Paula joined the FIC Board as a parent representative in February 2021. The parent of two adult children, one of whom received a diagnosis of a serious mental illness at age 11, Paula first encountered FIC after she invited FIC to speak about children’s behavioral health services at a NAMI course. As she and her husband had mostly navigated the behavioral health system alone for five years, she was thrilled to discover FIC’s mission and immediately submitted her application to work as a Parent Peer Support Partner. A long-time resident of Flagstaff, Paula served many years as a National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) Family Group Facilitator, a State Trainer for Family Group Facilitators, and instructor for NAMI Basics.