy is dedicated to driving change across the country through effective peer support, recovery-oriented systems of care, and robust recovery data collection practices and policies. Her goal is to improve the quality of life and sustained recovery for individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness by promoting person-centered, recovery-oriented outcomes. In her professional career, Amy served for five years with the Indiana State Division of Mental Health and Addiction, where she held a state-level position overseeing and building infrastructure for peer/recovery support services statewide. During this time, she made significant contributions to the field, including serving as a contributing author on several publications for the American Psychiatric Association Journals, leveraging her expertise in peer support as a member of the APA Policy Advisory Board. Amy continues to contribute to the APA in this capacity to this day. Since January 2022, Amy has been employed as the Recovery Support Services Coordinator for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). In this role, she provides invaluable guidance and leadership in supporting states and territories across the country in their efforts to expand recovery support services. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in developing recovery data collection practices and policies, particularly from her work in Indiana, where she gained a deep understanding of the lived experience needs related to access to recovery support services at a grassroots statewide level. Beyond her role at NASMHPD, Amy actively serves as a board member for NAMI National, the SURF Center, Recovery Café Lafayette, and as the Board President and CEO for Paul's Plan Ministries. These engagements reflect her commitment to making a positive impact on mental health and recovery at both the national and local levels. Amy takes pride in her role as a wife and mother, nurturing a loving home that includes four children, three cats, and a cherished Labradoodle named Ruby. Indiana is where Amy and her family call home.

Paolo del Vecchio

This workshop will offer an overview of SAMHSA’s Model Standards for Peer Support Credentialing along with an update of feedback received since the standards were launched summer of 2023. Co-presenters will then share the findings of NAMI’s organization wide survey of Certified Peer Specialists who were asked to share their feedback on each of the 11 standards and suggestions for improvement, as well as their thoughts on what NAMI National’s role should be in the Peer Credentialing space

The Intersection of Law & Medicine: The Innovative Collaboration of Forensic Psychiatry and Jail Diversion

Patricia Ortiz

Patricia Ortiz, M.D. is an Assistant Professor in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Psychiatry, the Psychiatry Clerkship Director for the TTUHSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, and the Academic Medical Director for Emergence Health Network (Local Mental Health Authority) through their partnership with TTUHSC El Paso. She supervises medical students, psychiatry residents, and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows in various clinical and forensic settings. In addition, she is planning to establish a Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship training program at TTUHSC El Paso beginning July 2025, and has partnered with the El Paso County Attorney’s Office to increase services to justice-involved individuals with mental illness. She was elected to the NAMI El Paso Board of Directors in February 2024. Dr. Ortiz received her medical training at the TTUHSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in her hometown, El Paso, TX. She completed her psychiatry residency in Washington, D.C. at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, followed by a Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult and Forensic Psychiatry. She returned home to join the Texas Tech Department of Psychiatry faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2020. Her main interests include adult and juvenile forensic psychiatry, women’s mental health, community psychiatry, and medical education.

Daniela Chisolm

Assistant County Attorney, Daniela Chisolm, is a Senior Trial Attorney in the Mental HealthLitigation Unit at the El Paso County Attorney’s Office. Chisolm represents the State of Texas inthe civil court commitment processes. Chisolm is a former defense attorney for those individualsin the court commitment process. She has a unique perspective of being on both sides of thecivil commitment laws creating in depth insight to the systemic barriers for both sides in themental health system. Chisolm serves as the Vice President on the Board of Directors for NAMIEl Paso. Chisolm is passionate about mental health and is a family member of an individualsuffering from a severe mental illness.

A mental health litigation attorney and forensic psychiatrist team up to teach attendees what Forensic Psychiatry is, how it is interwoven in the legal system and its importance for the mental health community. By developing an understanding of the legal and forensic mechanisms the audience will then be introduced to innovative incarceration diversion tools, which attendees can advocate for transformative shifts in their communities.

The Wellness Waterfall: Improve workplace outcomes through sustainable leadership and wellness practices.

Dr. Jenna Sage currently serves as Director of Organizational Wellness and Wellbeing for a large allied healthcare institution. She is a noted author, speaker and dedicated nearly 25 years of career to public education and working with students with emotional behavioral disorders and trauma histories. Today this work evolved into leading strategic wellness programming and organizational culture change to produce workplace thriving.

Lindsay England

Lindsay England is the Vice President, Office of Transformation at Ultimate Medical Academy with responsibility over the Curriculum function, Enterprise Project Management Office, and Program Implementation team. In her role, Lindsay works cross-functionally to support strategic initiatives and organizational growth, and to ensure successful outcomes for those that UMA serves.Lindsay has been with UMA since 2012 and has operated in numerous roles within the organization throughout her tenure. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science in Applied Organizational Psychology from the University of Southern California.

In this session, participants will be exposed to the simile of the Wellness Waterfall and its potential impact on organizational key indicators like retention, engagement, and satisfaction including industry trends. The Wellness Waterfall is influenced by skills (learning and development), will (self-care and self-regulation), and fills (reward and recognition) which influence healthy and sustained behavior change at the individual and organizational levels.

What's Happening Now in DC? Federal Mental Health Policy in 2024 and Beyond

Hannah Wesolowski

Hannah Wesolowski serves as NAMI National’s Chief Advocacy Officer. She leads NAMI’s Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy team, which develops NAMI’s policy positions, advances NAMI’s federal priorities and supports the policy work of NAMI’s Alliance at the state and local level. Hannah and her team work with NAMI’s advocates nationwide and with partners and policymakers to enact policies that will improve the lives of all people affected by mental health conditions. Hannah serves as a member of NAMI’s Executive Team and is a frequent NAMI spokesperson to the media on mental health policy topics. She serves on the Executive Committee of Friends of NIMH and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council and the American Brain Coalition. Before her current role, she served as NAMI’s Director of Field Advocacy for more than four years. Before joining NAMI, Hannah worked at the Public Affairs Council, providing support to leading associations and nonprofit advocacy groups to build grassroots advocacy programs. She also previously led political advocacy efforts at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and developed engagement efforts at the American Institute of Architects. Hannah graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, where she also earned a Master of Public Administration degree.

A perennial NAMI-Con favorite, during this session NAMI National staff will provide a recap of major federal developments in mental health policy and how NAMI is continuing to set the tone with federal policy makers. We will also examine the upcoming elections and what that may mean for mental health in 2025.

Supporting Veterans and Families: The Veterans Affairs Work to Address Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Tanya Bradsher

The Honorable Tanya Bradsher was nominated by President Biden to serve as the 10th Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Ms. Bradsher’s nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 14, 2023, and she was sworn in on September 20, 2023. In this role, Deputy Secretary Bradsher helps lead the Department of Veterans Affairs as it continues to deliver more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before in the nation’s history. Upon her confirmation, Ms. Bradsher said, “As deputy secretary, I promise to do everything in my power to ensure that every Veteran gets the world-class care and benefits they deserve. This is the honor of a lifetime, and I am forever grateful to President Biden and Secretary McDonough for this opportunity to serve our nation’s heroes.”Ms. Bradsher is a combat Veteran who served for 20 years in the United States Army. She enlisted in 1993 and was commissioned in 1994 from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Her major assignments included Spokesperson on the White House National Security Council for the Department of Defense, Asia, Africa, Western Hemisphere, counter-terrorism, and detainee policies; Defense Press Officer in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs at the Pentagon; Brigade Public Affairs Officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Deputy Public Affairs officer, 8th U.S. Army; Commander, Delta Company 516th Battalion, and Executive Officer, 1st Replacement Company, 8th Personnel Support Command.In March 2021, Ms. Tanya Bradsher was selected by Secretary McDonough to serve as the Chief of Staff for Veterans Affairs. Prior to being named VA’s Chief of Staff, Ms. Bradsher served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Partnerships and Global Engagement on the National Security Staff in the Executive Office of the President. She previously served as the Chief of Staff to Congressman Don Beyer in Virginia’s 8th District. Before working on the Hill, Ms. Bradsher was the Chief of Communications for the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Prior to joining APA, she served at the Defense Health Agency as the Chief for Communications Plans and Operation in the Office of Public Affairs.During the Obama Administration, Ms. Bradsher served as the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security where she oversaw public outreach, media, and incident communications efforts and served as the principal communications advisor to the Secretary. Prior to joining DHS, she served at the White House as the Assistant Director, Office of Public Engagement, where she led Veteran, Wounded Warrior, and Military Family Outreach initiatives. Ms. Bradsher earned her M.A. in Strategic Communications from George Washington University and her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received numerous military awards, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. She and her husband, Colonel (Retired) John Bradsher, have three children.

Join VA Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher for a discussion on the mental health care needs of our veterans’ community, including families. Hear an update on the Veterans’ Administration’s priorities and accomplishments around mental health and suicide prevention, and listen as Dep. Sec. Bradsher discusses the opportunities and challenges that face us as we support veterans and their families with NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

Beyond the Battlefield: Unveiling Unique Challenges in Veterans' Mental Health

Rick Kellar

Rick Kellar has served as the President and CEO of Peg’s Foundation since 2005. Motivated by personal experience, Rick is a catalyst for change, challenging the status quo to advance access to behavioral health care, enhance student achievement, and foster an appreciation for the arts. He believes Ohio serves as a national model, inspiring others to “Think Bigger!”With a distinguished 28-year career in the U.S. Army, including notable service in the Infantry and Special Forces (Green Beret), and with the Joint Special Operations Command from which he retired in 2014, having served in a special mission unit for over a decade. His service also included work at the Pentagon, where he held the pivotal role of Director of Resourcing for the United States Army Operations and Readiness Initiative, overseeing an $8.6-billion annual program.Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.In addition to his professional activities, Rick has dedicated 17 years serving on the Tallmadge School Board. He remains actively involved in community initiatives, serving on the LeBron James Family Foundation Community Advisory Board, a founding member of CEO Alliance for Mental Health, and serving as a founding board member of Mindful Philanthropy. Rick’s contributions have been recognized with a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, awarded by Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Major General Gregg Martin (ret.)

Gregg F. Martin, PhD, Major General, US Army (Retired), served on active duty for 36 years, until May 2015. He is a combat veteran, Bipolar Survivor, Airborne-Ranger-Engineer qualified soldier, and Army Strategist.

He holds a Ph.D. and two masters degrees from MIT, masters degrees in national security strategy from both the Army and Naval war colleges, and a bachelors degree from West Point. He commanded an engineer company, battalion, the 130th Engineer Brigade in combat during the first year of the Iraq War in 2003-04, including the attack from Kuwait, up the Euphrates River Valley, to Baghdad and beyond.

