Celebrating60Years!
“We take pride in our history and look forward to a fantastic future.”
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TenneWordsworth,President
DonaRodgers,VicePresident
Dr KatrinaWhite,Secretary
ReginaMoore,Treasurer
JessicaAshby
WilliamAshwell
Lt.Col.ChadBrubaker
CassinBertke
Dr DianaChalmeta
KarenFlikeid
Rev ViniHolland
RickLaimbeer
AmberMontgomery
JoyWilley
ChristineCraddock,Communication andOutreachManager STAFF
ReneeNorden,ExecutiveDirector
BridgetDowney,Programsand
EventsManager
ReneeNorden,ExecutiveDirector
Friends, Community Partners, & Neighbors,
Theyear2024wasamilestoneyearforMentalHealthFauquier
Aswelookbackonouraccomplishments,connections,and impact,weremainsteadfastinourgoalofcreatingacaring communityforalltolivefulfillingandmentallyhealthylives.
Wearecommittedtoreducingstigmasothatmentalhealth concernsaretalkedabout,intheopen,andpeopleinneedget help
Wevaluethatourcommunityhastrustedusasaresourcefor education,advocacy,referral,andcollaborationfor60years now.
ToeachoneofyouwhobecamecertifiedinMentalHealth FirstAidorSpiritualFirstAid,wethankyouforbeingtherefor yourcommunity,yourfamily,andyourfriends.
Toourcommunitypartners,wethankyouforcontinuingto joinusformonthlymeetings;foryourcommitmenttohelping thekidswhoattendourschoolsandthefamilieswholiveand workinRappahannockandFauquiercounties.
Toourboardmemberswhotaketimeoutoftheirscheduleto guidethisorganization,wethankyouforbeingthere,for givingusyourefforts,thoughts,andpassion.Weappreciate youmorethanyouknow.
Toourdonors,yourgenerosityallowsustocontinuethis crucialworkwedoeveryday.Wethankyoutremendouslyfor yoursupport.
Wearethankfulandhumbledbythewaysourcommunity embracesusandourmessage;andweareexcitedtobuild onoureffortsandchangetheworld,oneempatheticperson atatime.
HistoryHighlights
1964
FounderArchieSmith,Jr.leda committeetoinvestigatethe community’smentalhealth needsand,asaresult,opened thecounty’sfirstmentalhealth clinicintheWarrenGreenHotel.
2000
1968
TheclinicwasrenamedFauquier FamilyGuidance.
RappahannockRapidanCommunity Services(nowEncompassCommunity Supports)relocatedittoHospitalHill.
1975
Theoriginalorganizationsupported residentshospitalizedatStaunton’s WesternState,whichcaresforthe mentallyill,aswellascaringfortheir familymembersandadvocatingfor thepatientsupontheirdischarge.
Fordecades,weremainedanall-volunteerorganization,untila$30,000inearningsfromabequestallowed theassociationtohiretheirfirstexecutivedirector,MarySchlegel,whopreviouslyservedontheirboard.
Maryheldtwosemi-annualluncheons,invitingpolice,medicalstaff,schoolpersonnel,and otherstotalkaboutmentalhealthcommunityneeds.Thiswasthepredecessortothe MentalHealthCollaborative,whichcontinuestoday.
MaryalsolaunchedtheMentalHealthSchoolsCoalition,aneverevolvingandgrowing groupthatstillmeetsmonthly.Sheworkedtoreducethestigmasurroundingmental healthandemphasizedgettingyouthinvolved.
2011
Maryretiredin2011,andSallieMorganbecamethenextexecutivedirector.
Salliekeptthefocusonengagingyouthinmentalhealthdiscussionsbutaddedagingadults totheconversation.ShealsoaddedRappahannocktothefootprint.
SalliepartneredwithFauquierCountyPublicSchoolstobeginMentalHealthFirstAidclasses. Thankstoa$100,000federalgrantfromtheSubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServices Administration,everyteacherinFauquierandRappahannockcountieswastrainedinYouth MentalHealthFirstAid.
Thisprogram,alongwithAdultMentalHealthFirstAid,continuestoday Salliealsopartnered withtheFauquierFreeClinictoaddmentalhealthservicestotheirofferings
SallielaunchedtheRappahannockRoundtable,monthlymeetingsofconcernedresidentsand activepeopleinthecountytoimprovementalwellnessinthecounty,aswellasagroupcalled FaithLeaders,nowknownastheFaithCommunityWellnessCouncil
1990 2020
MHAFCgavetheParentResearchInstitutefor DrugEducation(PRIDE)surveytoFauquier andRappahannock6-12graderstogauge theirsubstanceuse,mentalhealth,and feelingsofsafety.
