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The
primary role of each Regional Parent Advisor is to forge a relationship
between all of the family support services within their region. Parent
Advisors provide a forum for local family support services to network
with one another. CLICK HERE FOR THEIR BIOS
LONG ISLAND REGION
serving counties of: Nassau, Suffolk
Susan Burger
(Work) 631-761-2334
(Cell) 516-314-1143
(Fax) 631-761-2820
(Email) olcystb@omh.state.ny.us
Address:
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
Building 45
998 Crooked Hill Road
West Brentwood, NY 11717
HUDSON
RIVER REGION serving counties of:
Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland,
Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington,
Westchester
Barbara
Callahan
(Work) 845-454-8692
(Cell) 845-797-1861
(Fax) 845-454-8218
(Email) coctbcc@omh.state.ny.us
Address:
NYS-OMH
Hudson River Field Office
4 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 3
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
CENTRAL REGION serving counties of:
Hamilton, Herkimer, Fulton, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Essex, Franklin,
Clinton, St. Lawrence, Montgomery
Susan
Lewis
(Work)
315-426-3940
(Cell) 315-317-4877
(Email) occfsjl@omh.state.ny.us
CENTRAL REGION serving counties of: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Madison, Onondaga, Otsego and Oswego
Leslie Gorke
(Work) 315-426-3936
(Cell) 315-729-8622
(Email) COCFLMG@omh.state.ny.us
For Susan and Leslie:
(Fax) 315-426-3950
Address:
OMH Central NY Field Office
545 Cedar Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
NEW
YORK CITY REGION serving the five boroughs: Manhattan (New
York), Brooklyn (Kings), Staten Island (Richmond), Queens, Bronx
Bernadine Meeks
(Work) 212-330-1678
(Cell) 917-596-7909
(Email) oncybcm@omh.state.ny.us
or
Nilda Torres
(Work) 212-330-1676
(Cell) 917-597-9483
(Email) oncynit@omh.state.ny.us
Address and fax for Bernadine and Nilda:
NYC OMH Field Office
330 Fifth Avenue
9th Floor
New York, NY 10001
(Fax) 212-330-6359
WESTERN
REGION
serving counties of: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans, Steuben, Tioga, Wyoming
Nancy Craig
(Work) 716-885-4219 ext. 236
(Cell) 716-432-6238
(Fax) 716-885-4096
(Email) nncrg@adelphia.net
Address:
737 Delaware Avenue
Suite 200
Buffalo, NY 14029
WESTERN
REGION
serving counties of: Chemung, Genesee,
Niagara, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca,
Tompkins, Wayne, Yates
Micky
Toker
(Work) 585-241-1937
(Cell) 585-738-2015
(Fax) 585-473-4236
(Email) owcfmrt@omh.state.ny.us
Address:
Rochester Psychiatric Center
1111 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
Susan
Burger, Parent Advisor-Long Island Region
Susan joined Families Together in NYS in January 2001. Susan position
consists of responding to requests for individual family support, referral
and advocacy in her region and representing the family voice in developing,
monitoring of and technical assistance for local programs and in program
development and monitoring on the state level. Susan earned her family
development credential and has a college degree in early childhood education.
She has been employed as a parent advisor for the past 10 years and
dedicates time to the PTA and local fundraising efforts. Prior to this,
Susan was a stay-at-home mom and held several different positions within
the field of education from teacher to curriculum supervisor. Susan
is the parent of three children—two with special emotional and
behavioral needs. Susan says that having to advocate for services for
them has empowered her to want to help other families and wanted to
put her experiences to good use.
Barbara Callahan, Parent Advisor-Hudson River Region
Barbara joined Families Together in NYS in December 2000 and serves
as the family voice and liaison on the state and regional level. As
the parent of a child who has needed mental health services, Barbara
is dedicated to helping families of children with mental health needs
feel empowered rather than failures. To achieve this, Barbara says she
has often had to forge new roads through the mental health system. Prior
to this position, Barbara was employed as an Alcohol Substance Abuse
Team Leader, Family Specialist/Probation Liason, Family Specialist,
and Substance Abuse Group Leader. Barbara earned her family development
credential, attended college, and has received training in Primary,
Secondary,Tertiary Prevention of Sexually Abusive Behaviors in Childhood
and Adolescents. Barbara has four children, three stepchildren, and
two grandchildren. Barbara is very active in the community as a school
board member, scout leader, and church group leader and is an active
participant in a special education workgroup.
Nancy Craig,
Parent Advisor-Western Region
Nancy has been employed as an advocate since 1994 and joined Families
Together in January 2001 as the parent advisor representing the Western
Region of New York State. Prior to this, Nancy was a part-time parent
advisor for four counties and the Child and Family Services of Erie
Home and Community Based Services program part time family advocate.
In this role, she was the first advocate hired by a program without
being required to bill for service. This set a standard for Western
Region as now all HCBS programs have an advocate attached to their programs.
Nancy is mom to
four children, three of whom are diagnosed with a mental health challenge.
Nancy, having first-hand experience using all New York State Office
of Mental Health services, says, "My goal is to help parents navigate
the system of care with dignity, without having to beg for systems to
do the right thing, and to ensure that parents have an equal voice in
all things that concern their child.
Susan Lewis,
Parent Advisor-Central Region
Susan joined Families Together in NYS in June 2002. She describes her
role as: listening to families and using this information to encourage
positive changes in the service delivery system and their inclusion
at all levels. She also provides technical assistance in the areas of
new program development, family support, SPOA development, CCSI Tier
II, HCBW and collaborates at a regional level with DOH, OCFS, State
Education, OASAS and OMRDD. Susan is actively involved with the Madison
County Family Support Services Advisory Council and the Madison County
CSEP Committee. Prior to Families Together, Susan worked as a billing
supervisor and personnel training manager for local businesses. Susan
is the parent of a child with special needs. Her son is now a young
adult and part of the OMRDD system as well as the MH system. Because
it has been an ongoing struggle for him as well as her family, Susan
is dedicated to ensuring parents are able to advocate for their child
and understand they have an important voice in systems change.
Nilda Torres,
Parent Advisor-NYC Region
Nilda Torres is a citywide parent advocate for Families Together
in NYS representing the five boroughs. Since January 2002, she has provided
continuous support, advocacy and information to families. She also represents
parents in need and serves as an on-going liaison with the New York
City Department of Mental Health and New York State Office of Mental
Health. Nilda has developed support groups for parents whose children
are in residential treatment facilities and assists families in facilitating
system change with services providers in schools, the legal system,
social services and medical care by increasing community awareness of
needs of families who have children with emotional and behavioral disorders.
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