About the Florida Peer Network

Executive Director

Please welcome Ms. Rose Delaney as the Executive Director of the Florida Peer Network!

About Us

We are a community of persons who know firsthand what does and does not work for recovery. As such, the Florida Peer Network, Inc. serves as the voice of individuals that are directly affected by the policy decisions of the public/private mental health system. We believe this system has much to gain from listening to our combined wisdom and experience, which we offer in good faith. Assisting each other in seeking recovery and maximum quality of life is our central goal.

Our mission is to promote recovery, quality of life, advocacy, education, mutual support, peer-directed services, and participation in mental health policy design for consumer/survivors throughout the state of Florida.

A group of 20 consumers who have distinguished themselves as local and national leaders and advocates met in Oviedo, Florida, July 29 and 30, 2005 and decided to establish this organization. Out of this meeting an interim board was selected and charged with setting the groundwork for this statewide network. Action priorities were outlined at this meeting as follows:

• Participate in the transformation of the mental health service system towards recovery orientation, consumer direction, holistic and evidence based practices.
• Assist DCF in the development of a statewide Office of Consumer Affairs.
• Implement peer specialist training and certification on a statewide basis.
• Educate consumers on their legal and civil rights.
• Grassroots political advocacy on behalf of persons with psychiatric challenges.

It was decided that the Network would immediately reach out to consumers throughout the state to inform them of this opportunity to become a unified voice for the entire state.

This letter is a way of informing you about what has been done so far, and inviting you to become a part of this exciting endeavor. We believe this is a crucial moment in the history of our state, and we must unite for action, now. Please join us by completing the attached membership form. Membership is free at this time, and open to anyone in the state who identifies as a consumer of mental health services.

Thank you, on behalf of all mental health consumers in the state of Florida.

Board of Directors

Cindy Johnston President	Jim Winarski Vice President
Amy Peloquin Treasurer	Linda Rayner Secretary
Al Merren	Michael Demers
Diann Mayo	Ellen Peppler
Adam O'Connor	Carolyn Wilson
Clint Rayner Ex-Officio	Rachael Todd Ex-Officio

Rose Delaney
Executive Director

Board of Directors Bios

Adam R. O’Connor

My name is Adam R. O’Connor. I am 35 years old and live in Lakeland, which is in Polk County and part of Circuit 10, and have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder since 1999. Prior to 1999, I worked in the restaurant management industry. Currently, I am employed by Tri-County Human Services as an Adult Transformation Specialist and Transitional Youth Specialist for Circuit 10 for over 3 years in a full-time capacity.

I don’t consider my diagnosis as a curse, but as a blessing because it has brought me in touch with a side of humanity I would have never known before. I have been active with NAMI, DBSA and Partners in Crisis over the years and am a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist for Adults, of which I am very proud of.

I want to work to bring people together to address the needs of those who live with mental illness and substance abuse issues and serve as a voice for those whose voice has been silenced and ignored for so long.

Al Merren

Al Merren became very active in the mental health community as a result of his own search to find services for himself. This search would begin his path towards recovery.

In 2006 a visit to the State Mental Health Planning Council leaded to his appointment as the District 2 Consumer Representative. This appointment speared headed his work into consumer advocacy, provided him with opportunities to train in recovery and resilience and final lead to his current employment as Peer Specialist Coordinator with Apalachee Center in Tallahassee.

Al is also the Chair of the Big Bend Mental Health Coalition, Trainer for the Florida’s Certified Peer Specialists program, Founder and leader of Tallahassee’s Recovery International support group, Facilitator and past board member for Tallahassee’s Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Facilitator for NAMI’s Peer to Peer training and a member of the Leadership Council for Florida Peer Network.

His work in the mental health community has leaded him to many opportunities to speak and act on the behalf of consumers in efforts to transform the state mental health system and improve local services. He has not only affected the lives of persons with mental illness from a systems level but also on a personal level. He often volunteers his time to assist his peers in many ways which often goes unrecognized.

Amy Peloquin

Amy Peloquin is the Director of the Florida Certification Board (FCB). Since 20006, when she joined the FCB, she has been responsible for the development and administration of all facets of FCB’s certification programs, Ms. Peloquin became actively involved in the mental health recovery and resiliency movement when she worked with Clint Rayner from the Department of Children and families and many consumers and other stakeholders to develop the nation’s most inclusive Peer Specialist program. Through this work she learned firsthand how critical it is to face the stigma associated with mental health diagnosis head on and now serves on both the Florida Peer Network and The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council.

Amy holds a masters degree in Instructional Systems Design from Florida State University and bring over 215 years of statewide and national experience developing and administering professional adult education, training and certification programs to the FPN.