Thissurvey,lastadministeredin2023, continuesevery3-4yearsandtheresultsare sharedwithschoolsandthecommunity.
ReneeNordencameonboardasthe newestexecutivedirectorinNovember2020 inthemidstofthepandemicwhen substanceabuseandmentalhealthissues wereontherise
Reneehasfocusedonmakingconnections withinthecommunity Theorganization workswithnearly50communitygroupsin variousways.
TheYearinPhotos
ProgramandEventsManager
BridgetDowneyandExecutive DirectorReneeNordenattended SAMHSA’sannualconference.
BridgetDowneyconnectedwith attendeesatourMentalHealth MonthcelebrationeventinMay
Weheldourfirst DoublesforLifecharity eventinmemoryof communitymember ChristaWilliams.
Membersofthe VeteransTask Forcemetatthe Warrenton Armoryto connect resourcesforour community’s veterans
SpiritualFirstAidwasaddedto oureducationalprogramsto trainmorehelpersinthe communitytorecognizesigns andsymptomsofamental healthconcern
TheFaithCommunityWellnessCouncilbroughttogethercommunitymembers toaddresscrucialtopicsincludingfamiliesimpactedbysuicide,belonging andconnectioninfaithcommunities,andsubstanceuseandmentalhealth
OutreachandCommunications ManagerChristineCraddock hostedatableattheAging TogetherExpoinRappahannock
Lt ChadBrubaker,CassinBertke,Karen Flikeid,TenneWordsworth,Dr KatrinaWhite, andRev ViniHollandattendedthe60th AnniversaryLuncheoninOctober
Staffat Fauquier Healthjoinedin ononeofour WellnessWalks
ReneeNorden,BruceCampbell(ChairofourVeterans TaskForce),ChristineCraddock,andBridgetDowney providedresourcesattheFeedingFirstRespondersevent
OurStrategicPlan
InJuly,weworkedwithDBLatimoreProfessionalServicesGrouptocompleteourstrategicplanfor2024through 2027.Duringourintensiveplanningsessions,threestrategicpillars,alongwiththegoalsforeachpillar,were identifiedascriticaltoourmission.
Leadership, Advocacy,and Community Planning
LocalAdvocacyfor MentalHealth AdvancingDiversity, Equity,Inclusion,and BelonginginMental Health
Education and Prevention
StrengtheningMental HealthSupportforYouth throughEarlyIntervention andEducation PromoteCommunity WellnessthroughEducation andCommunityOutreach
InJune,weunveiledournewmodern logoandbrandingbyBanksGraphic DesigninCulpeper.Wehopethisnew designwillincreaseourvisibilityinthe communityasatrustedsourceforhelp withmentalhealthandsubstanceuse concerns.
Strengthening Collaborative Partnershipswith Mentaland MedicalHealth Community
InAugust,welaunchedanewchapterinthehistoryofMental HealthFauquierwithatransformedwebsite-alsobyBanks GraphicDesign-makingourcontentmoreengagingand user-friendly!
Advocacy Collaboration
Everymonth,wegatherwithveteranadvocates,leadersineducation,mentalhealth professionals,andthefaithcommunity.
Thesemeetingsallowustoconnectresources,communicateabouttheneedsandthe gapsinresourcesforourcommunity,families,andallthosewholiveandworkin RappahannockandFauquiercounties.
Whatevolvesfromtheseconnectionsisacollectivecommitmenttofillingthosegaps
VeteransTask Force Faith Community WellnessCouncil
Rappahannock Roundtable
Mental Health Collaborative
Individualsand veteran-serving organizations meetmonthlyto increase communication aboutresources, decreasestigma, andpromote connection. Stakeholders,law enforcement, andcommunity membersgather
todiscusssuicide prevention, substanceuse,and mentalhealth concernsofour community.
Faithleadersand clergymembers tackleissues affecting individualsin their congregations andthe community. Leadersin education,school counselors,and youthserving organizations discusshowto addresstheissues affectingyouthin ourschools.
Mental Health Schools Coalition
Community members, organizations,and individualswhoserve Rappahannockshare informationand preventionstrategies tohelpyouthand adultsinthe community.
ThecelebrationofMentalHealthMonthin Maywasinspiring.Wefloodedthetownwith bluebutterfliestospreadhopeandlet peopleknowtheyarenotalone.
Wecontinuetospreadthemessagethat havingconversations,outintheopen,will begintobreakdownthewallsandeliminate thestigmathatprohibitspeoplefromgetting thehelptheyneed.
