The Family Advocacy Committee began meeting
two times per month in February 2010 to
support the Parent Support Network meetings
being facilitated by Monica Sewell and Dannie
Dosch.
“The purpose of this effort is not to start a new
process, but to build on what is already being
done. The John T. Vucurevich Foundation
wants to provide help through the Black Hills
Mental Health Substance Abuse Collaborative.”
Martha Anderson – Parent
- Independent Living Specialist,
Western Resources for dis-ABLED
Independence
Dannie Dosch – Parent
- Victim Specialist, Federal Bureau of
Investigations
- Facilitator Black Hills Parents 4 Parents
Support Network
- Advisor/Liaison to the Family Advocacy
Committee
- Parent Representative on the Systems of
Care/Systems Transformation Steering
Committee
Burke Eilers – Parent
Director, Youth & Family Services Counseling
Center
Tommie Leenknecht – Parent
Advocate, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Dianna Marshall – Parent
- Protection and Advocacy for Individuals
with Mental Illness (PAIMI)
- Program Director, South Dakota Advocacy
Services
Tamie McMeeken – Parent
- Juvenile Court Services Officer, Seventh
Circuit
Monica Sewell - Parent
- Facilitator Black Hills Parents 4 Parents
Support Network
- Advisor/Liaison to the Family Advocacy
Committee
- Parent Representative on the Systems of
Care/Systems Transformation Steering
Committee
Stephanie Schweitzer Dixon – Parent
- Director, Front Porch Coalition
Sheila Troxel Snyder – Parent
- SD State University 4-H Cooperative
Extension Service
- State Coordinator - Operation: Military Kids
Alys Ratigan -- Facilitator
- MH/SA Collaborative Coordinator
MISSION STATEMENT :
The Black Hills Parents 4 Parents Family
Advocacy Committee provides support and
education to individuals and families giving them
a voice in the access and delivery of behavioral
health services leading to positive outcomes
both personally and systemically.
Parents 4 Parents is a Chapter of the
VISION STATEMENT :
Assisting organizations and families to work
together in partnership – one family, one team,
one plan.
Parents 4 Parents is a Chapter of the
GOAL 1: Be a Resource for Individuals and Families
Looking for Education, Information, Services
and Support
a) Assist with convening Parent Support Group meetings
b) Identify and promote trainings and materials that
educate / support families.
c) Identify and train families/advocates who can be
available to meet with families who attend the Parent
Support Group
Goal 2: Increase Public Awareness of the Parent Support
Group and Resources Available
a) Provide communication links to families and
agencies
b) Increase the knowledge of community members who
have consistent contact with individuals / families in
need and educate them to make appropriate referrals
(i.e., pastors/medical personnel/cosmetologists)
Goal 3: Identify and Train Advocates in Specialty Areas
to Assist in a Peer Support System
a) Identify a list of issues to be addressed.
b) Define role of Advocates.
c) Ask member agencies of the MH/SA Collaborative to hand-pick
persons/families with first hand experience who could possibly
serve as coaches/advocates for families who are struggling with
various issues.
d) Identify appropriate training and support/guidance for Advocates.
Goal 4: Help Families be Part of Decision Making at All
Levels by Being the Point of Contact for a
Collective Voice and a Feedback Loop to
Providers
a) Make it easier for families to participate in SOC
meetings
b) Promote the System Transformation Philosophy
c) Conduct regular surveys to targeted groups to ensure
their voice is part of decision making both locally and
state-wide
Goal 5: Advocate for Systemic, Legislative and/or
Funding Changes to Benefit Families
a) Address Unresolved Issues / Barriers that Emerge in
the Parent Support Network
b) Develop a one-stop shop concept for people/families
to receive support and information
c) Address emerging trends
Family Advocacy Committee (Steering Committee) members
named their efforts Black Hills Parents 4 Parents, and
developed their Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives.
They became a Chapter of the National Federation of Families
For Children’s Mental Health in March 2011.
They developed a website featuring local resources for parents
/ families, and it is being debuted today! parents4parentsbh.org
They are planning quarterly conferences for parents on various
topics with the first planned for October 22, 2011.
They have contracted with 211 to research and print a Mental
Health Resource Guide for the Black Hills.
211 also provided information for a folded list of Pennington
County “Basic Needs” Resources which is in your folder today.
What is the relationship between the Parents 4 Parents
Family Advocacy Committee and Systems of Care (SOC)
/ Systems Transformation efforts in the State of South
Dakota?
Monica Sewell – Parent, Peer Family Support Advocate,
Facilitator of the Parent Support Network meetings, and
Member of the Systems of Care (SOC) / Systems
Transformation Committee
Parents 4 Parents is a Chapter of the
parents4parentsbh.org
Parents 4 Parents is a Chapter of the