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A Chapter of Families Together in NYS, Inc.
We are grass roots, parent run organization committed to ensuring that families of children with behavioral, emotional and social disabilities have access to needed information, supports, and services within Western New York. We do this by working to strengthen family support services, promote awareness of children's mental health issues and foster equal partnerships between parents/caretakers and children's service providers of all types. The Purpose of the Children’s Mental Health Coalition of WNY Inc. is to strengthen family support services, to promote awareness of children’s mental health issues and to foster equal partnerships between parents and child serving agencies. Our mission is to:
The Children's Mental Health Coalition of Western New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed by the Western New York Family Support Coalition, a group of family members and mental health professionals representing 19 counties in Western New York. Our general membership continues to meet together monthly, as it has since 1995. Our meetings are held at the Livingston County Government Center on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Together, our general membership of individuals, programs and organizations serve more than 4,000 families.
A Chapter of Families Together in New York State, Inc. The Children's Mental Health Coalition of Western New York, Inc. is a chapter of the statewide family support organization, Families Together in New York State, Inc. As a chapter of Families Together, the Children's Mental Health Coalition is a part of a large and influential network of caring families working toward providing support, collective action, partnership and strength in achieving the care necessary for our children and families. We work together to establish a unified voice for families and children with behavioral, emotional, and social disabilities. Our Members Are:
What is Family Support?
Family Support is an array of formal and
informal services to assist families of children with emotional,
behavioral and/or social disabilities. These services help children live
at home, attend school, and balance their lives while giving attention to
the needs of all family members. Family support emphasizes full
parent/guardian participation in service planning and evaluation, services
in the child's own home whenever possible as well as flexibility and
responsiveness from the formal services system. Family support services
may be "whatever it takes" for a family to care for and live with a child
or adolescent with emotional or behavioral problems.
Our Executive Director
We are very fortunate to have Mary Skorupa on board as its first executive director. Her many years of experience in the family support movement, public relations, and management made her the ideal choice for this position. For eleven years, Mary served in the Information and Referral and Public Relations/Communications departments of the Mental Health Association of Erie County. In 1996, Mary became the coordinator of the Mental Health Association's family support program, building it from a membership of 23 families to more than 200 families, with four support groups a month and the addition of three parent advocates. Mary also helped to procure resources to provide respite services to families in Erie County and dramatically increased the financial support of the family support program under her leadership. During this time, she also maintained an active membership in the regional Coalition and was instrumental in assisting the Coalition in obtaining 501 3 C status for the new corporation, in addition to serving as the first Board President during the incorporation process.
Our Executive Assistant
Britney Drews joined the Children's Mental Health Coalition of WNY, Inc. in November 2009. She has a BS degree in Psychology from the University at Buffalo and is currently enrolled in the MS mental health counseling program at Canisius College. Britney has done research during her undergraduate career concerning the relationship between children suffering with ADHD and their parents. Our Family Advocates Chris Hoff, Conner's Children's Center Lee Randall Jones, Children's Residence ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CMHC of WNY, Inc. 105 Hyledge Drive. Amherst, NY 14226 Phone: 716-871-8997 |
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