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, your family and your community!
Krissy Dristy, Youth Peer Support and Parent Support Partner Program Manager
I support youth and families by training young people with SED to provide support to their peers. Navigating the system while managing a mental health challenge can be a scary and lonely experience at times. Youth Peer Support Partners can relate and can help by providing direct support and assisting with information and skill building.
In addition to overseeing the training model for Youth Peer Support, I also help support efforts and opportunities for youth involvement in the state of Michigan.
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, Statewide Coordinator Youth Peer Support
Together with Krissy Dristy, I am heading up the development of the Youth Peer Support training curriculum, and facilitating the training. My hope is that the curriculum and training that we develop will help to empower Youth Peer Support Specialists, and the peers that they serve, to find their own voices and to be heard.
I was once a youth struggling with a serious emotional disturbance. Now I am an adult leading a joyful, and fulfilling life. Not a life without struggle, but a life I am grateful for every day. I am also a Certified Peer Support Specialist, college student, big sister, daughter, and friend.
Favorite piece of wisdom:
“You can not let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgement stop you from doing the things that will make you great. You can not succeed without the risk of failure. You can not have a voice without the risk of criticism. You can not love without the risk of loss. You must take these risks.”
– Charlie Day
Megan Leininger, Youth Peer Support Trainer (photo coming soon)
I support youth by training young people with SED to provide support to their peers going through similar struggles. I am a certified Youth Peer Support Specialist and I am excited to share my experiences in the field with youth peers in the training process. I am also a chicken mom to twenty-one beautiful chickens. I am also a sister, a daughter, and a friend.
My favorite piece of wisdom is “Normality is a paved road; It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow,” -Vincent Van Gogh.
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.
Laura Marshall, Parent Support Partner Trainer (photo coming soon)
It is an honor to assist in training and equipping future Parent Support Partners. I look forward to sharing my experiences and things I learned from the families I worked with in order to better prepare those willing to serve in this role.
I also continue on the journey of raising my kids, 3 boys, with my husband as my partner. Self-care is important to surviving the challenges. I practice self-care by reading, gardening, growing orchids, and spending time with the ‘other’ kids, our 5 goats.
Favorite piece of wisdom: “Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we are all in this together. – Brene Brown
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.
Julie Davis, Parent Support Partner – Shiawassee County
My role as a Parent Support Partner is to help make parents feel empowered; Empathize, understand and validate all the emotions that go along with having a child or children with special needs.
Favorite Piece of Wisdom: In rough times take it minute by minute. Don’t look at the whole picture, live in the minute and make it through that minute.
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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