With matching planning grants from the Schmidt Family Foundation and the Boca Raton Community Hospital members of the new Mental Health Alliance have put their plan into operation. The plan calls for hiring consultants to coordinate efforts to develop a recommendations for consideration by Alliance members before August, 2006.

The plan provides for continuation of youth forums. Partnering with the Community Service Council to address fourteen (14) issues which include academic stress, eating disorders,depression, sex education, victimization, and youthful caregiving.

Alliance members met with new coordinators, Andrea Schuver and Larry Siegel, to hear about “Breaking The Silence – Teaching the Next Generation About Mental Illness”. Lorraine Kaplan, NAMI (Queens/Nassau, NY), co-author, introduced the program and teaching packets were provided to the participants.

In addition to researching and identifying promising practices, the Alliance will assess the needs of youth
and assist Boca Raton’s Promise in organizing forums to engage youth and others in discussion of importance to the health and welfare of youth.

For information contact the office, 561-395-3063.