He served multiple overseas tours, and, as a general officer, commanded the Corps of Engineers Northwest Division, was Commandant of the Army Engineer School, commanded Fort Leonard Wood, was Deputy Commanding General of Third Army/US Army Central, Commandant of the Army War College, President of National Defense University, and Special Assistant to the Chief of Engineers. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (twice), the Bronze Star Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

He is married with three sons, two of whom are Army combat veterans, and one an artist. His wife is an “Army brat” and heroine for persevering though their Army career and surviving and overcoming their bipolar ordeal, which has been the toughest fight of their lives. They live in Cocoa Beach, FL, where he is writing, speaking, and sharing his story of “battling bipolar disorder” to help save lives and stop the stigma.

Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion on the unique needs of veterans' mental health. This session aims to shed light on the profound challenges faced by veterans as they navigate the complexities of mental health post-service. Our panel of experts will discuss the hurdles veterans encounter, including PTSD, transition stress, and the stigma surrounding mental health care in military culture. Through personal insights, research, and practical strategies, we'll explore innovative approaches to support and empower veterans on their path to healing.

Revolutionizing Mental Health Systems: SAMHSA’s Federal Leadership on Mental Illness

Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D.

Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon is currently Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). She previously served as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and served in this role for six years. Prior positions held at DMHAS include Deputy Commissioner, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of the department’s Office of Multicultural Healthcare Equity. In her role as Commissioner, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon was committed to promoting recovery oriented, integrated, and culturally responsive services and systems that foster dignity, respect, and meaningful community inclusion. In addition, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon served on faculty in Yale Department of Psychiatry for 20 years, most recently as Adjunct Associate Professor and previously as Assistant Professor, Assistant Clinical Professor, and Instructor. While at Yale Dr. Delphin-Rittmon also served as the Director of Cultural Competence and Health Disparities Research and Consultation with the Yale University Program for Recovery and Community Health. In May 2014, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon completed a two-year White House appointment working as a Senior Advisor to the Administrator of SAMHSA with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While at SAMHSA, she worked on a range of policy initiatives addressing behavioral health equity, workforce development, and healthcare reform. Through her 23-year career in the behavioral health field, Dr. Delphin-Rittmon has extensive experience in the design, evaluation, and administration of mental health, substance use, and prevention services and systems and has received several awards for advancing policy in these areas. Most recently, she received the 2023 Human Values Award from the Art of Living Foundation, the 2023 American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Children’s Mental Health Champion Award, the 2022 Distinguished Public Service in Psychology Award, from the National Register of Health Service Psychology and The Trust, Washington, DC, and the 2019 State Service Award from the National Association of State Drug and Alcohol Directors. Dr. Delphin-Rittmon received her B.A. in Social Science from Hofstra University in 1989, her M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University 1992 and 2001, respectively, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical community psychology at Yale University in 2002.

Join an engaging discussion with SAMHSA Assistant Secretary Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., who leads the federal government’s agency focused on people with mental health and substance use conditions. Hear how SAMHSA is working across agencies and across states to transform crisis response, improve early intervention and expand access to care, including how they are elevating the voices of lived experience.

Affect, othering, and value-based markers of schizophrenia lived experiences: Building meaningful, respectful, JEDI-oriented relationships

Nadika Paranamana

Nadika Paranamana, Psy.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University School of Medicine and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Connecticut Healthcare System. Dr. Paranamana’s work is grounded in humanistic-existential framework and is centered on justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging of marginalized, disenfranchised, and historically disadvantaged people and communities. She is a qualitative researcher dedicated to investigating lived experiences. Clinically, her work focuses on serious mental illnesses, especially psychosis and the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Dr. Paranamana received her doctorate in clinical psychology from University of Hartford and serves as Chair of the Ethnic Diversity Task Force (EDTF) at the Connecticut Psychological Association.

Based on findings from a 2023 phenomenological study on affectivity in schizophrenia, this session offers important insights and language for caregivers and providers about the concepts of "affective proximity," "experiences of othering" and "value-based markers of being in the world" to help develop meaningful, and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)-oriented relationships with persons diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Barriers Before & After Incarceration: The Impact on My Mental Health and Society Reintegration

Felishia McPherson

Felishia McPherson is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who began her career as a Certified Peer Support Specialist with over a three decades of lived experience in the areas of childhood trauma, domestic violence and former justice involvement. Felishia’s daily mantra is #PowerPower as she strives to be the “living proof” to empower those navigating the obstacles of re-entry and mental wellness with support and community resources.

The session is about the lived experience of 3 formerly incarcerated peers and the impact it had on their mental health. To include discussion on barriers that were present & the impact they had on the peers state of mental wellness. Also including tools and resources that have been gained from NAMI that would have been beneficial on their journey to recovery/mental wellness. Discussion includes their lived experience testimony of tools such as Competency Hearings & Restoration.

Helping People in Crisis: From 988 to a Crisis Continuum of Care

Margie Balfour

Dr. Margie Balfour is a psychiatrist and national leader in crisis care, quality improvement, and law enforcement responses to behavioral health emergencies. She is Chief of Quality & Clinical Innovation at Connections Health Solutions and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona. Dr. Balfour was named Doctor of the Year by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing for her leadership at the Crisis Response Center in Tucson, Arizona, and received the Sam Cochran Criminal Justice award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness for her work to help law enforcement better serve people with behavioral health needs. She co-authored Roadmap to the Ideal Crisis System: Essential Elements, Measurable Standards, and Best Practices, and her work on crisis outcome measurement has been cited as a national standard. Dr. Balfour is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and serves on the APA Council on Quality of Care. She has also served on the boards of the American Association for Community Psychiatry, American Association for Emergency Psychiatry, and numerous expert panels for SAMHSA, the DOJ, and others. A native of Monroe, Louisiana, Dr. Balfour received a BA in Biology at Johns Hopkins University and then her MD and PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati. She completed residency and fellowship in Community Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

This session will give conference go-ers an overview of NAMI’s priority and vision around 988 and crisis care. 

Projected Cost and Economic Impact of Mental Health Inequities Report

Nelson Dunlap

Nelson J. Dunlap, J.D. currently serves as the Vice President for Public Policy & External Affairs in the School of Global Health at Meharry Medical College. In this role he helps to lead health policy for the School, all while keeping health equity centered at the core of the mission.As a dedicated health policy advocate, author, and experienced public speaker, Mr. Dunlap has utilized every opportunity in his career to fight on behalf of marginalized communities and push for the advancement of health equity. His commitment to the pursuit of health equity has recently been recognized as he was named to the de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health. Before joining Meharry, Mr. Dunlap served as the Chief-of-Staff for the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine where he helped to lead the government relations and health policy initiatives of the institution. Along with this role, Mr. Dunlap also served as the Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs for the Health Equity Leadership and Exchange Network. Mr. Dunlap’s passion for shaping the minds of the next generation of learners and leaders, and doing so with an eye towards leveraging the law and the political determinants of health, has afforded him the opportunity to provide numerous speaking engagements and author a number of publications centered around health policy and health disparities.Mr. Dunlap graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law.

Presenting on a report entitled The Economic Burden of Mental Health Inequities, this report aims to offer an understanding of the economic impact of our failure of over 165 years since the passage of the Bill for the Benefit of the Indigent Insane to invest in equity-focused behavioral health interventions, services, treatments, supports, and programs. The report included policy recommendations to address political determinants of behavioral health, investments, and culturally centered care.

Putting Your Oxygen Mask on First- Prioritizing Mental Health and Wellness in Your Life to Be A Better Leader

Christi Venable

Christi Venable is an award-winning Business Owner, Organizational Leadership and Culture Change Expert and Speaker. She’s the founder of SMILE Therapy Services, a multi-milliondollar mental health agency that she managed to build from the ground up. SMILE Therapy Services is committed to providing top-notch mental health services that help people heal and lead happier lives through transformative counseling — one person, one spirit, and one smile at a time. In 2020, Christi was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Businessperson of the Year for Washington D.C. In 2022, Christi was honored as an Enterprising Women of the Year awardee. In 2022, SMILE Therapy was named one of the fastest growing companies in the United States by INC. 5000, and the honor was granted again as SMILE was recognized by INC 5000 a second year in a row in 2023. As a minority and women owned company, she’s proud to be certified with WBENC, 8a and NMSDC Today, Christi employs a dynamic team of therapists -- all people of color – while continuing to serve individuals, school systems and fortune 500 organizations. As a leadership and culture expert, she’s now helping top leaders improve their culture so they can increase employee wellness, retention and build a happy workforce. No matter the industry, you can count on Christi’s team to weave in leadership training focused on dynamic topics such as emotional intelligence, productivity, and effective communication. SMILE Therapy staff have been leading facilitators in the mental health and wellness arena since its foundation in 2015. Over the years SMILE Therapy has developed an arsenal of workshops that speak to the needs of a diverse market and an ever-changing social climate. Some of the most sought-after topics include Leading with Effective Communication, Leveraging your Leadership Style, Mental Health SpotChecking, Sexual Harassment, Resiliency, Self-Care and Stress Management, The Power of Patience and many more. Christi is a proud member of THE BOW COLLECTIVE, ™ an organization and sisterhood of the Nation's top 1% of small business owners. As "Business Philanthropists" we work together to bring awareness, business opportunities, and capital resources to entrepreneurs. Christi received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree from George Washington University. Christi Venable is a National Certified Counselor, A Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.

Women tend to put everyone and everything in their lives first even in the workplace. This workshop will discuss the statistics of women mental health challenges specifically in the workplace, the importance of making mental health a priority in your life and how focusing on your own mental health improves your leadership abilities.

Questify Your Life: Using Gamification and Positive Psychology for Self-satisfaction

Sierra Grandy

Sierra Grandy is a dynamic public speaker, disability advocate, and recent law school graduate dedicated to promoting mental health and wellness. Drawing from her own journey of mental health recovery, Sierra brings authenticity and insight to her speaking engagements, which have reached over 60 audiences across diverse platforms, including mental health conferences, police intervention trainings, podcasts, and corporate wellness initiatives. In addition to her speaking engagements, Sierra is deeply involved in advocacy work, serving as Minnesota's Representative on NAMI's Peer Leadership Council and as a council member on Minnesota's State Advisory Council on Mental Health. Her commitment to effecting change within the mental health system is fueled by her lived experience and passion for ensuring equitable access to support and resources for all. Sierra's dedication to advocacy is complemented by her academic achievements, having recently graduated from law school with a focus on disability and tax law (strange mix—she knows). Her undergraduate degree is in psychology, which she has continued to self-study as she has continued her education. To achieve her goals, Sierra has created a flexible system that makes quests out of life. Gamification has allowed Sierra to use creative tools to make her life more interactive and fun. She is excited to teach this system to NAMIcon attendees. For more information about Sierra Grandy and her work, please visit SierraGrandy.com.

