Kent County/Community Family Partnership
Meet the Staff
ACMH Kent County/CFP/PSP
Beth Hemry,
ACMH/CFP Lead Family Contact
Taj Burgen,
ACMH/CFP Youth Engagement Specialist
Cole Williams, Parent Support Partner Supervisor
Debra Collier, Parent Support Partner
Jayne Johnson, Parent Support Partner
Jim McNaughton, Parent Support Partner
Susan Willoughby, Parent Support Partner
Beth Hemry – ACMH/Community Family Partnership Lead Family Contact
A life-long learner, Beth is the mother of three children with unique needs emotionally, socially and educationally. She regularly uses skills and information obtained in graduate school to intercede and advocate for her children. Actively involved in the schools, she has provided support, information and outside the box thinking for other families. Along the way her family has been through multiple service interventions and successfully navigated very challenging circumstances. Being vocal and pro-active, she caught the attention of the Community Family Partnership the System of Care being developed in Kent County. After contracting through Advocacy Services for Kids as the Lead Family Contact, she lobbied strongly to bring a branch of Association for Children's Mental Health to Kent County excited about the opportunities, supports and networking that would be available to our families.
Taj Burgen – ACMH/Community Family Partnership Youth Engagement Specialist
Taj Burgen, Grand Rapids native and graduate of Michigan State University. Our life experiences teach us about ourselves and the world in which we live, we just have to decide how to use those experiences. I'm excited to work with ACMH to empower our future leaders to use their experiences and voices to create change for themselves and our community. I would like to think I bring the spirit of laughter, love and learning to everything and everyone in my life. I believe that one has to be able to laugh through their trials and tribulations, love life and have the ability to learn from everyone and everything they encounter. If there was one thing that I could teach any youth who crosses my path, it would be: to Live, Love, Laugh and Learn!!
Cole Williams – ACMH/Community Family Partnership Parent Support Partner Supervisor
My name is Cole Williams and I am a parent, mentor, and community leader here in Kent County. I have over seven years of experience in working with adolescent males with various diverse backgrounds and foster parenting males diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, and Attachment Disorders. I am so excited to be joining ACMH and the Community Family Partnership here in Kent County. As a Foster Parent, I participated in the SEDW for a year with my family. The services and resources that we received were vital in sustaining our family. I believe that being a part of this amazing partnership means that I can help connect families with Parent Support Partners within their own communities who will provide them with tools to navigate through the terrain of parenting children with mental health concerns. As well as educate and provide information to community partners about ACMH.
Susan Willoughby – ACMH/Community Family Partnership Parent Support Partner
I am flexible, personable, open-minded, and see the best in people. You have to believe in people before they can begin to believe in themselves. This is why I have been invested in the success of the Community Family Partnership... from its inception! I have attended local, state, and national conferences and trainings. I have provided input from a parent's perspective, throughout the development of our county's system of care. I look forward to helping parents and youth make informed decisions, weigh their options, access resources, and have "voice and choice!" My daughter and I have shared different aspects of our family's story with large audiences, including service providers. I want to help families tell their stories-- so our community can be "Stronger Together!" Being a Parent Support Partner will not just be a job to me, but my mission!
Debra Collier – ACMH/Community Family Partnership Parent Support Partner
Hello my name is Debra Collier. Many people call me Deb or "MOM". I am a mother to many children. I have 4 that are biological and I am a special needs foster/adoptive parent. I have been working with children for most of my life and I enjoy each and every moment of it. I recently adopted a beautiful 8 year old girl that has helped enhance my knowledge and experience that has better prepared me for this position. I am pleased and delighted to be a new addition to the ACMH team as a PSP. I plan to continue to have an impact on children and their families to help them grow.
James McNaughton – ACMH/Community Family Partnership Parent Support Partner
My wife and I adopted two brothers, 6 and 2 years old out of foster care in 1997. We were told they were "active boys." This started a now 14 year journey where we have discovered and tried to address Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Trauma (Abuse and Neglect), Cognitive Impairment, Autism Spectrum, Failure to Thrive, Fetal Alcohol Effects, Sensory Issues, and Relinquishment/Adoption. We have been misunderstood by family and friends as well as Mental Health Professionals. We have made mistakes and at times I have wanted to give up. But, we love our boys and we want the best for them. And we have also had tremendous successes. And things do get better. And we keep pressing on.
