Jane Shank, Executive Director
My job as Executive Director is to make sure family voice is heard and understood in a variety of settings- local communities, state offices, collaborations with other agencies, and with legislators. I often find myself acting as a ‘connector’- making sure that families have the opportunity to connect to each other or to ACMH, or facilitating conversations between different agencies or collaborative bodies. I believe that real conversations and relationships are the path to better lives for kids and families.
Favorite piece of wisdom:
Reaching out and asking for support isn’t a sign of weakness- it’s a sign of strength. And sometime, you’ll have the opportunity to be a support for someone else.
Terri Henrizi, Education Coordinator
In my role as Education Coordinator I provide information and training to parents, youth and community partners across Michigan and coordinate statewide training and events including the ACMH Conference. I also participate in community education & events to help raise awareness about the issues of children and youth with mental health challenges and their families. I am also a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer. One of my favorite activities is hosting ACMH Parent and Youth Leadership Camp where I have the opportunity and privilege to meet and share information and skills with so many passionate & gifted future family leaders!
Favorite piece of wisdom/Quote:“Be generous, be delicate, and always pursue the prize.”– Henry James I think this piece of wisdom can be especially helpful to you along your journey of advocating for your child, yourself, family and your community!
Krissy Dristy, Youth Peer Support and Parent Support Partner Program Manager
Hi, I’m Krissy Dristy! In my role at ACMH, I help oversee our peer delivered services for youth and families. In partnership with the staff at ACMH, I provide training and technical assistance to Youth Peer Support Specialists, Partner Support Partners and supervisors around the state. I am passionate about the importance of lived experience in our public mental health system, and the difference our stories can make when supporting youth and families to find their voice. I love talking about how YPS and PSP enhance our service array in Michigan, and I am very fortunate to be able to do this regularly in my work!
Favorite piece of wisdom:
Trust the process. When you are going through hard times remember who you are, where you are going and how far you have come. It may be a bad day, but it’s not a bad life!
Sara Reynolds, Youth Peer Support Statewide Coordinator
Hello! My name is Sara Reynolds and I am the Statewide Coordinator for Youth Peer Support. I lead the Youth Peer Support training and certification model by facilitating trainings, coaching calls, and technical assistance as well as heading up our continued development of the model. As a person with my own lived experience with mental health challenges, I am passionate about Youth Peer Support – particularly the hope and empowerment that is at the core of this unique service. I believe that we are extremely fortunate to have such a powerful support available to youth in Michigan and I am so pleased to be able to partner with the Youth Peer Support Specialists and their supervisors across the state who are truly making a difference.
Favorite piece of wisdom: “We rise by lifting others”
Kelly Bailey, Parent Support Partner Statewide Coordinator
I provide all of the training, technical support and assistance to Parent Support Parters, PSP Supervisors and Agencies who employ Parent Support Partners across the state. I am also a mom and a grandmother.
Favorite piece of wisdom: Where there is love, there is hope.
Carrie Thompson, Parent Support Partner Trainer
In my role as a PSP trainer, I provide support to the Statewide Coordinator by co-facilitating trainings, providing coaching support, helping to coordinate professional development meetings and other activities to support PSP’s and the certification process. I am excited to work as a part of the ACMH team and use my lived experience to help equip others with the skills, confidence, support and sense of empowerment while we navigate this journey together. I have four amazing children and a cattle herding/german shephard/border collie dog that keeps our home nonstop action packed all the time! I love making soy candles and selling them at the Farmer’s Markets nearby. I also enjoy painting and interior design.
This quote inspires me to be a better human: “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” -Maya Angelou
Cecilia Nguyen, Youth and Young Adult Statewide Coordinator
My role is to assure that youth and young adult voice is incorporated in all aspects of the Healthy Transitions program. I provide Healthy Transition Peers with technical assistance and guidance in their roles in accordance to the Transition to Independence Process model. I believe that youth and family voice is invaluable and is the key to progressing the way we create and provide services in the mental health system.
Favorite piece of wisdom:
I believe in planting seeds for resiliency and recovery. By taking just a moment to actively listen to an individual’s story and letting them know that they’re not alone in their journey, you are planting a seed of hope for change and growth.
RJ Cach, Family Action Partnership Support and Training
As a Family Resource Specialist, I will be active in helping youth and their families in any way I can. Whether it be through leadership camps or information via social media I am here to serve our community in the best way possible.
I’m also an avid improviser and love performing in theater.
Favorite piece of wisdom:
One of my favorite quotes is “This too shall pass”. Things may be tough in the moment, but it won’t last if you just hang on.
Lisa Romero, Family Training/Empowerment Specialist
In my role as Family Training/Empowerment Specialist I strive to support parent and caregiver voice and perspectives for supervisors and other providers within the children/youth mental health care system by providing trainings, coaching and technical assistance. Primary topics for my work will include creation of a crisis tool kit as well as training on supporting a peer continuum. I support and believe parents/caregivers working together with providers using a Family Driven/Youth Guided Care Approach will strengthen family voice and provide an effective care plan for our kids. I look forward to growing/facilitating the Parent Advocacy Committee. I feel it is extremely important for parents/caregivers to know that they do have a voice and can be involved in decision making boards and bodies. I strongly believe in effective family advocacy. As a parent of a child in the mental health care system I believe families should have access to all the support and services entitled to them.
Favorite piece of wisdom:
Enlightened leadership is spiritual if we understand spirituality not as some kind of religious dogma or ideology but as the domain of awareness where we experience values like truth, goodness, beauty, love and compassion, and also intuition, creativity, insight and focused attention. – Deepak Chopra
Lori Hooker, Administrative Assistant
I have worked at ACMH since 1996. I was originally hired to work from home transcribing letters. My Administrative Assistant job title has included a lot of different duties over the years as our organization has evolved. I currently work out of our state office in Lansing assisting with the Parent Support Partner training & certification program as well providing office support. I also serve in the unofficial role of “accidental techie” for all things computer related.
I have one husband, two kids and one very AWESOME God…life is good!
Mary Porter, Business Manager photo coming soon
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