In this session, Sierra will share her passion for leveraging evidence-based techniques, including gamification and positive psychology, to add a sense of adventure, accomplishment, and fun to everyday life. Stories about how she uses this system in her mental health recovery are a focus of the presentation. Sierra will teach you how to create a personalized "Questify Your Life" system: establish your character, design fulfilling quests, and map your journey.

Reentry Rethought: Leveraging Medicaid for Enhanced Mental Health & Substance Use Support Upon Community Return

Shannon Scully

Shannon Scully is the Director of Justice Policy & Initiatives at NAMI’s national office, where she provides strategic guidance and leadership on the organization’s work at the intersection of mental illness and the criminal justice system. She engages federal agencies and Congress to advance NAMI’s key priorities in the areas of justice reform and crisis response and supports leaders across the NAMI Alliance to advance reforms at the state and local level to reduce justice system impact in the lives of people with mental illness.Prior to joining NAMI, Ms. Scully has worked on a variety of issues to address the impact of the criminal legal and carceral system in disproportionately impacted communities. She began her career advocating for victims of crime in the court system in Cook County, IL. Originally from Minnesota, Ms. Scully lives in the greater DC area with her family.

Dr. Victoria Harris

Dr. Harris focused her career on those with serious mental health conditions who were incarcerated, or involuntarily detained for psychiatric care. Originally trained as a physician in BC, Canada, Dr. Harris brought her training and expertise as a general practitioner to the psychiatric conundrums presented. She spent years providing care, leadership and conducting clinical research in Washington state jails, prisons and federal institutions. Dr. Harris was part of a multi-disciplinary Department of Corrections / University of Washington team that provided direct service, followed outcomes using clinical research and then presented results to educate and lobby for additional resources. More recently, when almost 60 years old, Dr. Harris experienced a catastrophic psychotic break caused by a medication toxicity. Before the cause of her unusual behavior could be determined, she was arrested and left for weeks in solitary confinement, in a small rural American jail. Following recovery, some of Dr. Harris’ work can be found here:https://www.namiwa.org/nami-wa-notablesDr. Harris earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Science from the University of Victoria BC, and her MD was earned from the University of BC, Vancouver, BC. Dr. Harris trained as a psychiatrist at the University of Washington, where she became board certified in forensics, and earned her Masters in Public Health.

People with mental health conditions are overrepresented in our nation’s jails and prisons and when people leave incarceration, there are many challenges to successfully reentering their communities. This session will explore new policies that allow Medicaid to cover some services prior to people being released from prison or jail have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of people with mental health and substance use conditions.

Trauma Awareness: Resources for Professionals Serving Youth

Donielle Prince

Donielle works at NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, as part of the Youth and Young Adult Initiatives team. Donielle manages Trauma Awareness Initiatives, where she is currently creating a virtual training on trauma awareness for youth serving professionals. Donielle has been focused on expanding trauma awareness to organizations and individuals for the past 6 years. Past roles have included counselor for children and adults, and program evaluation researcher addressing topics such as youth development and school-based mental health. Donielle is a San Francisco Bay Area native currently living in Sacramento, California.

NAMI’s Youth and Young Adult Initiatives Hub will provide an exclusive preview of video highlights from NAMI’s new, on-demand, Trauma Awareness Training, scheduled to launch on nami.org in June 2024. Workshop participants will receive resources they can use in their work with young people, including scripts for mindfulness practices and tips tailored by age-group for understanding and engaging youth whose behavior is impacted by traumatic stress.

Turning Towards the Sun: Maternal Stories of Hope and Healing After Their Child’s Suicide

Julie Piepenbring

Julie M. Piepenbring, Ph.D., LCSW is an Associate Professor at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York, and an adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). She earned her doctorate at Fordham University, and both her BSW and MSW from SCSU. Julie has an extensive clinical practice history and was managing partner of a private practice for ten years. She also has extensive executive leadership experience in nonprofit social service organizations and was Chief Clinical Officer and Executive Vice President for a nonprofit organization. She began teaching in 2012 and since joining St. Rose in 2018 has presented at 24 national and local conferences. Julie co-authored Leadership and Management in Social Work: A competency-based approach (Springer Publishing, 2019), Practicum and Capstone Handbook. 1st Edition (Kendall/Hunt Publishing), and is co-authoring Turning Toward the Sun: Stories of Hope and Healing of Suicide Grief by Mothers (Kendall/Hunt, Innovative Inc. Publishing) due in the spring of 2024.

Laura Albee

Laura J. Albee, DSW, LCSW, BCBA, LBA is a visiting Assistant Professor of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice at the University of Saint Joseph. She has an extensive background working with children, adolescents, young adults and their families in community, residential, and academic settings. She chaired Post University’s Pathways Program and served as a part-time social work faculty member at Southern Connecticut State University. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Florida State University, her Master of Arts in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorders from the University of Saint Joseph, and her MSW and Doctor of Social Work from SCSU. She has had publications in Autism Spectrum News and contributed chapters in Dr. Peggy Whitby’s book entitled Cases on Teaching Sexuality Education to Individuals with Autism, and Susan V. Alstyne’s (Ed.), Perspectives and Considerations on Navigating the Mental Health Care System with IGI Global Publishers. Laura is coauthoring Turning Towards the Sun: Stories of Hope and Healing of Suicide Grief by Mothers under Innovative Ink Publishing: Kendall Hunt with an anticipated release slated for April 2024. Laura’s research interests include autism, sexuality, and education, suicide and maternal grief, and posttraumatic growth and resilience. She has presented at numerous conferences around the country speaking about suicide grief and posttraumatic growth. Laura’s son died by suicide in 2015. She has devoted much of her research and clinical work encouraging the bereft and those navigating mental illness to keep hope in their heart.

Mothers mourning children lost to suicide underscore a need to walk out of their darkness and into a transformative light. A beacon that will repurpose their intent and galvanize their willingness to live for another tomorrow. Utilizing case studies participants will explore the maternal narratives of the survived to deepen their understanding about the factors that contribute to posttraumatic growth in the wake of child suicide. Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma will be emphasized.

Update on the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Dr. Andrew Nierenberg

Andrew A. Nierenberg, MD is the Director of the Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. In addition to directing the Dauten Center, Dr. Nierenberg is the co-director of Mass General’s Center for Clinical Research Education and associate director of the Depression Clinical and Research Program. He also holds the Thomas P. Hackett, MD, Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at Mass General.

Dr. Nierenberg graduated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY. After completing his residency in psychiatry at New York University/Bellevue Hospital, he studied clinical epidemiology at Yale University as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. Dr. Nierenberg then joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School, first at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA and then at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also an Honorary Professor in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health at Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, and an Honorary Skou Professor at Aarhus University in Denmark.

Dr. Nierenberg focuses on clinical trials for bipolar disorder and depression with over 595 published papers and a Google scholar h-index of 126. He has been listed among The Best Doctors or Top Doctors in America for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders yearly since 1994. He has been honored with the ISBD Mogens Schou Award for Research and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation’s Colvin Prize.   Current projects include organizing a Bipolar Disorder Learning Health Network and leading the SMART-BD study (Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Treatment for Bipolar Depression).

In this session, I will review the treatment of bipolar disorder with a focus on outcomes and a collaboration with NAMI to build a learning health network to help people thrive and reduce the probability of mood episodes.

Workplace Mental Health by the Numbers: NAMI's New Annual Poll

Barb Solish

Barb is passionate about mental health awareness, education, and advocacy, especially after the loss of a friend to suicide. Barb’s lived experience developing a mental health condition as a young person also motivates her work improving outcomes for young people with mental health concerns. Barb oversees NAMI’s youth and young adult initiatives team, which develops resources for kids, teens, young adults,  educators, and caregivers, as well as NAMI’s workplace mental health initiatives, including the StigmaFree Workplace initiative. Barb believes strongly that not only is creating a mentally healthy workplace the right thing to do, it’s an economic imperative.

Prior to joining NAMI, Barb worked with organizations, executives, legislators, and political candidates to hone their strategic messaging. Barb served as the Communications Director and Deputy Manager on former Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak’s first-term campaign, as a strategic communications manager for Los Angeles’ winning bid for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, and as an advisor to over a dozen congressional candidates at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Meg is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Organizational Psychology Professional, and the Director of Workplace Mental Health with NAMI, specializing in burnout and relationships. She has provided education to organizations on topics such as psychological safety, DEI & mental health, burnout, and trauma in the workplace. Currently pursuing her doctorate in Human & Organizational Psychology, Meg is passionate about understanding human behavior in professional settings and working to break down the stigma around mental health. Since joining NAMI last year, her work focuses on partnering with organizations to better understand the needs of their employees, build awareness around mental health at work, help create more caring corporate cultures, and provide the resources needed to be more mentally well.

Join us for an enlightening look at the latest findings from NAMI's new annual workplace mental health polling data. Through a comprehensive survey, NAMI has gathered invaluable insights into the state of mental health within workplaces across various sectors. From understanding the current experience of the American worker to evaluating the knowledge of existing support systems, this presentation promises to offer a nuanced perspective on the intersection of mental health and the workplace.

Discover key trends, emerging patterns, and potential areas for improvement with NAMI’s Workplace Mental Health team. Whether you're an HR professional, a business leader, or an advocate for mental health awareness, this presentation equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to foster a healthier and more supportive work environment for all.

Empowering Diversion: Effective Strategies for Justice-Involved Individuals

Aaron Arnold

Aaron Arnold is chief development officer at All Rise (formerly the National Association of Drug Court Professionals), where he works to develop new initiatives to support and strengthen treatment courts across the country. Prior to joining All Rise, Aaron spent 15 years at the Center for Court Innovation, overseeing the Center’s national work in the areas of treatment courts, community justice, alternatives to incarceration, tribal justice, and more. Aaron has served as a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Phoenix, Arizona, where he gained first-hand experience working in several problem-solving courts. Aaron is graduate of Cornell University and the University of Arizona College of Law.

Justice-involved individuals experience mental health and substance use disorders at much higher rates than the general population. In this session, experts from All Rise will discuss concrete strategies for identifying individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders in the justice system, explore promising diversion models, and offer guidance for jurisdiction seeking to build new alternatives to incarceration.

