LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS OF LIVED EXPERIENCE
WELCOME
Welcome to an inspiring and powerful event centered around real stories, raw truths, and resilience. Looking Through the Lens of Lived Experience brings together individuals with lived experience of mental health and/or substance misuse challenges to share their journeys, break down stigma, and spark meaningful conversations. Through our keynote speaker, personal stories and panel discussions, we want to create a safe space to listen, learn, and connect. Whether you’re living with a mental health condition, supporting someone who is, or simply want to be a part of the change, your presence here today matters.
MENTAL HEALTH
AGENDA
EMCEE:
KeelyButrum, County Council
OPENING
STATEMENT:
Steve Long, Hancock Health
KEYNOTE
SPEAKER:
Amy Abell, HopeAlight LLC
YOUTH PANEL:
Moderated by Linda Ostewig, The Landing Place
Hancock County Youth
ADULT PANEL:
Moderated by Joel Hungate, Hancock Health
• Tony May, Community Leader
• Krysti Montgomery, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Hancock Health Connection Center
• Tom Ackerly, Groups Coordinator, Wellspring Center
• Arthur J. Tompkins, Case Manager, Recovery Café
• Christina DeWitt, LCSW, Clinical Manager, Hancock Health Connection Center
CLOSING REMARKS:
Scott Sirk, Hancock Circuit Court Judge
Amanda Everidge, Hancock Health
KEELY BUTRUM
Hancock County Council
Keely is a local financial advisor and Greenfield native that has been working for many years to expand access to mental health and addiction resources. Throughout her tenure as a Greenfield City Council and Hancock County Councilwoman, she has been involved in the creation, implementation, and funding of dozens of local investments to make recovery programming more accessible. She currently serves as the Board Chair of the Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House, and she has personally been in recovery for over 16 years.
OPENING STATEMENT
& CLOSING REMARKS:
STEVE LONG
President & CEO of Hancock Health
Over his 30+ year career as a healthcare executive, Steve Long has served in a variety of hospital types including for-profit and not-for-profit, academic medical centers, large hospital systems, independent community hospitals, and military hospitals. Some of these organizations included the University of Iowa Healthcare; MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas; and Aurora Healthcare in Wisconsin.
Steve has been honored to present at national conferences on the subjects of leadership, patient engagement, population health, and cybersecurity and has been published on these topics in many healthcare industry publications as well. In addition, Steve has served a variety of organizations as a board member including the Hancock Economic Development Council, Indiana Hospital Association, Suburban Health Organization, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and Greenfield Banking Company, to name just a few.
Steve and his wife Dorothy live in Greenfield and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren and building and racing nostalgia dragsters.
AMANDA EVERIDGE
Executive Director of Behavioral Health for Hancock Health
Amanda Everidge, a Licensed Social Worker with over 20 years of experience. Known for her dedication to her hometown community, she coordinates the Hancock County Critical Incident Stress Management Team and has led the development of initiatives like Healthy365 and the Hancock County Community Response Collaborative. Amanda was named the “2023 Hoosier Health and Wellbeing Community Champion” by the Indiana Wellness Council. Her leadership and commitment to collaboration have made her a trusted figure in fostering health and wellness.