Clint Rayner

Clint Rayner is one of approximately 44.3 million adult Americans diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. He was diagnosed in 1990 at the age of forty after a very adventurous career in the frantic world of corporate business. He found an untapped inner strength that pushed him to feel strong enough to tread down the path of Discovery, which propelled him to the road to Recovery. He decided to become active in the field of mental health and has successfully served in many supportive and directly involved roles with his newfound family of mental health consumers. His story of survival and recovery has been published in several magazines, newspapers and other forms of media. He has been referred to by the state of Florida as a “pioneer” in the area of mental health advocacy and has accumulated many awards and certifications. He is a much sought after speaker and motivational leader both statewide and nationally. He made history in April of 2006 when he was chosen as the first leader of the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs, a new department dedicated to bringing the consumer’s voice and issues in a policy making position within Florida Department of Children and Families.

Diann Mayo

Diann Mayo is the supervisor of the Springfield drop in center in Jacksonville. She has been working in the field of mental health for 5 years and is a very active advocate for persons with a mental health diagnosis. She is the Chair of the Florida Self Directed Care program, Chair of the Recovery & Resiliency Task Force in Jacksonville. She is also a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist trainer and a WRAP trainer. Ms. Mayo is a member of the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council for the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities. She also works with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Ellen Peppler

Ellen Peppler has been with Lakeview Center in Pensacola, Florida, for 13 years, 10 in marketing and public relations and three as the advocacy coordinator for Access Behavioral Health. While this may seem like an unusual career transition, Ellen says it came naturally. "I started out in the mental health field promoting the service providers; now I promote the people who choose these providers as a means to their recovery." Ellen, who is a consumer herself, firmly believes that transformation of the system and victory over stigma can be achieved if empowered, educated and hope-filled consumers lead the way.

James Winarski

James T. Winarski, M.S.W., is Faculty/Associate in Technical Assistance at the Dept. of Law and Policy, Louis De La Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida, where he provides technical assistance and training in the areas of assessment, development, and implementation of behavioral health programs. He has worked in areas of mental health/substance abuse policy and program development at federal and state levels, with a special focus on recovery/rehabilitation programming and issues related to homelessness. He is currently principal investigator for a study of the implementation of recovery-oriented services in the state of Florida and developed an assessment and planning tool to support the delivery of recovery-oriented services for Florida’s Medicaid authority.

Mr. Winarski co-authored the Report to Congress on the Prevention and Treatment of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse Disorders and Mental Disorders for the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). He also completed a training package entitled "Implementing Interventions for Homeless Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders" that was published by SAMHSA. He led training/technical assistance site visits across the country for SAMHSA’s Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Program, and is currently providing consultation to PATH programs throughout the state of Florida.

Mr. Winarski has specialized knowledge and skills in the areas of program coordination/systems integration, recovery/rehabilitation technologies, outreach, case management, homelessness, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and in developing intervention strategies for difficult to reach populations. He is a skilled presenter and trainer, and has conducted workshops throughout the country.

Linda Rayner

Linda Rayner has been a mental health advocate for 20 years since she began her career at a community mental health center in NW Florida. She is a family member of a person with bi-polar disorder and due to his influence has become even more involved in the world of mental health. She is the current Chair of the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council for the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities and a member of the Board of Directors for the Advocacy Center. Linda Serves as Secretary on the Florida Peer Network Board of Directors.

Rachael Todd

Rachael Todd is a 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando with a Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communication. Her future educational goal is to obtain a Masters of Business Administration specializing in organizational leadership. While a student at UCF Rachael was on the Dean’s List; member of Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society; member of Rho Lambda Academic Honor Society; Silver Pegasus Scholar and a Florida Bright Futures Scholar.

Rachael has always been a leader and was Vice President of Kappa Delta Sorority at UCF and representative to the Kappa Delta National Leadership Conference; member of the UCF Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Committee; Volunteer coordinator for Christmas in the City; Team Captain for the UCF CMN Dance Marathon; Mentor for Greek Student Success.

Several years ago Rachael’s mother founded the HOPE Foundation, an agency that provides Housing, Outreach, Prevention and Education for the Homeless. Rachael found her passion through working with the HOPE Foundation and is committed to changing the way Americans view and deal with the issue of Homelessness. In August 2009, she served as a delegate to the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Washington D.C. She has associated with the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Alliance to End Homelessness and is committed to increasing awareness about their missions and solutions in this challenging, yet possible, endeavor.

Rachael’s love for her Irish heritage is evident when she performs an Irish Step Dance for her talent. She was in the Top 10 at the Irish Dancing National Competition in Dallas, Texas. She is committed to a daily fitness regime and a healthy lifestyle which helped as she completed her first 13 mile marathon in December 2008. Rachael was a Preliminary Swimsuit Winner during the 2009 Miss Florida Pageant. She represented the Sunshine State of Florida at the 2010 Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This website is funded in part by the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.,
through the PAIMI grant from SAMHSA.

Florida Peer Network, Inc. Office: 850-922-0090 Cell: 850-274-1288 Email: info@floridapeernetwork.org

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