Fostering Well-Being through Social Support & Belonging: Leaning In to Systemic Solutions to Burnout & Workplace Stress

Jessie Harney

Jessie Harney is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration at Colorado State University. Her research interests are in justice system reform, with much of her work specifically focusing on fostering mental health and well-being. Specifically, the primary questions motivating her work are: 1) how do we improve the mental health of frontline workers in these systems?; 2) how does the well-being of frontline workers impact the way they engage with system-impacted populations?; and 3) how do we improve the well-being of system-impacted individuals and families through specific, direct services or policies? Her academic training is in psychology, biostatistics, and public policy; as such, she believes deeply in the importance of an interdisciplinary and community-driven approach to research and building public policy and programs.

This session would share results from a study that tested the impact of a peer-focused wellness intervention on employee well-being and attitudes, relative to an individual wellness intervention (i.e., those that tend to be common in status quo, organizational wellness programs.) Through a causal design, we find significant evidence of improved well-being and attitudes in the peer program versus the individual program in a high-stress occupation: correctional work.

How Ted Lasso's Leadership Style Can Help You Build Psychological Safety

Jeff Harry combines positive psychology and play to heal workplaces, help teams build psychological safety and assist individuals in addressing their biggest challenges by embracing a play-oriented approach to work. Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers and has been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, Huffpost, Shondaland, Wired, NPR, NatGeo, & Forbes. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Over the past 15 years of facilitation and speaking, Jeff’s main goal has been to help work suck less by assisting leaders in building a playground workplace atmosphere that motivates their staff to do their most vibrant work.

85% of employees are disengaged at work. Staff leave because they don't feel seen, heard, or appreciated.  Who knew the answer to this lies in a show called Ted Lasso? In this workshop, we will explore how play and positive psychology are essential to building psychological safety in this surreal new reality of work. We will analyze through the lens of Ted Lasso what currently needs to be added to your workplace that would create the culture your staff is looking for.

Implementing Community-based Strategies to Address Behavioral Health Crises Through Law Enforcement-led Deflection

Ernest Stevens

Ernest (Ernie) Stevens is a published author with a #1 best selling book on Amazon titled: Mental Health and De-escalation: A Guide for Law Enforcement Professionals. Ernie was also a contributing author for, Police Mental Health Barricade. Ernie was a police officer for 28 years, serving 26 of those years with the San Antonio Police Department where he was a founding member of the Mental HealthUnit. Ernie has been featured on the Emmy Award Winning HBO Documentary, Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops. He has also been featured in NBC’s documentary, A Different Kind of Force. Ernie was interviewed by ABC’s Nightline’s Byron Pitts, and featured on officers trained to respond to mental illness calls. Ernie has been featured in over 40publications and deemed an expert in Crisis Intervention Training. Ernie is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University and holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice. Ernie was one of the founding members of the San Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health Unit. Ernie continues to assist law enforcement agencies aound the nation by providing technical assistance and best practice approaches to mental health crisis calls. Ernie currently serves as the deputy director of law enforcement for the Council of State Governments Justice Center where he works closely with the Dept of Justice to assist agencies across the nation develop and strengthen their crisis response models.

Sakinah Slayton

Sakinah Slayton is a 24-year veteran of the New Castle County Police Department, where she has made significant contributions in both the Operations and Administrative divisions. As a Lieutenant, Slayton expertly blends her educational background — holding a master's degree in human resources management from Wilmington University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Cheyney University— with varied professional experience. She held a supervisory role in the Professional Standards Unit (Internal Affairs), led as a patrol squad commander, and demonstrated her proficiency as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Her experience also extends to the Research, Accreditation, Media and Policy (RAMP) unit as well as the Professional Development Unit. Currently, Lieutenant Slayton serves as the Community Engagement Executive Officer and leads the Behavioral Health and Community Services Unit, following her tenure as the Operations Branch Executive Officer. Deeply committed to community involvement, she actively participates in community service, contributing through coaching and mentoring both her peers and young people. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, her community service and mentoring efforts are an integral part of her personal life as well. A passionate advocate for wellness and mental health, Lieutenant Slayton integrates these values into her professional life.

Chris Richardson

As the Director of the Crisis Service Bureau, Chris Richardson has over 19 years of clinical expertise working with behavioral health populations that intersect with criminal justice systems and integrating sequential intercept planning into alternative criminal justice solutions. Operating as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addictions Counselor, Chris oversaw the creation and growth of Denver’s Co-Responder Program in 2016, Civilian Response program (STAR) in 2020, and Court based assertive community treatment teams in 2018. Grounded in trauma informed practices, the Crisis Service Bureau additionally houses the Victim Assistance Unit, supporting victims of crime and accessing care to engage individuals in the healing process. To its core, the Crisis Service Bureau seeks to be able to engage effectively in community collaboration, connect community partners with first responder programs to streamline and gain access to low barrier services, and most importantly serve the citizens of Denver in solution focused, individual driven way.

As a Senior Program Manager, Guy Farina delivers consulting, and training and technical assistance (TTA) as part of the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) National Deflection TA Center. Guy also supports and supervises Program Managers in assisting public safety and public health agencies, with a primary focus on deflection and diversion.Throughout his 20-year career, he has excelled at traditional and non-traditional policing strategies, advocating for those living with substance use disorders, adverse childhood experiences, special victim crimes, and their intersections. Guy is a former School Resource Officer, Drug Recognition Expert Instructor, and Detective Supervisor. He served as the Hudson Valley Regional director for the New York Gang Investigators Association (NYGIA) and the Regional Coordinator for the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee's Drug Recognition Expert Program. Additionally, Guy oversaw the first Diversion/Deflection Program in New York and became the first-ever Law Enforcement Liaison for "Hope Not Handcuffs" in the Hudson Valley. Guy has become certified as a Victim's Advocate, Domestic Violence Advocate, Sexual Assault Advocate, Victim Impact Specialist, and Certified Forensic Interviewer of Child Sexual Assault Victims. He is certified in victim's assistance, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and a victim's impact to sexual assault and was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician for 18 years. He earned his BA in history and education from Concordia College.Passionate about making a difference in people's lives, Guy is dedicated to enhancing collaboration between the police and the community.

During this interactive panel, directors from two law enforcement-led deflection programs will discuss how implementing behavioral health crisis response efforts has helped them respond to the unique needs of their communities, and outline the lessons learned through the successes and challenges faced by their deflection initiatives. These panelists also represent programs that are part of BJA’s First Responder Deflection Mentorship and Law Enforcement-Mental Health Learning Site Initiatives.

Mentally Healthy Workplaces Begin with Strong Purpose & Values – Learn to Pressure-Test Your Company's Core Principles

Deborah Urbanik

Deborah Urbanik is a global organizational culture consultant with over 25 years of industry experience. She co-founded D. Whitney Consulting with the purpose of creating inspired human connection at work so ALL can thrive. She has helped to improve culture at companies like Liberty Mutual, Daiichi Sankyo, Takeda, FIS, Charles River Labs, Lumentum, Rite Aid and more. Deb is a passionate advocate for mental health and serves on the Board of Directors for NAMI NH. She is also one of NAMI NH's state support group facilitator trainers, an active support group leader, and a trained Life Interrupted speaker. She has spoken on mental health at work for chapters of the National Human Resource Association (NHRA) and The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as well as for numerous global corporations.

Grace is a veteran of the human resources industry and profession, with over 25 years of experience in human capital strategy and transformation. She is passionate about nurturing talent and human potential while cultivating a sustainable inclusive culture. Grace is Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer at Lumentum Holdings, Inc; headquartered in Silicon Valley. She is a recipient of multiple recognitions in culture and diversity include Top 50 Chief Diversity Officers, Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes, Top Workplaces Award, America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, and Best Large Companies in America by Forbes. Grace is an independent board member at Asure Software where she is chair of the Nominating Governance committee and member of the Compensation Committee. Grace serves as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at Cornell University, ILR School. She is also serving as Co-Chair of Gartner’s Evanta CHRO Southern California Governing Body. Grace holds a master’s degree in human resources from Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and a master’s degree in global leadership from the School of Business at the University of San Diego.

For many of us, our jobs consume most of our time, energy, and effort each day. The experiences we share with our colleagues strengthen our mental health or diminish it. How can a company move beyond policies and programs to shape healthy human connection at work? It begins with strong Purpose and Values. Join Chief Human Resource Officer Grace Lee and Organizational Culture Consultant Deborah Urbanik to learn how to uncover if your company's core principles support a mentally healthy culture.

Military and Veteran Caregiver Mental Wellness Framework

Rebecca Mullaney

Rebecca Mullaney is a therapist, public speaker and mental health advocate. She owns and operates Stable Ground Counseling, a private psychotherapy practice in North Carolina focused on trauma recovery utilizing equine assisted psychotherapy. Additionally, she provides mental wellness consulting to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and helps to shape the wellness offerings for military caregivers. Rebecca has consulted for several VSOs to include Team Red White and Blue, Give an Hour, and Team Rubicon. Prior to her current roles, she worked for The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) where she managed media messaging and communications for military suicide loss survivors. Rebecca's drive for supporting military families stemmed from her time as an elementary school teacher and later school counselor supporting military children on Fort Hood, and more personally from her experience as a surviving military spouse. She has had the distinct honor of focusing much of her professional life on advancing mental health and wellness supports for America's military members, veterans and their families, and feels encouraged by the progress made. Rebecca has been featured in multiple publications to include TIME Magazine, NBC News, and the Army Times, and frequently visits Capitol Hill to advocate on military issues. She has earned a bachelors (BSIS) degree in Elementary Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Master of Arts in School Psychology and Counseling from Mary Hardin-Baylor University, and an Educational Specialty (Ed.S) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The George Washington University.

Lisell Perez-Rogers

Lisell serves as the Interim Lead of Programs and Director of Clinical Education and Mental Wellness for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. In this role she manages the Foundation’s clinical education programs through the Campaign for Inclusive Care and the Hidden Helpers Clinical Transformation Subcommittee. She also leads the expansion of the Foundation’s Mental Wellness program offerings, including the Caregiver Mental Wellness Framework and Caregiver Mental Wellness Workshops. Before joining the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Lisell worked in the mental health field, serving as a Residential Counselor at a children’s hospital and as a Mental Health Counseling Intern at a university counseling center. Prior to pursuing clinical training, Lisell worked at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), where she served as the Research and Training Coordinator followed by the Grants and Research Program Manager.Originally from Woodstock, New York, Lisell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from American University and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College. She currently resides in Dover, NH.

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation released the Caregiver Mental Wellness Framework, following more than two years of development with military and veteran caregivers, mental health professionals, and human-centered design experts. In this session, we’ll walk through the development of the Framework before taking an interactive dive into its content, where session participants will have an opportunity to engage in self-reflective content within each of the Framework’s six dimensions.

