In an Elgin Courier-News column, parent leaders Liliana Olayo and Sendy Vazquez are recognized for their instrumental work on the “Shining a Light” mental health report and campaign. Liliana, Sendy, and POWER-PAC IL parents surveyed and interviewed over 1,000 Black and Hispanic families in Illinois. Many concerns were revealed, with mental health being at the top. “My daughter was struggling,” Sendy said. “I got a piece of paper with a number on it … there was a six-month wait … that wasn’t good enough.”
Parents analyzed the results and came up with solutions to tackle the problems in the state’s mental health system, leading to COFI and POWER-PAC IL launching a parent-led campaign and publication: “Shining a Light: How Parent Led Solutions can Heal our Communities and Address Trauma.”
“The survey was completed last year. Now action is needed,” Liliana told the Elgin Courier-News. “Parents have to be at the table when these issues are being discussed and decisions being made. Peer to peer, heart to heart … we are sharing the power, changing the culture and investing in parents.”
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