ADVOCATES & ADVOCACY 

District 4 Core Advocates
 Jean
Pope		 Jo
Heller		 Angela
Vickers		 Nancy
Fudge		 Helen
Walter

District 4 Advocates are dedicated:

bulletTo advocate for a greater number and better quality of available housing
bulletTo advocate for new treatment facilities and improvements of existing facilities, both state and local
bulletTo advocate for vocational training and placement for individuals capable of employment
bulletTo educate our Legislators through current information on mental health issues and the expected outcomes
bulletTo promote research on mental illnesses
bulletTo advocate for the general welfare and better treatment of all persons with mental illnesses

District 4 Core Advocates, and the help of many more, spearheaded, structured and pushed beyond endurance by Jo Heller, and a l-o-n-g year's work, succeeded in getting a Bill passed in Florida for District 4 to begin a Pilot Program, Self Directed Care (SDC) for the Mentally Ill. It took form after  Jo Heller invited the Governor's Commission to Jacksonville for a luncheon, so faces could be added to the names we were to work with.  We went to many cities where the Commission was meeting, speaking and asking them not to forget our Mentally Ill in the new budget. Then we started camping in Tallahassee, walking the halls of the House and Senate, talking with any politician who would listen. We were pleased to see how graciously they accepted us, We have met some very conscientious men and women, pleased to hear what  their constitutes had to say.  They make one feel proud to live in this country! 

Only one of us, Angela Vickers, Esq., has a list of degrees behind her name, and she, has been well for 13 years after a single episode of mania   She may be found on her own website, The Vickers Connection. The rest of us are intelligent, self learned advocates, fighting anything or anyone, to help our loved ones struggling to conquer the misconceptions of Mental Illness.

 

Our first visit was with Judge Kathleen Kearney. We were told we'll never make it, others were trying to get an appointment with her for years. That was all it took for our Jo to pull out all the stops. Within two weeks we were in her Conference Room gathered around her large, highly polished mahogany table for a 15 minute appointment, which lasted 1 1/2 hours, and were asked for a report in two weeks. From there to Mike Hansen and eventually, one at a time, to the top of the State, our  Governor Jeb Bush. They all found more time for us then they indicated they had available. None of this could have been accomplished without the help of Jo's special contacts; former Representative, George Crady, Representative Aaron Bean,  Senator Richard Mitchell, and our Advisory Team, Gene Costlow, Mike Ranne, Mark Urlie, and a special liaison from Judge Kearney's Office, Gail Spruill, appointed by Celeste Putnam to work with the Core Advocates. 

TV 12's First Cost News Anchor,  Charlene Shirk, has been very instrumental  in presenting "Mental Illness" as an informative news item, educating the general public of the widespread stigma against and under-funding of mental illness health care systems by the government. Florida ranks 47th - 49th in caring for their ill.  Charlene is also a very effective speaker, sharing her own personal story in a warm, loving way. She gives respect and honor, not guilt and shame, to those loved ones who endure and survive the tragedy of these no-fault illnesses.

George 
Crady

Aaron
Bean

Richard
Mitchell

Charlene
Shirk

District 4 Mental Health Advocates:

Jo Heller (904) 321-2113   joby1934@aol.com
Angela Vickers (904) 737-6788 angvickers@aol.com
Nancy Fudge (904) 284-7376 nfudge1@juno.com
Helen Walter (904) 277-5688 hithebch@bellsouth.net

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