Owning the Solutions: Including BIPOC Youth and Young Adult Voices

Jorge Alvarez

Jorge Alvarez (he/him) is a first-generation college graduate and son to a father who immigrated from Cuba and a Puerto Rican mother. Jorge applies his lived & living experience with mental illness and background in Public Health through advocacy for his community and youth & young adult BIPOC. He has been platformed and recognized by The White House, Business Insider, The New York Times, TikTok, MTV, and more. As a Social Impact Strategist & Mental Health Advocate, Jorge has worked with corporations, nonprofits, and policymakers to ensure voice & representation of BIPOC youth and young adults are centered from ideation to execution in building accessible resources, intentional initiatives & programs, impact driven campaigns through strategic partnerships, & policy. From consulting to speaking across the country, Jorge has a passion for direct community engagement which he fulfills by educating and equipping young people with the frameworks needed to prioritize their mental health or be advocates themselves. He’s taken his voice to social media, where as a Creator, Jorge uses his love for storytelling to combat stigma by cultivating space for collective reflection, unlearning limiting beliefs, and breaking cycles both on and offline. He’s grown a community of +130,000 across his social platforms and was recognized by MTV as 1 of 30 participants to be part of the inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum at The White House where he spoke alongside Selena Gomez, the U.S. First Lady, and the U.S. Surgeon General. Most recently, Jorge advised MTV and Active Minds on their new national multi-year mental health campaign called ASK, received the Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Tech Award, and spoke at The White House Youth Policy Summit. Today, Jorge continues to apply a community-centered and intersectional approach to his work addressing youth mental health, through highlighting BIPOC youth voices and ensuring solutions are culturally sensitive and acknowledge the ways in which mental health is connected to other social and health determinants.

As a Gen Z Latine man advocating to normalize and encourage action around mental health for the last 6 years, I've experienced and heard the challenges youth and young adults (YYA) have AND continue to navigate. Applying these experiences, my session will explore how to go beyond including YYA and the importance of moving towards providing us with ownership of the solutions built for us but often without us. Doing my best to depict why lack of YYA presence has led to the crisis we face today.

Peer Support Leadership Journeys and Strategies

Ray Lay is a formerly homeless honorably discharged U.S. Marine living with a dual diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance abuse issues.

In this presentation the audience will hear from a panel of 3 different national peer subject matter experts (2 are also NAMI National board members) who will provide a unique perspective on their personal mental health, substance use, and veteran peer lived experiences and the challenges they overcame to gain leadership status in the national peer recovery space. This session will explore the valuable insights of effective leadership strategies rooted in direct lived experience.

Taking Next Gen Local: NAMI Affiliates and Young Peers, Professionals and Advocates

Michael Branche

Michael is a compassionate leader with lived experience who has advocated for youth for nearly 10 years. He is from the Southside of Columbus, OH where he was reared by his father Michael, Sr. He is a regional leader for Youth MOVE Ohio. As a teen Michael worked with multiple youth advocacy and social justice groups as a grassroots advocate and as a counselor and teacher’s assistant for younger children. He has experience in Peer Support, prevention, and culturally based mental health advocacy. He works with his local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) where he enjoys giving Ending the Silence (ETS) presentations, promoting mental health awareness, at local high schools. He teaches chess with the Royal Oak Initiative where they promote leadership, critical thinking, and cultural competency through chess instruction and gameplay. He is also a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the State of Ohio.

Kaylea Dillon

Kaylea Dillon joined the NAMI family through NAMI-On Campus in 2018. She is a member of NAMI Ohio's NEXT Gen Project and YouthMOVE leadership team. She is a medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and was the first Certified Youth Peer Supporter in Ohio. In addition, Kaylea helps NAMI and YouthMOVE Ohio by leading a team of peers who work to create training curriculums and facilitate certification trainings for young professionals working in the behavioral health field.

Angela Lariviere

Angela Lariviere is the Director of YouthMOVE Ohio. She joined the NAMI Ohio team in 2013She has extensive experience in strategic planning, policy and advocacy, trauma informed program development, peer support, and youth leadership. As a peer, she used her life experience to create the Youth Empowerment Program to give disconnected cross-systems youth a voice.Through this work Angela created coalitions and created programs to address the needs ofspecial populations of youth including: Military youth, Youth in Gangs, Trafficked Youth, Youth in Foster Care and Homeless Youth. Angela has developed and led youth programs for Local Schools, the Ohio Governors Community Service Council, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, The Ohio State University Department of Human Ecology, Star House Youth Drop IN Center, Youth Empowerment Program and NAMIOhio. As director of NAMI Ohio YouthMOVE, she supervises staff and leaders to develop strategic plans and advocate for multi-systems youth services in Ohio, participated in the development of Certified Youth Peer Support, provides training and support for youth leaders, partnerorganizations and county groups. She also oversees grants and chapter development and participates on state management teams. In addition, Angela has served on National committees to address issues facing youth and young adults, including serving as an AmeriCorps Leader at the Corporation for National Service, a Diversity Fellow with the Kellogg Foundation, and peer advisor for the US Inter Agency Council on Homelessness.

Janelle Freman

Hello! My name is Janelle Freman. I am currently a full-time third year psychology major and I attend University Of Louisville fully online. The short time I have worked at Nami Urban Greater Cincinnati and YouthMove Ohio has provided me with so many opportunities to learn about mental illness and network with professionals. A little bit more about my background. Growing up in a one-parent household, depression and anxiety have been a part of my life since I was 15. Even though I had my mother's support, I still wish I had peer support or another program to express myself through. The experience that I have gained. I have been able to provide support and advocacy to other kids and young adults within my community while working at Nami Urban Greater Cincinnati and YouthMove Ohio. Throughout this career path, I have discovered my purpose, which is to support and advocate for kids and young adults who need support and advocacy with their mental health, parental issues, stability, and just a friend to talk to.

John Dellick

John Dellick is a dedicated young professional with a passion for promoting mental health among youth. With an MBA and certification as a peer specialist since 2017, he combines business acumen with empathy to innovate in the field of peer support. John's approach is both effective and engaging, marked by his ever-present, reassuring smile, reflecting his commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others.

For the past 10 years, NAMI Ohio has worked to increase youth peer support, programs, and opportunities throughout Ohio. This presentation will include youth peers and adult supporters who are working at the state and local levels to strengthen NAMI's work with young people. Learn how our youth leadership team created a strategic plan, leveraged funding, advocated for Certified Youth Peer Support, and are increasing youth presence in our State and Local Affiliates.

Taming the Beast—My Journey with Bipolar Disorder

Joseph DiGiovanni

My name is Joe DiGiovanni. I’ve been married over 33 years, have four adult children, served in the United States Air Force on active duty, and continue to serve as a civilian as an enterprise architect at Scott Air Force Base. During my career I’ve earned two master’s of science degrees in Information Management and Cyber Leadership. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love of an amazing, patient wife, my faith in God, the virtues of humility, patience, perseverance, and resilience - reinforced by my Air Force community, and the right combination of medicine and therapy. These things were all essential to taming the beast - managing my bipolar disorder to the point where its effects have been absent since 2011. Since that time, my mission has been to do all I can to help others prevent or mitigate mental illness. First, I joined NAMIWalks St Louis in 2013, became a team captain the next year and have served in that role ever since. I became a speaker in the In Our Own Voice program in 2019, and in 2021 was honored as Presenter of the Year. Several times over the years I’ve shared my story with various groups including my church, the Cursillo group, and graduate psychology students. I’m most proud of being able to help out family members who have struggled immensely with mental illness. They have not yet tamed the beast, but I’m confident that through those virtues I mentioned earlier, we will get there together.

This session is about a balanced approach toward treating bipolar disorder. I’ll describe how I built up resiliency through caring for mental, physical, and spiritual health. The hope is that by sharing my story, I’ll provide others the missing elements of their care plan.

VA + NAMI Partnership Promotes Hope through Education: A Panel Discussion

Marsden McGuire

Dr. Marsden McGuire currently serves as Director, Continuum of Care and General Mental Health in the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) in Washington, DC. His portfolio includes oversight of the continuum of mental health care, including inpatient, residential, specialty and general outpatient services as well as cross- cutting services including evidence-based psychotherapies, substance use disorders, geriatric mental health, psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery services, women’s mental health, family services and military sexual trauma. During his 10 years at VACO, Dr. McGuire has led numerous interprofessional and collaborative initiatives within VA, with other federal agencies, and with private sector stakeholders aimed at promoting Veteran-centered care that is effective, safe, and measurable. Previously, Dr. McGuire held leadership positions in psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Sheppard Pratt Health System, and the VA Maryland Health Care System.

Dr. McGuire received a BA (History, the Arts and Letters) from Yale University, an MD from the University of North Carolina, and completed his internship, psychiatry residency and a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Johns Hopkins (where he later completed an MBA in medical services management and remains on faculty). He is board certified in General and Geriatric Psychiatry, a recent President of the Maryland Psychiatric Society, a Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a 2018 recipient of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Exemplary Psychiatrist Award.

Theresa Schmitz

Dr. Theresa Schmitz currently serves as National Director of Family Services in the Office of Mental Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) in Washington, DC. In this role, Dr. Schmitz promotes strategic growth of Family Services in couple and family clinical service delivery, training/education, partnerships, and program development. Dr. Schmitz has over a decade of leadership in mental health, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, key program offices, other federal agencies, and staff at all organizational levels to support innovation and policy implementation. Dr. Schmitz partners with leaders to assure access to the highest quality Family Services across the mental health continuum and promotes the application of measurement driven process improvement and service delivery.

Dr. Schmitz is a licensed clinical psychologist with a career focus on evidenced-based interventions and program development in the areas of family interventions, trauma, intimate partner violence, and resilience. She received a BS (Psychology) from Pennsylvania State University, and a MA and PhD from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, completed her internship at the San Diego VA Medical Center and her fellowship at the Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. She joined the VA as a trainee and has held a variety of clinical and administrative roles across her career. She dedicates time to numerous professional service activities aligned with her professional passions, including a recent appointment to co-chair APA’s Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, serving as past co-lead of the Association of VA Psychologist Leaders mentorship workgroup, active involvement in numerous working groups and task forces, and mentoring leaders inside and outside of VA.

Anita Herron

Anita Herron serves as the Senior Manager of Family Education Programs for NAMI. Prior to joining the NAMI National team in 2017, Anita worked for seven years at NAMI North Carolina as Young Families Program Advocate. However, before becoming an employee of NAMI, Anita's first introduction to NAMI was as a parent attending the 2008 pilot for NAMI Basic in 2008. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Troy University .