Oneconsistentthemewehearagainandagainisthatfindingacounselorortherapist isn’teasy.Atthetopofournewwebsiteisalinklabeled“FindaProvider”-itdirectsusers toapagetoviewordownloadourResourceGuidesthatlistlocalproviders,including theinsurancestheyaccept,agesserved,andspecialties
Theguidesarealwaysreceivedwell,whetherthatbefromparentsandfamilieswemeet atback-to-schoolnightsorfamilypracticeproviderswepresentto.
Education Referral
WebelieveteachingMental HealthFirstAidequips individualswiththe confidencetohelpsomeone withmentalhealthor substanceuseconcerns. Newtoourportfolio,the secondcohortofSpiritualFirst AidkickedoffinAugustand willgraduateinNovember. Thisisacrucialcomponentto creatingacommunityof helpers.
250AutoSales,LLC
AlpineMooseCharitableFund
AppletonCampbell
BurroughsWellcomeFund
BWellTodayforTomorrow
ChrysalisCounselingCenter
CommercialRealEstateServices
CommonwealthClassics
CountryChevrolet
CountyofFauquier-WorkingTogether
Drs Woodside&Sentz
EdwardandKarenWachtmeisterFund
EncompassCommunitySupports
HottleandAssociates
JacqueminFamilyFoundation
Jay&AngelaKeyserCharitableFund
KatherineEllsworthCharitableGiftFund
MargaretSpilmanBowdenFoundation
MRCFullCircleFoundation
Morgan’sMessage
MoserFuneralHome
MSIWorldwide
Nicolaas&PatriciaKortlandtFund
NorthernPiedmontCommunityFoundation
PiedmontFamilyPractice
PiedmontPediatrics,P.L.C.
RobertFlikeid,DDS&Associates
Shannon&JohnChierichellaCharitableTrust
S.W.RodgersCompany,Inc.
Smith-Midland
SuperiorPavingCorp
TheWholeOx
WalkerJonesPC
WilliamA HazelFamilyFoundation
WiseFoundation
Mr andMrs KennethAlm
MrandMrs MikeAshby
Ms LaurenBacchus
Mr andMrs RalphBates
Ms ColleenBatsakis
Mr andMrs GregBengston
Ms MaryBenhard
Ms BarbaraK Black
Mrs JillBlocker
Ms.JacquelineBogle
Dr.EnriquetaBond
Ms.PattiBounds
Ms.BrendaBurleson
Ms.LucinaChalmeta
Mr.BillChipman
Mr.andMrs.JackConnolly
Mr.andMrs.JohnConnolly
Ms.FaithClark
Mr.andMrs.MichaelCrane
Ms.JosephineDeGive
Mr.andMrs.MarshallDoeller
Mr.andMrs.WilliamDoores
Ms WendyEdwards
Ms MaryFairbanks
Mr DylanFanico
Mr JohnFuller
Mr andMrs GaryGore
Mr andMrs RickGroux
Ms HeleneHall
Mr andMrs CraigE Hatfield
Mr andMrs DavidHazel
Ms.JeanHazel
Ms.VirginiaHuthoefer
Mr.MarkHyson
Ms MariaHyson
Mr andMrs RichardLaimbeer
Ms MaryFrancesLeMat
Ms JulieLerudis
Mr GarrettManahan
Mr JohnMcMahon
Mr andMrs DavidMeadows
Ms JulianaMiller
Mr andMrs RandolphT Minter
Mr.andMrs.PatrickMoore
Ms.KathyMorehouse
Ms.JeanneMorency
Mr.andMrs.ThomasMorgan
Mr.andMrs.DavidNorden
Mr.PeterOlle
Mr.andMrs.DennisPassmore
Ms.KatrinePendleton
Mr.andMrs.MichaelPost
Mr.andMrs.ChristopherRiley
Mr.andMrs.KurtRodgers
Ms.MarySchlegel
Mr.andMrs.KeithSelbo
Mr andMrs WilliamSemple
Dr andMrs DavidSnyder
Ms SusanStrittmatter
Mr andMrs MarkVandeWater
Ms JacquelineWallace
Mr GeneWard
Mr andMrs NelsonWarfield
Ms SusanWeber
Mr andMrs TomWhelan
Mr.andMrs.DaveWilley
Mrs.EileenA.Wilson
Ms.WandaG.Wiser
Alldonationsaregreatlyappreciated. Visitfauquier-mha.orgormailchecksto: P.O.Box3549
*Thelistabovereflectsgiftsof$150ormoreWehavetakengreatcaretoensuretheaccuracyofthislistanddeeplyregretanyerrorsoromissions