Our History
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The Indiana Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health is the first statewide not-for-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the field of children’s mental health. We were founded in 1995 and incorporated in 1998. IFFCMH has been a recipient of the SAMHSA Statewide Family Network grant from October 1998 to September 2010 and from July 2013 to the present. We have served thousands of Hoosier families over the last twenty years.
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What We Believe |
Children and adolescents with mental health needs are people first, and come from all backgrounds with a variety of strengths and needs. Every child deserves a full and meaningful life. Every family deserves the help it needs to achieve that goal.
Family members are the true experts regarding their child, We seek to empower families through our knowledge and experience. All persons and groups must respect the individual rights, and strengths of children and adolescents who have mental health needs. Exclusion, stigma, and shame must be eliminated. Services provided for children and adolescents with mental health needs must emphasize the role of the family, who are the greatest source of strength for their children. Services must be available, accessible, affordable and appropriate. Services to each child and family must be individualized to meet their unique needs. Collaboration between families and professionals removes barriers and improves understanding. Families and professionals should be a united team with the goal of improving the lives of children and adolescents with mental health needs. |
Families First! |
All our staff are current or former caregivers or family members of children with mental health needs. Our board of directors consists of fifty percent or greater family members. We understand the needs of families because we are family members. We are inspired by our past and driven by the goal of improving the lives of Hoosier families with children with mental health challenges.
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Executive Director
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Brenda Hamilton is the Executive Director of Indiana Federation of Families for Children’s
Mental Health. She began her practice of advocacy in the mid-1980s for her son when he was 4 years old and continues to improve the lives of children with mental health needs and their families. Brenda is a graduate of Ball State University with a degree in special education and is a parent and grandparent of children who have received public mental health services and special education services. Ms. Hamilton is of Native American descent. Brenda has over 30 years' experience helping families work with schools and children’s mental health systems. Brenda founded IFFCMH and has served as Executive Director since 1995 to provide advocacy, support, education and a voice for families.. |
Lead Advocate
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Pam is the mother of twin boys with ASD, one of which has multiple mental health diagnoses, and has a grandchild on the spectrum. Pam started her service in the mental health arena as a high school student when she worked in a residential facility for developmentally disabled children. After high school, she served in the Marine Corps. Following discharge, she worked in a large health care facility for four years and then worked in various group homes and Medicaid waiver homes. She has worked for IFFCMH for 12 years as a volunteer advocate and has extensive knowledge and experience working with schools and service providers.
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Communications Director
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Paul Hamilton is the husband of Executive Director Brenda Hamilton and the person in charge of sharing information and news with our families through social media, the organization’s website and the creation of materials such as handouts and manuals. Paul makes 10 to 20 daily postings on Twitter and Facebook and updates the website regularly to provide the latest news and information of interest to the families we serve.
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Community Liaison
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IFFCMH Community Liaison Duncan Sawyer founded the Indiana Minority Health Coalition, was a program coordinator for the Indiana State Department of Health, educating the public about health concerns of African-Americans, and coordinated the Anderson Black Expo’s Minority Health Fair. He wrote and was the recipient of one of the first Fatherhood pilot programs in the state. Mr. Sawyer has been associated with the Anderson Area Leadership Academy, Early Head Start, the Urban League, the NAACP, the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, president of the African American Leadership Forum and the United Way Allocation Committee. Duncan is IFFCMH’s connection with minority communities.
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Spanish Interpreter Rosa Felix
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Rosa is educator at Anderson University.
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IFFCMH's Board of Directors
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Reverend Lenore Williams is our board chairperson. She serves as pastor of St. John's AME Church in Indianapolis. She is a parent of a young adult with serious emotional disturbance.
Delen Williams is the board secretary and the sister of our board chairperson and is the parent of a child with special needs. Barbara Ault is the parent and grandparent of children with special needs. Kathy Vermeullen is retired from IN*Source where she served as a Regional Parent Specialist. Kathy is a parent of an adult with special needs. Jane Reed is a new member of our board of directors and serves as treasurer. She lives in Indianapolis and advocates for the needs of those served by special education programs. She has worked with schools and service systems for many years as a parent and grandparent. Ronda Ames recently joined our board. She lives in Indianapolis. She was diagnosed with mental illness as a child and has been hospitalized on several occasions. She uses her life experiences to more closely relate to and help those who IFFCMH serves. Ronda is the long-serving executive director of KEY Consumer Organization. Pam Blythe is the co-chair of our board.and is the mother of twins with ASD, one of which has severe emotional disturbance. She is a Vietnam veteran with the United States Marine Corps and has many years experience working with persons with special needs. She has been an advocate for IFFCMH for twelve years. Lou Anne McConnell is a parent of a young adult with severe emotional disturbance and has worked as an IFFCMH advocate for many years. Stephanie McConnell is Lou Anne's daughter and the mother of a child with anxiety disorder and other disabilities. Valerie Markley is the former board chair. She is a family member and grandparent of individuals with severe emotional disturbance. She is a veteran of the LTC Army Nurse's Corps where she achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel. |