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and NAMI began partnering in April 2022 to promote access to NAMI’s Homefront virtual family education curriculum. While still in its infancy, the VA/NAMI partnership has expanded engagement in Homefront across the Veteran family & caregiver populations. This panel will present the partnership development, share background on supportive legislation, summarize early implementation efforts and lessons, and highlight data from our first year of collaboration.

A Paradigm Shift: Expanding the Crisis Care Continuum into Pretrial Detention

Timothy Bray

Prior to joining the Meadows Institute, Tim served as the Associate Commissioner for State Hospitals at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Overseeing the state hospital system, Tim was at the epicenter of forensic psychiatric inpatient care – a major crossroads of the criminal justice and mental health systems. Prior to serving in this role, Tim practiced law in a variety of roles, including serving as the Deputy General Counsel for Government Law at the Department of State Health Services and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Texas Attorney General’s office, as well as in private law practice in New England. Prior to the practice of law, Tim worked as a mental health counselor providing treatment services and emergency psychiatric evaluations in county jails and hospital emergency centers through a community mental health center in New Hampshire. As Vice President for Justice and Health Policy, Tim serves as the Texas team lead on Justice and Health initiatives and support various national system-focused projects associated with the Center for Justice and health. As a former behavioral health system decision-maker, Tim also serves as a thoughtful advisor for system actors providing technical assistance on health system integration, competency restoration, and various treatment diversion strategies for those currently entrenched or at risk of being justice-involved. Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of San Diego, a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of New Hampshire, and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

Yolanda Lewis

Yolanda is a nationally recognized justice executive with over 25 years of experience in the government and philanthropic sectors. Her career is defined by driving change through leadership, including the design of strategic and scalable solutions to improve the effective administration of justice and accessibility to health systems. Before joining the Meadows Institute as the executive vice president of justice and health, she was the senior director of safety and justice with The Pew Charitable Trusts. In that role, she oversaw research and policy reform work to improve justice-related efficiencies at the state and local levels of government, including oversight of public safety performance, mental health, and civil legal system modernization. Yolanda's executive leadership experience includes serving as the district and trial court administrator for the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, where she managed the courts in Fulton County, Georgia, designing initiatives to improve public safety, including a focus on judicial administration, criminal and civil case management, mental health, and justice reinvestment. Lewis has served as a faculty member for Michigan State University's Judicial Administration program, vice president of the National Association for Court Management, founding member of the Fulton County Smart Justice Advisory Council, and president of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators. A certified court manager, Lewis has experience as an executive producer and host for media platforms covering justice-related issues, is a mayoral appointee to the Racial Equity Advisory Board for the District Court of Columbia, a board member for the National Center for State Courts, and a former board member of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. Yolanda holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in public administration from the University of South Alabama. She also graduated from the executive leadership program at Yale University.

Laura Slocum

Laura Slocum serves as the Senior Director of Crisis Systems Transformation and Chief of Staff for Justice and Health at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. Laura has 20 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, with a focus on the intersection of behavioral health and justice systems. Laura believes that working in the field of justice and health yields responsibilities and opportunities to advance social justice and that matters of inequities in these systems must always be the explicit lens through which policies and programming are conceived, developed, and evaluated. Laura completed her bachelor’s degree at Loyola University New Orleans and completed her master’s degree at Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio. She has been a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas since 2006.

Manuel Zamora

Assistant Chief Deputy Manuel F. Zamora manages the Administration Bureau for the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and leads the regional police academy, communications center, regulatory affairs, grants section, public information office, special crimes task forces, and criminal investigations. He began his career with the Houston Police Department and served 30 years, honorably retiring in 2012. He accepted a position as Assistant Professor at the Angelo State University Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Security Studies. There, he and colleagues designed undergraduate and graduate curriculum in border security, anti-terrorism, and intelligence. His education includes undergraduate and graduate degrees in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Social Work. His doctorate degree from the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work, focused on mental health. His dissertation, The Effect of Crisis Intervention Team Training on Attitudes of Houston Police Officers, guided the Houston Police CIT program. Throughout his career, Dr. Zamora developed subject matter expertise on police policy and procedures and violent crime. He manages a recent COPS Office grant award on Crisis Call Diversion, where consumers in crisis receive immediate assistance, referral, and service. His research interest includes provision of quality services to persons in need, particularly those in the criminal justice system.   

Many jurisdictions across the country have made efforts to divert people with significant mental health needs away from the criminal legal system and into community-based care, yet many people living with behavioral health disorders continue to experience arrest and the perils of pretrial detention. With increased risks of suicide and self-harm, expanding the crisis care continuum into the initial detention phase of incarceration offers a pathway to care and an opportunity for diversion.

Building Intergenerational Partnerships: Engaging Youth in Leadership & Advocacy for Mental Health

Pooja Mehta

Pooja Mehta is an outspoken South Asian Mental Health Advocate and suicide loss survivor, and has been telling her story to audiences across the United States for the last 9 years. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Pooja holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia, and is building a career working in Health Policy in Washington, DC. As a professional with lived experience, she is eager to further the conversation around the role public health and patient perspective plays in mental healthcare and looks forward to changing the way we think and talk about mental health as a society.

Amanda Lipp

Amanda Kay Lipp is a documentary filmmaker, speaker, and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of mental health care, storytelling, and technology. She is the Owner of Lipp Studios, Founder at The Giving Gallery, Co-Founder at neuroTree, and Technical Assistance Specialist at the Center for Applied Research Solutions. She previously worked at the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA). Amanda's own lived experience going through the mental health care system during college drives her passion. Since age 18, she has produced over 100 short films about mental health, and given over 150 keynotes around the U.S. sharing stories and resources. Clients have included Columbia Psychiatry, Sutter Health, Stanford Medicine, and UCSF. She is focused on elevating complex topics like youth psychosis, disaster relief, alternative housing, and recreation therapy. Her films have been used in research studies about stigma reduction, and digital advertising campaigns in New York City to promote awareness. She has served on numerous state and national boards, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Mental Health Advisory Panel at Google, and the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Committee (ISMICC) created by Congress. Amanda graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Human Development.

Intergenerational partnership and diverse leadership is essential for sustained organizational growth. Engaging youth and young adults in leadership roles is necessary for both growing the Alliance and building the mental health care system of tomorrow. The presenters, young professionals and the youngest NAMI National board members to serve in the organization’s history, share challenges and lessons on how to include and support diverse youth leadership and advocacy.

Competency Restoration: Innovations in Indiana

Katrina Norris

Katrina Norris earned her Master of Social Work degree in 2008 from IUPUI in Indianapolis. In addition, she holds four additional undergraduate degrees, two licenses, and a board certification. Katrina is the Executive Director of Indiana’s State Psychiatric Hospital Network within the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. In her role she oversees all six of Indiana’s state hospitals. Katrina has taught as an adjunct professor for Ivy Tech Community College and the IU School of Social Work for the past 13 years. Finally, Katrina has been a well-received and respected presenter at professional development conferences in Indiana as well as on national platforms. In addition, to her professional roles Katrina has been a valued asset to the state and regional communities serving on multiple advisory boards, including the IU School of Social Work Alumni Board, Indiana Rural Health Association Board and is the former President of the National Association of Social Workers-Indiana Chapter. She was a proud member of the IU Grand Challenges initiative to enhance research and programming through the State in response to the opioid crisis. Katrina was awarded the NASW Region 5 Social Worker of the Year in 2014 and the Distinguished Alumni Award from IU School of Social Work in 2016. In 2020, she received the prestigious bicentennial medal from Indiana University. In 2022, Katrina was awarded the Distinguished Chapter Service award by the National Association of Social Workers.

Jennifer Braun

Jenny Braun, PsyD, HSPP, is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Clinical Director of Evansville State Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, one of five adult hospitals within Indiana’s State Psychiatric Hospital Network under the purview of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Dr. Braun received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California and worked as a psychologist for the California Department of State Hospitals in Napa, CA before moving back to her home state of Indiana. Dr. Braun is an adjunct professor at the University of Evansville where she teaches courses on trial competency and psychology. She integrates in-depth psychological theories into the treatment of severe mental illness and is drawn to trial competency as a natural meeting place between the fields of law, mental health, and social justice.

Jay Chaudhary

Jay is the director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Prior to joining DMHA, he served as managing attorney and director of Medical Legal Partnerships for Indiana Legal Services. Chaudhary holds an JD from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Ball State University. Jay is the chair of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission, and an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow. He is the recipient of the 2020 “Distinguished Service” award from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law; the 2022 Ramstad-Kennedy Award from the National Association of State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Directors; and the 2023 “Champion of Justice” award from the Indiana Judges Association. He was recently named a “top 20 under 40” leader in the country by the Council of State Governments.

The volume of competency orders increased by an alarming rate in Indiana over the past five years. With hundreds of individuals lingering in county jails awaiting competency restoration services, our strategies had to be revisited. This session will describe the innovative pathways, data driven decision making, impressive outcomes and unique collaborations designed to meet the demand for competency evaluation and restoration services in our state.

From Stigma to Support: Normalizing the Conversation Surrounding Youth Seeking Help

Michelle Mullen

Michelle offers nearly twenty years of experience in independent research as well as program design, evaluation, and implementation. Michelle pairs her formal training in implementation science and commitment to equity through participatory action/stakeholder engagement to inform all aspects of her work from designing interventions/programs to evaluating impact. Her areas of expertise are mental health, young adult services, young adult career development, and enhancing academic persistence of college students. At JED, Michelle leads a multiple disciplinary team to implement and evaluate programming focused on improving help seeking; help giving, enhancing mental health, and preventing suicide with teens and young adults in schools or other key settings. Michelle is also a researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School and previously at Rutgers University. Michelle’s research focuses on career development of young adults; standardizing complex interventions to better support college students with mental health conditions; and evaluating the effectiveness of various educational supports to enhance persistence of college and high school students. Michelle received her Master’s degree from Boston University and her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.

We seek to share JED’s research results to shift the conversation about stigma and help-seeking among teens. Attendees will hear teens’ perspectives around emotional well-being, challenges to reaching out for support, and where they are most likely to seek help. This session will challenge commonly held perceptions of stigma and evaluate structural and systemic barriers to help-seeking as well as propose effective solutions for initiating difficult, intergenerational conversations.

How Do We Encourage Men to Seek Support for Their Mental Health?

