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Remarks to the Stepping in Mental
Health Conference
Good morning. It is always a terrific honor for me to be here. I
have attended every year since beginning and I am proud to be with
you today as we celebrate our 10th annual conference.
Over the years, we have championed services for people with mental
illness. Increasingly seen how work of law enforcement and mental
health personnel is intertwined. Recently we had the example of the
Jet Blue aircraft emergency at LAX. We saw emergency vehicles,
disaster crews and law enforcement rushing to the airport – but we
also had mental health crisis teams responded to comfort and assist
the psychological needs of the passengers involved. It was a perfect
example of agencies coming together to assist those in need.
Stepping In Conference
has played important role in establishing working relationships
among law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, clients
and families. Out of this annual conference, have seen increased
understanding of issues facing mental illness. Relationships built
here are positively affecting our everyday working relationships and
understanding of the work everyone does for the common good.
In addition, Stepping In has been model for additional conferences
for law enforcement and mental health professionals throughout
County. Tremendous gains have been made.
We must continue to
create real partnership between law enforcement and mental health
professionals.
Thanks again for having me here. Thank you for taking time from your
busy schedules to attend conference.
I congratulate you for recognizing that by forming a cohesive team,
law enforcement and mental health personnel can make a tremendous
difference to the lives of children who look up to you, trust you,
and reach out to you.
At this time, I would like to publicly thank and acknowledge College
Hospital. They have been a tremendous resource for all of us and an
outstanding corporate citizen.
Before I call them up, I want to start the slide show of some
memorable moments over the past 10 years!
Every year, we acknowledge someone who has made a difference and who
promotes issues facing people with mental illness. Today, I am very
proud to announce Barbara Cienfuegos (Sin-Fuegos) as the recipient
of the 2006 Stepping In Conference Award. Barbara serves the
Department of Mental Health as both their Disaster Emergency
Coordinator and Health and Safety Officer. Within these duties she
is responsible for the operation of two countywide programs, the
Disaster Preparedness Response Program and the Health and Safety
Program.
Barbara is also a vital resource that provides ongoing disaster
preparedness presentations and trainings to a variety of groups
including: schools, hospitals, disaster stricken areas, and both
mental health and governmental agencies
So on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, it is my honor to present
this well-deserved scroll to Barbara Cienfuegos (Sin-Fuegos) as the
2006 recipient of the Stepping Conference Award.
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