SCOTT SIRK
Hancock Circuit Court Judge
Scott Sirk is the Judge of the Hancock Circuit Court since 2017, previously he was the Hancock County Court Commissioner from 2009-2017 and was Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of Hancock County 2003-2006. He is a practicing Attorney since 1988, with a JD from Indiana University School of Law Indianapolis in 1988 and graduate of Ball State University with a BS in 1984 and MA in 1986 in Political Science. He is married to his wife Diane for 34 years and has 3 children Kate Bland, Scott Sirk, Michael Sirk, son-in-law Adam Bland and one granddaughter Eleanor Marie Bland.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
AMY ABELL
Owner & Training Specialist of HopeAlight
Amy K. Abell, Ed.S. is the owner of HopeAlight, an organization that provides training and consultation support in traumainformed, trauma-responsive practices to schools, community agencies, and families across the Midwest. Amy studied psychology and sociology at Hanover College and received her Master’s in Educational Psychology and her Education Specialist degree in School Psychology from Indiana University Bloomington. Prior to creating HopeAlight, Amy worked as a school psychologist in Marion County for the first 10 years of her career. Supporting the needs of vulnerable children, those with disabilities, as well as those with significant emotional and behavioral needs, has always been her calling. After the adoption of two of their sons, Amy and her husband faced the reality of parenting children with a significant history of trauma, as well as the ineffectiveness of traditional parenting strategies and best practices regarding rewards and punishments as methods for addressing behavior. In 2016, Amy attended her first conference to learn about Trust-Based Relational Intervention®, and her life was never the same. Although she attended the event to learn more about her children’s needs and how to support them, the reality was that Amy learned more about how her own mindset and her history were barriers to her children’s healing. Having the primary goal of healing her family, Amy applied to become a TBRI® Practitioner and began the long journey of shifting her mindset and strategies she used in parenting. Additionally, she began to address the impact of her own childhood trauma and adversity, knowing that she could only lead her children to a place of healing if she experienced it herself. With hope in their hearts, light guiding their path, and TBRI as their approach to living, the entire family began to heal. After experiencing first-hand the undeniable impact of TBRI, Amy began helping schools, community agencies, and families utilize TBRI® across their systems. Amy’s passion for this work stems from the belief that parents and professionals who are equipped with TBRI® can create healing and build resilience in their own lives, as well as the children, students, and clients in their care, regardless of their history. Over the past 8 years, Amy and her team have facilitated multi-phased TBRI® initiatives with 70 school districts and community agencies throughout the Midwest Region. Amy’s work has been recognized by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, where she serves as a TBRI® Mentor, allowing Amy the opportunity to support the KPICD’s training efforts with TBRI® Practitioners across the world.
YOUTH PANEL:
LINDA OSTEWIG — MODERATOR
Executive Director of The Landing Place & Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House
Linda Ostewig’s passion and purpose lie in guiding women, youth, and families affected by addiction and trauma, a calling deeply rooted in her own experience of loving family members who struggled with addiction. A proud mother of two and wife of 41 years, Linda resides in Greenfield, IN with her husband Steven. She is a certified Biblical Counselor and Recovery Coach, with specialized training in women’s addiction, trauma, sexual abuse, and LGBTQ issues. Her outstanding dedication to recovery and community service has earned her numerous awards, including recognition as Fox 59 and Community Health Network’s Community Hero of the Month, and Talitha Koum was named Recovery Residence of the Year in 2020. Linda is an active member of Brandywine Community Church and attributes all her success and strength to her faith in Jesus Christ, firmly standing on the scripture: “Greater is He that’s in me, than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
LOCAL HANCOCK COUNTY YOUTH
From Mt. Vernon High School, New Palestine High School, Eastern Hancock High School & Greenfield Central High School, these local teens were chosen because of their personal experiences and perspectives on mental health.
ADULT PANEL:
JOEL HUNGATE — MODERATOR
Executive Director of Strategy and Integrated WellBeing, Hancock Health
As Executive Director of Well-Being and Employer Strategy with Hancock Health, Joel’s mission is the future of healthcare. Under the banner of the “infrastructure of well-being”, he works to deliver an innovative, community-responsive approach to well-being and integrated medical care that is local, focused, innovative, and kind — and it’s working! Joel holds an Executive MBA, received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University, is a Randall L. Tobias Leadership Fellow, and is a Husband, Father, mental health advocate, and is blessed to be an accomplished mountaineer and survivalist who starred in the first season of Netflix’s worldwide hit adventure series “Outlast”.
TONY MAY
Community Leader
Tony May is an Army veteran, Aeronautical Engineer and longtime community leader. He met his wife, Flory, while serving in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm in 1991. Together, they have two adult children, now 26 and 29. Tony holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University, as well as an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from Indiana University. For the past 27 years, he has worked at RollsRoyce Corporation. Recently Tony became a Global Mental Health Champion— driving awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting mental wellness in the workplace. A passionate supporter of youth and education, Tony was a founding member of the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation and served three terms on the Mt. Vernon School Corporation Board. Upon leaving the board, he established a fund to expand mental health support for students and staff, reinforcing his commitment to accessible care and early intervention. Tony has spoken publicly about his sobriety journey and is deeply committed to reshaping how we talk about depression, addiction, and recovery. He believes in innovative, empathetic approaches to mental health education and support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he became a Master Gardener, finding healing and purpose in nature—and hopes to share some of that peace with others. Tony continues to seek new ways to uplift those struggling with mental health challenges using compassion, experience, and hope.