I developed Paranoid Schizophrenia, Major Depression, Bipolar, and Anxiety at the age of 19. I suffered for 10 years before getting the right help. I have been recovered now for 25 years, had a 23 year career in Advertising Design, and just completed my Bachelor's of Science. I know what it is like to experience serious mental illness and recover. I know what it is like to have children who "are not acting right" and wonder: Where and how am I going to get the help I need? And I know the joy of getting the right help and watching my children flourish.
And I want to know the joy of helping to make that happen for others.
Jayne Johnson – ACMH/Community Family Partnership Parent Support Partner
Jayne is a mother of four children and has worked in the childcare field for over 20 years. She has successfully navigated numerous systems on behalf of her four children and has learned how important communication is along the way.Jayne's good nature, kind heartedness, and sincere empathy equip her with an ability to connect with others who have shared experiences. Jayne hopes to use her expertise and experiences to help others and to develop the ACMH/Community Family Partnership Parent Support Partner Team!
Newsletters
Download the Community Family Partnership newsletter (Added 1-14-12)
Upcoming Events
Notice of Public Hearing
Date/Time: Monday, April 9, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Location: Hope Network Career & Education Center, 775 36th St., Wyoming, MI 49548
Description: network180 will hold its annual public hearing to gather input from consumers, advocates, and community members about how to improve local delivery of mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental disability services. Individuals who would prefer to submit written testimony should forward it to Chris Smith at network180, 790 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503. Written testimony should be received no later than April 2, 2012.
Contact: Individuals requiring special accommodations to participate in the Public Hearing should contact Jonathan Mikulich prior to April 2, 2012 at 616.855.5256.
Got Hours? Y-K.N.O.T. Community service Projects
Required to do community service hours or just want to help out for a good cause?
March 10. 2012 1:00-2:30
Kids Food Basket
2055 Oak Industrial Dr. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Come help prepare sack lunches for kids all over Kent County!!
April 25. 2012 4:00-7:00pm
Johnson Park
2600 Wilson Ave SW Walker, MI 49534
Help us make Johnson Park beautiful during the Annual Spring Clean up!
SPACE IS LIMITED!!! PLEASE SIGN UP TODAY!!! To Sign Up: Contact Taj Burgen at 616.855.5278 or taj.burgen@network180.org or Facebook: Search Y-Knot
Parenting Series and Anger Management Series at MSUE Kent County
The target audience for both are parents and caregivers of children 0-19, or any adult. The first class starts Monday January 9th, and registration is due by Friday January 6th.
Class #1: Nurturing Parenting: A series of six classes will take place from 3:30-5:30 PM on Mondays beginning January 9, 2012 at MSU Extension Kent, 775 Ball Ave. NE, Grand Rapids. For parents, grandparents, childcare providers and others who care for children. Download the brochure here.
Class #2: Alternatives to Anger: An educational series for parents, childcare providers and any adult who wants to better manage their anger and stress at home and in the workplace.This series will take place at MSUE Kent County, 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503 on Mondays (February 27, March 5,12,19) from 6:00 PM—7:30 PM. Cost is $20 for 4 week series. Download the brochure here.
Contact: Please contact Holly Tiret if you have any questions or would like to register over the phone or by email: Holly B. Tiret, 616-336-8998 phone, 616-336-3836 fax, 616-570-5818 cell,tiret@anr.msu.edu
ABCs of Bullying Prevention: Addressing Bullying in Community Settings
During the ABCs of Bullying Prevention workshop, participants will: Share perspectives on the prevalence and types of bullying behaviors affecting their communities – and explore how these perspectives connect with recent research. Examine bullying, bias and harassment through the lens of differences. Explore key strategies for addressing
these complex issues at the personal, interpersonal, institutional and cultural levels. Learn about programs and resources
that can be used in community settings, including a new MSU Extension initiative titled Be SAFE: Safe, Affirming and Fair Environments. Download more information from the flyer, along with the registration form, here.
Date: Thursday, March 29, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m.: Workshop check-in and refreshments, 9 a.m. - noon: Workshop
Location: MSU Extension, 775 Ball Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Registration cost: $20
Registration deadline: March 23, 2012
For more information contact: Holly Tiret, 616-336-8998, tiret@anr.msu.edu