David Hogan

David is a 49 year old male that was diagnosed with a rare disease 8 years ago. There about 7000 different rare diseases impacting about 300 million people around the world with 95% of them having no treatments and cures and being impacted by rare condition can have an increased risk to your mental health compared to the general population.He set up a virtual rare disease male mental health group in 2020 for guys around the world providing a safe space for men to share their feelings, seek support if needed and listen to others stories .His other current projects are working in a mental health partnership network and social policy group with rare disease organisation Eurordis . He has also made a 13 minute called beyond limits which is about the importance of rare disease men taking care of their mental health. The purpose of the filmwas also to raise awareness about the need and importance of making sure all voices are heard and no one should be forgotten about !

It’s about how we encourage men to seek support for their mental health – by exploring my own story of having a rare disease, my mental health challenges and the creation of my Rare Disease Mental Health Support group. It’s a space for men from different countries and cultures to come together, and despite our differences, we all have that shared powerful connection between us. I facilitate societal challenges men face today as well as unpacking ways we can as a collective make a change for all.

InsideU: Social Emotional Learning with Disney & Pixar's Inside Out

Jack Kim is the Executive Director of NAMI Boulder County, where he finds endless inspiration through the caring and supportive community of NAMI members and volunteers. Jack has spent nearly thirty years in education and work that supports families, including two decades teaching at a progressive school in Boulder, Colorado that fosters whole-child development, with focus on creating meaningful learning experiences in support of independent critical thinking, emotional well-being, and social emotional learning. Jack is thrilled to support and share the new learning opportunities made available through the InsideU learning app. He knows this will make a world of difference in the lives of all children and families who have the opportunity to experience and learn through it.

Dr. Sam Hubley is an Assistant Research Professor at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research focuses on novel delivery methods of evidence-based psychological treatments and art-based approaches to mental health and wellness education.

Morgan Johnson

Morgan Johnson is a third-year student at the University of Colorado, Boulder in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. Morgan also is an active undergraduate research fellow with the Renee Crown Wellness Institute where she participates in various research plans with a focus on community engagement through wellness.

Marie Olivett

Marie Olivett, LCSW, LAC, is the Director of Mental Health Programming at the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver. Prior to joining BGCMD, Marie worked with justice involved youth, and she has experience in private practice and school settings. She is especially passionate about working with youth who may be under resourced or who have experienced trauma, and loves thinking outside the box to find meaningful ways to connect, such as through animal assisted therapy. When she's not at work, you can probably find Marie on an adventure traveling or outside with her family, friends, and dog.

This session presents a novel collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios to adapt their film Inside Out into a social emotional learning program called InsideU. InsideU is a cost-free, web-based application designed for 6–12 year-olds that includes online learning modules on emotional awareness and regulation. InsideU uses the model of Entertainment Education and includes a series of episodes that are interactive, choose your-own-adventure stories. A panelist Q & A will follow the presentation.

Mental Health at Yale University: How Two Students and Alumni Settled a Landmark Class-Action Lawsuit

Lucy Wooyeon Kim is a joint undergraduate and graduate student completing her bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale College and her master’s in Public Policy at the Jackson School. Before Yale, she worked with several nonprofit organizations in making health care more accessible to low-income and undocumented immigrant communities in her hometown of Los Angeles. At Yale, she has been selected as a Global Health Scholar and serves on the leadership boards of the HAVEN Free Clinic.Lucy found Elis for Rachael when seeking support during her own medical withdrawal from Yale. She was in the final cohort to be reinstated under Yale’s reinstatement policies before the settlement with Elis for Rachael. Following her reinstatement, Lucy has worked closely with Elis for Rachael on fortifying mental health resources and restructuring campus culture at Yale. Currently, she is working on a project to build a time-away center to support current students during their health crises. In the future, she hopes to use her background to achieve equitable and accessible health care across the globe.

Alicia Abramson

As one of two student plaintiffs in a landmark legal case against Yale University, I spent the latter portion of my undergraduate career suing my school. My advocacy began on a personal level. In the fall of 2019, I withdrew from Yale in the midst of a struggle with depression, an eating disorder, and various other mental health concerns. In a time when I was supposed to be healing, I was instead faced with countless barriers to accessing adequate support and accommodation from Yale. Two years later, I became involved in a surge of mental health advocacy at Yale, ultimately choosing to confront these systemic injustices through legal action alongside a group of dedicated students and alumni. In less than a year, we settled the lawsuit, leading to sweeping reforms in mental health resources and accessibility at Yale. However, our work is far from over. I hope to continue dismantling stigmas surrounding mental illness not just on college campuses, but nationally, in an effort to create a world where everyone has access to the care they need.

Lily Colby (she/they), is a community organizer, attorney, and legislative advocate. Her current projects areas include foster care, disability rights, housing injustice, and LGBTQIA+ rights. Lily graduated Yale University with a B.A. in Economics and received their law degree from Berkeley Law School in 2015. Lily worked on foster care and education policy as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the Youth Law Center and the National Center for Youth Law. Lily served as a Commissioner for the ABA Commission on Youth at Risk and is currently on the Board of Legal Services for Children. In 2021, after the death by suicide of Yale student Rachael Shaw-Rosenbaum, Lily began organizing community meetings for students, alumni and family members impacted by Yale’s mental health policies. The work lead to co-founding Elis for Rachael, https://www.elisforrachael.org/, a non-profit which successfully sued Yale to change mental health policies for the better. Lily currently sits on the Board of Directors for Elis for Rachael and runs With Lived Experience, https://www.withlivedexperience.org/. Her areas of practice include coaching, organizing, and assisting people impacted by systems injustices to change those systems. If you have a project where you’d like to make a difference in your community feel free to reach out [email protected] .

Paul Johansen

I have both a professional and personal interest in improving mental health policies in higher education.I began working as a psychiatric research interviewer while studying at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. After withdrawing from medical school I spent 2.5 years as the Senior Research Analyst in the Psychiatric Epidemiology Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital, working primarily on the Stirling County Study1. I am currently a Biostatistician at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA, where I work closely with psychiatry residents on their research projects. I also teach a diverse student population at Berkshire Community College2.I am a suicide survivor who has struggled at times with depression, and spent productive time at the Austen Riggs Center. My cousin died by suicide at age 55, leaving two daughters. Another cousin lived with schizophrenia most of his adult life.One of my cousin’s daughters went on to the Yale Law School, where she authored a report on mental health entitled, “Falling Through the Cracks.” So when first year Yale undergraduate Rachael Shaw-Rosembaum died by suicide in March, 2021, I was aware of the decade-long student advocacy efforts that had fallen on deaf administrative ears. And I was angry, because I felt that Rachael’s was an entirely preventable death.My advocacy work with Elis for Rachael3 is driven by a desire to channel my own experiences into protecting vulnerable students against inhumane and/or illegal university policies that interfere with their receiving the emotional and academic support they are entitled to.1 https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/in-memoriam-jane-murphy-renowned-psychiatric-epidemiologist 2 https://www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/columnists/paul-johansen-lisa-mattila-mental-health-on-college-campuses/article_9264e2bc-5646-11ee-8316-cfdab323bcb9.html 3 https://www.ctinsider.com/opinion/article/opinion-ending-mental-health-stigma-at-yale-18343776.php

In late March, 2021, Yale College was shaken by the on-campus death by suicide of Rachael Shaw-Rosenbaum. A small group of alumni quickly assembled to encourage administrators to modernize their arcane mental health policies. With the help of two courageous students, and an experienced legal team, we filed a class-action lawsuit on November 30, 2022 alleging that Yale discriminated against students with mental health conditions, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other

Partnering for Success: Girl Scouts USA Mental Wellness Patch Program

Jennifer Rothman

Jennifer Rothman has worked with NAMI at both the National and state level for a total of 16 years. In her time with NAMI, her focus has always been on youth, young adults, their families and the individuals who touch their lives regularly. She is passionate about providing any and all resources needed to help young people live happy, healthy and productive lives. As someone who experiences mental health conditions personally and as a family member, her drive for ending stigma and providing education never ceases. Jennifer is a mother to two daughters (11, 15) and a bonus mom to a 13 year old daughter and 5 year old son, making her forever grateful for the years of experience and continued knowledge she's gained while working for NAMI.

Caitlyn Branine

Caitlyn Branine is a Girl Scouts alumni and a senior at UCCS. Positive teen mental health has always been a passion of hers, especially in regards to social media and the impact it can have. This interest began in middle school when she was invited to speak at eighth-grade graduation. She found it very healing to be able to publicly share some of the pain she had experienced during her middle school years. She continued to research the topic and discovered that sharing your story can indeed have a positive impact on one’s mental health. As a result, she completed her Girl Scout's Gold Award project by developing a positive social media site and nonprofit called A Safe Place 2 Share. It provided teens and young adults a safe place to share their stories with others online. After graduating high school, she expanded her ideas through her college radio station, which she rebranded with the mission to allow college students the opportunity to share their stories over the air. The station allowed students to express their ideas, interests, and experiences through podcasts and music shows. Due to its wide variety of student content, UCCS Radio recently won 2024 College Radio Station of the Year at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conference in New York. Branine also won Best Student Station Manager in the nation.

Michelle Pierce

I have been a Girl Scout leader for the last 16 year and a service Unit manager for the last 8. I help girls and troops in my unit to share education and ideas. Both of my daughters started scouts in kindergarten and went through out school.

In 2021, NAMI and Girl Scouts USA decided to come together to create a patch program for girls grades 4-12 to address mental health and wellness. In July 2023, the patch program was announced and released at the 2023 Girl Scouts Convention. Hear about the development of the patch program and how it's been used in a Denver Girl Scouts Troop. You'll also hear from a Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient who created a space for young people to share their struggles and see that they're not alone.

Primary Behavioral Health Care: Expanding the Continuum to Increase Access

Ayelet Talmi

Ayelet Talmi, PhD  is a Professor and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Talmi is the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health, Director of the Harris Program in Early Childhood Mental Health, and the Director of Project CLIMB, an integrated behavioral health services initiative in pediatric primary care settings. Dr. Talmi engages in early childhood and integrated behavioral health systems and workforce capacity building and implementation, direct service, advocacy, and policy in Colorado and nationally. Her primary clinical and research interests focus on integrating behavioral health into primary care settings, early childhood mental health, workforce capacity building for health professionals, and service delivery systems for children and families. Dr. Talmi is a Past President of the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health, a Graduate Fellow of Zero To Three’s Leader’s for the 21 st  Century Fellowship, and currently serves on several committees related to her areas of expertise at the national level.

Join us in exploring the unique benefits of behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care settings. From delivering the full continuum of behavioral health services to addressing family psychosocial needs, integrated behavioral health services deliver care where youth and their families can access it. Learn about screening and early identification of depression and anxiety, prevention and health promotion strategies for families with young children, and services designed to address health equity and access to care.

