Please join Families as Allies for our virtual combined Community Partnership Celebration and New Year Open House on Monday, January 24, at 5:30 p.m. The event is free, with paid sponsorships available. There will be opportunities to share your ideas for Families as Allies at the event. Please also take a few minutes to complete this survey and tell us how we did in 2021 and what you think Families as Allies should focus on in 2022. The work of Families as Allies is about all of us, and we are eager to hear your feedback.
During the celebration, we will honor and recognize the outstanding people and organizations that exemplify our four core values: Every Child and Family, Excellence, Partnership and Accountability. We explain each of our core values on our office walls as a daily reminder of their importance. We are delighted to share this year’s honorees with you.
Valuing Every Child and Family states: “We will not judge or blame you, and we will stand with you if you feel judged or blamed by others.” Rob Hill is receiving this award for his work, through the Human Rights Campaign, to include people with disabilities in Hate Crimes legislation and his commitment to ensuring that LGBTQ+ youth receive the mental health and social support they need due to the discrimination they face. This award honors Helen Reddy Johnson’s memory, a very special woman to our organization. She was a much-beloved board member who died far too soon.
Excellence states: “We hold ourselves to the highest standards in what we do. We expect the systems that serve our children to do the same.” The National Wraparound Implementation Center is receiving this award due to its commitment to—and national leadership on—high-fidelity wraparound and supporting us to help explain wraparound and related policy issues in ways that make sense to and empower families. The award’s name honors Rusty Turner, a labor attorney who exemplified Families as Allies’ vision that all children can reach their potential and be successful. He donated many hours of legal work to Families as Allies to help our policies and procedures support the organization in the best way possible. He was very devoted to high standards and excellence. He was preparing to join our board when he died unexpectedly in 2014.
Partnership states: “We will work in partnership with you and whoever you tell us is important to your family.” Shelia Vance, Community Counseling’s Making a Plan (MAP) Team Coordinator, receives this award for supporting and sharing our activities and training through the MAP teams and spreading the word across systems about leadership training. She is a tireless champion and partner.
Accountability states: “We will be open and honest with you about our organization and help you get information from the systems that serve your child.” Taylor Vance of the Northeast Daily Journal and Steve Wilson of the Northside Sun receive this award for their ongoing, accurate and in-depth reporting about the mental health system. Their reporting has allowed families and others to stay up-to-date on developments and understand even complex legal situations.
This award honors the memory of our much-beloved founder Tessie Schweitzer. When we lost her in 2020, we talked to her family about the best way to continue her legacy. We decided Tessie would insist that we all be accountable for the system of care for children being responsive and family-driven. So, we’ve named this award after her. Tessie was fearless and unrelenting in holding the mental health system accountable. She would be the first to hold us to task if we did not.
Again, the date is Monday, January 24, for our 8th Annual Virtual Community Partnership Celebration/Open House at 5:30 p.m. Remember to register so we know that you’re coming (tickets are free). If you or your organization would like to become a sponsor, you can do so by clicking here or contacting Joy Hogge at 601-355-0915 or jhogge@faams.org.
