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.
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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Our Vision and Mission
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The vision of IFFCMH is to empower, support and educate families coping with children’s mental health issues. Through outreach, inter-agency collaboration, and community resources, IFFCMH will strive to make every childhood the best it can be.
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The Guiding Principles of IFFCMH
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IFFCMH believes that children with emotional, behavioral or mental challenges are full and valuable members of society.
We believe that all families should be treated equally without regard to race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religious belief, or sexual orientation. We believe that everyone deserves respect, and that stigma harms us all. We believe that families are the greatest experts on their children and their judgment must be respected. IFFCMH will provide families with the most current and accurate information to improve the lives of their children. We will work with families to bring their voice to child-serving groups, schools, government agencies, the justice system and all other organizations, so our families receive the support they need. We will provide services in a manner which respects the diversity of our society, such as language or culture. |
The Staff and Board of Directors of IFFCMH
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 |
Rosa is an educator at Anderson University.
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Youth Consultant Sam Endris |
Sam is a senior at Center Grove High School and is a member of the Center Grove Marching Band. He is in the college-bound program and is planning to attend Indiana University and major in psychology upon graduation.
He is the youth consultant to IFFCMH's board of directors. Sam is adamant about starting the conversation on teen suicide in our country and especially Indiana. His experience with an attempt himself and dealing with depression gives him the insight on how the conversation needs to happen. Sam is available to speak at any event as long as it doesn't interfere with school. He tells it like it is, and even though it isn't a pretty topic, it's a necessary one. Youth, teens, parents and other interested parties need to hear Sam and take action. |
IFFCMH's Board of Directors
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Ronda Ames is the Chairperson of our board of directors.. 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 the board treasurer. She 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, the mother of a child with anxiety disorder and board secretary. 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. 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. |