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7th Annual NAMI, (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Education and Awards Autumn Gala

Erik Waxler was the Emcee for the evening with Commissioner Pat Mulieri reading the Resolution and Pastor Andrea Esposito giving the Invocation. The music was provided by D.J.Frankie. Pete Earley who wrote "Jails and Prisons; the new Asylums” was the Keynote Speaker.

President Georgianna Valle, Vice President Pat Scimone-Almasy, Secretary Michelle Gesaman, Treasurer Lynn Anderson, ExOfficio President Gloria Strother.

Board Directors are Lieutenant Larry Engle, Pastor Andrea Esposito, Rev. Minnie Diaz, William Konomos, Nancy Whitener, Crystal DeGuire, Terry Tiemann, Loreta Cavicchi and Kevin Fulford.

2013 Winners:

Legislator of the Year - Sheriff Chris Nocco, Presented by Rev. Minnie Diaz

Provider of the Year - Jeannie Blankenship & Elizabeth Dillon. Presented by Crystal DeGuire

CIT Officer of the Year - Lt. Larry Engle. Presented by Gloria Strother

Humanitarian HOPE Award - Visilios "Billy" Major. Presented by Loreta Cavicchi

NAMI Advocate of the Year - Kevin Fulford. Presented by Georgianna Valle

Thank you for joining us this evening to recognize Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). This is NAMI’s premiere public education and community outreach activity. Held each year during the first full week of October, NAMI Affiliates across the country host events to promote mental illness awareness, put an end to stigma and advocate for support for treatment and recovery.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need.

Thousands of members and supporters are the face and voice of the NAMI movement; families, individuals, friends and businesses’ who come together to celebrate mental illness recovery, to honor those who have lost their lives to mental illness and to combat stigma, promote awareness and advocate for others. AMI of West Pasco was first organized in the late 80's offering only one support group a month. In 2005 the affiliate changed it's name to NAMI Pasco County, Florida, Inc. and received it's 501(c) 3 status. Today they offer multiple signature programs, both education classes and weekly support groups, in West and Central Pasco.

AWARD NOMINEES

Legislative Category

Sheriff Chris Nocco_ is expanding the CIT program by examining the almost 800 employees of the Sheriff*s department to select the finest of the group. Sheriff Nocco is excited about the current partnership he has with NAMI Pasco and has directed the award winning 2012 CIT officer of the year instructor to have the selected deputies trained within two years.

The awards give us the opportunity to acknowledge outstanding people and promote humanitarian values, which benefit us all. We are grateful and extremely proud of all our nominees who have helped to enrich the lives of others..

Provider Category

Susan Stack, ARNP, Ph.D_was instrumental in acquiring for NAMI Pasco office furniture and items valued in the thousands of dollars.

Dr.Susan Hanna_a patient describes without Dr.Hanna's listening ability and guidance, her persistence on finding the right combination of meds and his own willingness to be drug free and med compliant has led to being hospital free for 3 years, living independently, paying his own bills and now volunteering.

James R. Harris, Jr._ practicing on the streets of New York City in Harlem and the South Bronx as a licensed clinical social worker, Jim helped an estranged mother and recovering addict along the important path to independence and self-respect.

Jeannie Blankenship_a patient describes how Jeannie's message got through to her in a Dual Diagnosis Group program .It was with her encouragement of setting goals that resulted in earning her a 1-year AA Medallion.. Jeannie also has helped her through abusive relationship issues, takes her to appointments, etc.

Elizabeth Dillon_having secured herself as a professional, Ms. Dillon readily provides her experience and knowledge in the field of behavioral health to newer clinicians that need guidance and direction to function as competent professionals. Her door is always open to provide new professionals with the necessary tools to insure that they are meeting high standards in the field of behavioral health.

CIT Category (Crisis Intervention Team training for law enforcement)

Lt. Larry Engle_a young man, who at the time was in crisis, describes the Lieutenant's ability to speak with him in a calm, understanding and professional manner and then was able to show him how badly he needed help. Which resulted in a voluntary Baker Act and a 4-month stay at a residential program for which he is now grateful and doing well.

Deputy Hope Dauphin_ when a person in crisis came

running at her with a baseball bat claiming that someone was after him, her CIT training kicked in and she did not over react, but rather kept a safe distance, established a common bond dialog, did not challenge the person*s perception of what he saw, and was able to get him to drop the bat and come with her to safety to get the assistance he needed.

Humanitarian Category

Mary Beth Baker_a peer specialist is described as always being there; ready to listen even when she is busy. She gets people involved in volunteering for the FACT office always giving uplifting advice and extending dignity and moral support.

Branch of Christ Parishioners_three couples; Darlene & Carl Reed, Sid & Deb Torrez and Carless and Brenda Nunez have come to the assistance of a man diagnosed with schizophrenia by giving him a home, food, and sometimes putting his needs before their very own.

Michael Piper_a Champion for the Recovery Support Group is described as a positive and inspiring influence on others. He has given people hope and inspiration by showing, no matter what life throws at you, keep your head up and keep going.

First United Methodist Church, Hudson_has been very supportive of NAMI's classes and family support groups for several years. They have kept the coffee cart stocked, have made announcements & referrals. The Women's group and Sunday school class have contributed gifts for the winter holiday party for those who attend, mostly from local ALF's.

Paul Jallo_his donation of office space has given NAMI the credibility they needed for recognition, it has helped in attracting volunteerism and affords them with space for educational programs. It has given more capacity to reach areas of the County that have never known who NAMI was and how they can help. It has given the organization a means to move forward and reach beyond who they were less than one year ago.isilios "Billy" Major_on a daily basis, lawyers, family members, and individuals in the justice system dealing with a mental illness look to him for help. He works long days in court, followed by weekends and nights in his office and at the Pasco County Jail. At times even drives the Mobile Medical Van.

Pat Scimone-Almasy_this mother describes Pat as the "rock" that helped her family through a family crisis and, also has guided her through a learning process of how to better understand mental illness. She has been there every step of the way and remains so to this very day. Pat was also a contributor to making the NAMI office a reality.

Advocate Category

Kevin Fulford_is described as a fearless advocate by leading the way out of the shadows of darkness through his appearance on "Positively Tampa Bay" when he spoke out on mental illness.

William Konomos_even through his own challenges and struggles, he never considered giving up on the support group he facilitated. He speaks at CIT trainings, is an active board member and received the NAMI Florida 2012 Facilitator Award.

Keynote Speaker

Pete Earley is a storyteller who has penned 13 books including the New York Times bestseller The Hot House and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist Crazy: A Father*s Search Through America*s Mental Health Madness.

After a 14-year career in journalism, including six years at The Washington Post, Pete became a full-time author with a commitment to expose the stories that entertain and surprise.

His honest reporting and compelling writing helped him garner success as one of few authors with *the power to introduce new ideas and give them currency,* according to Washingtonian magazine.

When Pete*s life was turned upside down by the events recounted in his book Crazy, he joined the National Alliance on Mental Illness to advocate for strong mental health reform on the public stage.

This new advocacy has taken him to 46 different states and multiple countries around the globe where he delivers speeches to rally against the troubled mental health systems and for the mentally ill.

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