KRYSTI MONTGOMERY
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Hancock Health Connection Center
Krysti Montgomery is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist at the Hancock Health Connection Center, where she serves as part of the Justice Navigation team. Drawing from her own lived experience, Krysti provides compassionate support to individuals currently incarcerated as well as those navigating recovery in the community. Her work is rooted in hope, advocacy, and empowerment meeting people where they are, walking alongside them without judgment, and helping to access the resources and inner strength needed to reclaim their lives. Krysti is passionate about breaking down stigma, restoring dignity, and fostering resilience in every interaction. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Indiana University Indianapolis, with a continued focus on supporting the underserved population in the justice system and recovery community.
TOM ACKERLY
Groups Coordinator, Wellspring Center
Thomas Ackerly is a dedicated, follower of Christ, family man, seasoned automotive professional, and passionate mental health advocate. Born in New York and raised on the east side of Indianapolis, Tom has called Greenfield, Indiana, home for the past 28 years, where he lives with his wife and has three adult daughters. Following Christ and loving his family is at the core of Thomas’s life, and he holds strong to the values of love, support, and togetherness. These principles not only guide his personal life but also shape his professional endeavors. With over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Thomas has built a reputation as a skilled and respected figure in the field. Beyond his professional success, Thomas has faced his own personal challenges. Having experienced mental health struggles firsthand, as well as witnessing those of close family members, he became deeply committed to mental health advocacy. His journey led him to serve for eight years on a team that helped establish the Wellspring Center, an initiative dedicated to providing support and resources for individuals navigating mental health challenges. This work is a testament to his compassion and determination to make a difference in his community. In his downtime, Thomas finds solace and peace in fishing—a hobby that allows him to connect with nature and clear his mind. His love for the outdoors serves as a reminder of the importance of balance and self-care in his busy life.
ARTHUR J. TOMPKINS
Case Manager, Recovery Café
Art Tompkins was born in 1981 at St. Vincent hospital. His family resided on the east side of Indiana and moved to Greenfield in 1988. He attended Eastern Hancock Schools and played every sport available throughout high school. He dropped out of high school in 1999, attained his GED and joined the Army. Art took correspondence college courses and online courses his entire 16-year career. He finished his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts in 2015. Art worked as a private contractor for the better part of 5 years while he raised his family in Noblesville. He and his wife, Nicole, have been together for 25 years and have 3 children ages 25, 21, and 19. In the fall of 2024 they moved back to Greenfield and own a small LLC. Art’s mental wellbeing is important in building stronger healthier relationships with others and within himself, which helps him to be a strong contributing member of society. He strives to promote that good mental health is a reflection of physical health.
CHRISTINA D eWITT
LCSW, Clinical Manager, Hancock Health Connection Center
Christina DeWitt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose focus has been in improving mental health outcomes for communities, leadership development, and enhancing organizational culture and workplace wellness. Christina is a proud Hoosier and received her Bachelor of Social Work from Ball State University and her Master of Social Work from IUPUI. Christina has had the opportunity to serve the State of Indiana in various roles including providing Suicide Prevention through Certification as a QPR Trainer, developing and facilitating statewide trainings focusing on practice enhancement for trauma experiences, providing Clinical Diagnostic Assessments and individual therapy for co-occurring disorders, and leading supportive discussions for first responders who have experienced secondary trauma in their workplace. Christina was a panel member for the Wellness Council of Indiana’s Employer Connection Series in 2023 and had the opportunity to speak on bridging gaps in workplace mental health and substance use disorders resources. She was a panel member for Indy Maven’s Women’s Health Summit 2025; speaking on Women’s Mental Health. Having firsthand experience with Post-Partum Depression, navigating her own Eating Disorder recovery, and Anxiety, Christina is passionate about Mental Health, bringing education and an understanding to those who may not have the words for themselves yet.
THANK YOU
Together, we can help create a future where mental wellness is not only supported but celebrated. Thank you for being part of this conversation, and may we continue to carry hope, advocacy, and action into the spaces we live, work, and lead.