Resilience in Adversity: Innovating Support Groups in the Wake of Natural Disasters

Amber Drake

Amber Drake is the current NAMI Maui affiliate leader, sits on the NAMI state board of directors, and is a graduate student in the UH Hilo’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Ms. Drake also volunteers with Mental Health America and is a certified instructor for NAMI’s Peer to Peer support group, Mental Health America’s Youth Suicide and Bullying Prevention,and is a National instructor for Youth Mental Health First Aid. Ms. Drake also facilitates the NAMI Maui Strong support group for the Lahaina wildfire survivors.

Kathy Hammes

Kathy Hammes has been part of NAMI Hawaii since 1997. Her first involvement with NAMI was as a family support group participant then leader, and she has been co-leading Connection Recovery Support Groups since 2022. In 2023 the Maui Wildfires Disaster struck and Anisa Wiseman, NAMI Hawaii Deputy Director, approached Kathy to join her in providing disaster support. Kathy was ready to help and learn how to adapt our NAMI support group model to a new and pressing situation. This is Kathy’s second NAMICON and she looks forward to enjoying the program and meeting others with lived experience and a passion for NAMI. She hopes to attend sessions related to her favorite NAMI programs and activities including Family and Peer Education, Advocacy, NAMIWalks, fundraising and writing grant proposals. Kathy retired from social work in mental health, lives on the Big Island of Hawaii, and enjoys family life with her husband, David, her younger son, Steven, and the family cat, Beau Jangles. Kathy is in her second year serving at NAMI Hawaii State Board President and she is active as a Family-to-Family Education Program facilitator, Speakers’ Bureau volunteer, and mental health advocate.

Anisa Wiseman

As Deputy Director of NAMI Hawaii State, Anisa brings over a decade of experience in supporting individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. With a deep commitment to fidelity in support group facilitation, Anisa has been a dedicated facilitator for five years, navigating the unique challenges posed by the pandemic.Drawing from personal experience, Anisa lives in recovery from PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This lived experience informs their empathetic approach to supporting others in their journey towards mental wellness. Additionally, Anisa has a firsthand understanding of the impact of mental health conditions on families, with her mother diagnosed with bipolar disorder and severe psychosis.Anisa is passionate about adapting support groups to meet the diverse needs of communities, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters such as the Lahaina fires in Maui. After undergoing specialized training in natural disaster response, it became evident that our existing support group model was ill-equipped to address the unique challenges posed by such events. We have taken everything day by day and adapted as we moved forward. Through her involvement with NAMI Hawaii State and dedication to fidelity in support group facilitation, Anisa is committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment where individuals and families can find solace, strength, and healing on their mental health journey.

Uncover Maui's post-fire NAMI support group evolution, uniting community resilience. Navigate unique strategies for mental health post-disaster, with insights into innovation, challenges, and community empowerment. Explore collaborative initiatives, including a partnership with HECO, spotlighting the impact of corporate-community collaboration in crisis recovery.

The Power of Relationships: The Wisconsin Experience of Improving Access to Care Through Local and State Mental Health Coalitions

Michelle Broaddus

Dr. Broaddus's research interests are in the development and evaluation of community-based, clinic-based, and public health programs to improve mental health, substance use, and outcomes along the HIV care continuum. Throughout her career Dr. Broaddus has prioritized addressing health equity and the needs of vulnerable populations. In 2016, Dr. Broaddus became the Principal Investigator of the Advancing Behavioral Health Initiative (ABHI). The ABHI was funded by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Endowment to build the networks, systems, and structures best suited to address the challenges Wisconsin residents faced and has set the standard for large-scale mental and behavioral health improvement. This 8-year, 3-phase project funded ten community coalitions across the state, including urban, rural, and tribal communities, to improve behavioral health at a population-level through systems change. An Academic Partner Team, led by Dr. Broaddus, was also selected to support coalitions, collaborate on data collection and analysis, and conduct a global evaluation of the project. Over the eight years of this project, funding was used form coalitions, identify priorities, build sustainable programs, and measure their effectiveness. Dr. Broaddus has collaborated with each community coalition, providing tailored support to local coalition staff, participating in a Learning Community to bolster relationships and build trust with all coalition staff, and implementing a global evaluation.

Sita Diehl serves as Public Policy and Advocacy Director for NAMI Wisconsin (National Alliance on Mental Illness), having previously worked as Executive Director of NAMI Tennessee and Director of Policy and State Outreach for the national NAMI organization. On behalf of NAMI Wisconsin, she facilitates the Mental Health Action Partnership (MHAP) a new statewide coalition gathered to improve Wisconsin’s mental health service system. She is an advanced practice social worker focused on systems policy, design and implementation. She earned her MSSW from the University of Tennessee and Master of Arts in Community Psychology from Antioch University.  

Ms. Diehl has co-authored reports on mental health caregiving, mental health parity, mental health legislation, supported employment, the state mental health budget crisis, military mental health and Medicaid expansion. She has developed mental health curricula for peers, families, providers and criminal justice personnel. Her research experience includes a two-state comparison of women and children in public managed behavioral health care, the SAMHSA multi-site study of consumer-operated services and a longitudinal study of mental health services in Tennessee county jails.

Coalitions have the power to span gaps, scale up excellent practice and amplify diverse voices. Learn from the Advancing Behavioral Health Initiative, an 8-year collaboration between 10 local coalitions and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Learn how a state coalition, the Mental Health Action Partnership leverages local coalition experience to gather diverse stakeholders in a learning community, achieve consensus on policy goals, and promote ongoing system improvement. Explore NAMI’s role.

Courageous Conversations: Navigating Mental Health and Advocacy with Congressman Kennedy and Daniel H. Gillison Jr., NAMI National CEO

Patrick Kennedy

During his 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Rhode Island’s First Congressional District, Patrick J. Kennedy fought to end discrimination against those with mental illness, addiction, and other brain diseases. He is best known as the lead sponsor of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act ( Federal Parity Law ) , which was passed with bi-partisan support and signed into law by President George W. Bush on Oct ober 3, 2008. The Federal Parity Law provides millions of Americans, previously denied care, with access to mental health and addiction treatment by requiring insurance companies to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer.  

In addition to the Federal Parity Law, Kennedy authored and co-sponsored dozens of bills during his time in Congress to increase the understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including the Positive Aging Act; Foundations for Learning Act; National Neurotechnology Initiative Act; Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act; COMBAT PTSD Act; Nurse-Family Partnership Act; Alzheimer’s Treatment and Caregiver Support Act; and Ready, Willing, and Able Act, which called on the Department of Homeland Security to deploy a civilian response system to blunt the psych ological impact of terrorism. He served on various committees and subcommittees , including the House Appropriations Committee ; the S ubcommit t e e o n Health, Education and Welfare ; the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.   

In 2013, he founded T he Kennedy Forum, a non-profit organization whose mission is to lead a national dialogue on transforming mental health and addiction care delivery by uniting mental health advocates, business leaders, and government agencies around a common set of principles, including full implementati on of the Federal Parity Law. T he Forum aims to achieve health equity by advancing evidence-based practices, policies, political will , and programming in mental health and addiction treatment.   

In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times b estseller “ A Comm on Struggle ” in which he share s both his personal narrative and h is experience shepherd ing the Federal Parity Law . The book ends with Kennedy’s detailed roadmap to achieve health equity in the United States.  

In 2023, The Kennedy Forum launched the Alignment for Progress, a movement to align leaders from across industry and across the aisle to achieve 90/90/90 by 2033: 90% of all individuals will be screened for mental health and substance use disorders ; 90% of those screened will be able to receive evidence-based treatment ; 90% of those receiving treatment will be able to manage their symptoms in recovery .   

Kennedy’s second co-authored book “Profiles in Mental Health Courage” available April 2024 will delve into the compelling stories of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with their mental health – many of whom are sharing their stories for the first time.   

Patrick J. Kennedy is also the founder of Don’t Deny Me , an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-founder of Psych Hub, the most comprehensive online learning platform on mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention topics in the world; co-chair of the Action Alliance’s National Response to COVID-19 , which brings together public and private sectors to lead a coordinated mental health and suicide prevention response ; and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force .  

Amid countless recognitions, meaningful partnerships, and political affiliations, Kennedy’s most important achievement continues to be leveraging his family legacy in the arenas of civil rights, mental health, and intellectual disabilities to advance the cause of social justice and health equity for all people. He lives in New Jersey wit h his wife, Amy, and their children.  

Join us for a Fireside Chat featuring Congressman Kennedy, renowned mental health advocate and author, in dialogue with Dan Gillison. In this candid conversation, Congressman Kennedy will share his personal journey through mental health challenges, drawing from his own experiences documented in his insightful books. From navigating the highs and lows of public life to confronting stigma and advocating for policy change, Congressman Kennedy has been at the forefront of the mental health movement. Together with Dan, they will explore the evolving landscape of mental health advocacy, highlighting the critical role of storytelling, policy advocacy, and community support in driving change.

Closing Party

It’s a party—and you’re invited! You don’t want to miss this fabulous night of good food, drinks, live music, games and most of all... lots of fun. Make lasting memories with old and new friends alike!

Faith Services

Breaking the silence: stories of hope and healing.

Christine Crawford

Dr. Christine M. Crawford is the associate medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She is an adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist who sees patients in the Boston Medical Center Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis (WRAP) program where she provides psychiatric care for young people experiencing symptoms of psychosis. Dr. Crawford is an Assistant Professor and Vice Chair of Education at Boston University School of Medicine within the Department of Psychiatry. She completed her adult psychiatry residency as well as child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital. She received her MD from University of Connecticut and her Masters in Public Health at BU School of Public Health where she concentrated in Social and Behavioral Sciences. She has made appearances on numerous media outlets including the New York Times, Boston Globe, The New Yorker, NBC, CBS News, The Today Show, WGBH, among many others. She is also the author of the forthcoming book titled “You are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health”

April Simpkins

April Simpkins is an Ambassador for the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). She is also a board member for NAMI Piedmont Tri-County where she serves her local community. April has received her Mental Health First Aid and QPR-Training Certifications. She is also trained in Emotional-CPR. April is a c-suite executive and a certified diversity professional with more than 30-years’ experience in developing people strategies for small to mid-sized businesses. She has also received numerous awards for her business acumen and community service.

 Join us for an insightful conversation on youth mental health as Dan Gillison, NAMI CEO, engages in conversation with Dr. Christine Crawford, NAMI National Associate Medical Director and author of the upcoming book "You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers." Gain valuable insights into supporting young people's mental health and navigating the challenges faced by families. This session will be enlightening and deeply personal, offering hope and healing through shared experiences and expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

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NAMICon 2024 - Invitation