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Paige Pierce, Executive Director
Paige has been the Executive Director for Families Together in NYS since the summer of 2000. She originally joined FTNYS in the spring of 1999, when she was hired as the Public Policy Director. Paige has been very successful in shaping policy and implementing systems change at the state level and serves as a liaison between families and policy makers. Paige serves as the Chair of Timothy’s Law Campaign, the Children’s Mental Health Action Network, and CCSI Tier III. In addition, she is dedicated to several committees and coalitions, and forges alliances with a wide range of stakeholders. Paige’s previous position was with the Mental Health Association in Middle Tennessee where she was the Director of the Tenn Care Partners Advocacy and Public Policy Program. In this role, she designed and implemented the strategic plan for the organization, which included the administration and management of the staff and budget.
Paige earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Skidmore College in 1987. She is the mother of four children. Her son has special emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs, and receives special education services and support in the local public school system.
Ruth Foster, Deputy Director/Director of Public Policy
As Deputy Director/Director of Public Policy Ruth oversees much of staff management and is responsible for monitoring policy developments in New York State to keep families informed about policies that affect families of children with special behavioral or emotional disabilities. She works with the Families Together Board of Directors to support family participation in policy decisions that come before the legislature and state agencies. Ruth joined Families Together in NYS as the CCSI Statewide Coordinator in December of 2000 where she was responsible for coordinating the efforts of the statewide Board of CCSI which includes two family representatives and representatives from eight state agencies.
In her previous position as Program Director for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of New York State (NAMI-NYS), she was responsible for promoting improvements in mental health policy through legislative advocacy, coalition building, and grassroots action, coordination of statewide events, production of publications, and overseeing a number of fundraising projects. Ruth has over 10 years experience in working with non-profits including publications director of a national women’s organization and management of a small gift shop. Ruth is the mother of two daughters.
Janine Lounsbery, Director of Family Support and Education
As Director of Family Support and Education, Janine is responsible for oversight of a number of statewide initiatives. Her department provides support and technical assistance to families, service providers, advocates and Families Together chapters in the areas of special education, family support, systems advocacy and parent empowerment. Janine actively promotes the principles of family support and strength-based services in New York State.
Janine earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from The College of New Rochelle. She is married and has four children. One of her children has Asperger’s Syndrome. She has been involved in the advocacy field for more than ten years, and previously served as Executive Director for the Family Resource Network, Inc. She is the founder of the NYADVOCATES group, which provides information to families and advocates across New York State.
Tyler Spangenberg, Statewide Director for the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative (CCSI)
In this capacity, Tyler works with Families Together in New York State and eight State service agencies to create a comprehensive system of care for children and families in over 50 counties and the City of New York. Tyler’s prior experience includes working for the NYS Assembly on Human Services and Medicaid issues; serving as the Technical Assistance Project Director and Policy Associate for the NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors; and Director of Research for a national behavioral health and medical management company.
Stephanie Orlando, Director of YOUTH POWER!
Building upon her personal experience in the children’s mental health system, Stephanie has dedicated the last nine years to advocating for youth with special needs on county, state and national levels. Stephanie was the Senior Peer Advocate at Mid Erie Counseling and Treatment Services from 1998 to 2001. There she coordinated the peer advocacy program for youth. Stephanie then moved on to take a position with the newly incorporated Children’s Mental Health Coalition of Western New York, Inc. where she stayed until 2005.
In recognition of her advocacy work for young people Stephanie received the 2004 Erie County Executive Award which was given as part of Disabilities Employment Awareness Month and in 2006 was awarded the National Mental Health Association’s MPOWER award. In 2005 Stephanie earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University at Buffalo. She serves on the board of directors for the Children’s Mental Health Coalition of Western New York and is currently a member of the New York State Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative (CCSI) State level Tier 3, the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN), the New York State Youth Development Team, and is the Chairperson of the Youth Advisory Committee to the National Council on Disability.
Joan Cullen, Program Director/Family Involvement Specialist
Joan coordinates the Families Together Annual Conference, Legislative Awareness Day and Luncheon, Chapter Leadership Day as well as other events. As Family Involvement Specialist, Joan will work closely with our Chapters providing technical assistance and support.
Working for a number of not-for-profits including Carnegie Hall, the Hudson River Museum, New York Special Olympics, and Equinox where she coordinated the Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner, benefit concerts with local Celtic band, Hair of the Dog, in support of the Dinner, and the New York State Chocolate Festival and Gala, has provided Joan with a great deal of event planning and coordinating experience.
"Giving back" to the community is something Joan feel strongly about and she has volunteered many, many hours over the years. She continues to give her time to organizations that provide greatly needed services to our community. She is a suicide survivor and suicide prevention advocate. Joan is currently serving on the organizing committee for a statewide event, the Hope Vigil, which will be held October 14 in remembrance of those lost to suicide. She recently participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) 20 mile Out of the Darkness overnight walk in New York City.
Joan has three wonderful sons – her eldest is studying Wildlife Management at SUNY Cobleskill, her middle son is attending Hudson Valley Community College studying to be a teacher/coach and her youngest is a high school Junior. Joan, her mom and the "boys" are happy to share their home with two dogs and a menagerie of turtles, fish, lizards and snakes.
Crystal Brandow, Outreach & Development Coordinator
Crystal is responsible for organizational development, including membership and fund development, public relations and marketing for FTNYS. She also maintains the FTNYS listserv and website.
Prior to joining Families Together, Crystal worked for Sawchuk, Brown Associates, Citizen Action of New York and the Alliance for Quality Education performing public relations, social marketing, systems advocacy, and public outreach. She has also maintained employment with Albany Memorial Hospital; and worked with Samaritan Hospital’s four mental health units.
Crystal graduated cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication, and a minor in Africana Studies from the University at Albany, SUNY. She also studied at the University of Ghana-Accra-Legon in West Africa.
Crystal is a member of the Nu Alpha Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the official National Communication Association honor society; and she is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Katie Burns, Office Manager, Information and Referral Specialist
Katie Burns joined Families Together in New York State in April 2007 after volunteering regularly for four months. Her exemplary work ethic and motivation earned her a full-time position as the office manager for FTNYS. As office manager, Katie is responsible for the overall flow of the organization, making sure telecommunications and other essentials are functioning properly. Katie provides support for the entire staff at FTNYS, through meeting preparation and general correspondence, among other responsibilities.
Katie’s hard work and dedication allowed her to advance yet again with FTNYS. She was promoted from office manager to office manager and information and referral specialist on July 1, 2007. With this additional responsibility, Katie provides support for individuals and families in crisis. She refers these families in need to the local FTNYS chapters in their area. This helps to facilitate familiar connections and strengthens our chapters.
Katie has a personal interest in children’s mental health policy and comprehensive care; and she is passionate about sharing her experience, strength and hope with the community at large. Katie knows navigating the systems of care can be difficult, and uses this insight in her work.
Katie is a member of New York Alliance of Information and Referral Systems.
Dally Sanchez, YOUTH POWER! Coordinator
Dally has been a part of the New York State and national youth movement for the last 11 years. She began her career working with the Westchester Youth Forum, where she started as a member, developed into a peer leader and eventually became co-coordinator and office manager. Through her work as a peer leader, Dally participated in, planned and co-facilitated many workshops, panels, and conferences around youth involvement and empowerment.
The enthusiastic mother of two girls, Dally is working towards ending injustices and violations of the civil rights of people in the mental health system and training and empowering young people.
Dally is Co-Chair of the Cultural Competency Committee of the New York Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Board of Directors, the NYS Multicultural Advisory Committee to the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health.
Dally is a contributing author to the TA Partnership’s “Reflections from the field -Youth Involvement in systems of care: A guide to empowerment,” published in 2005. She is also the recipient of the Families Together in NYS 2007 “Outstanding Advocate of the Year” Award.
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