SMPA Honors THRIVE Mover and Shaker

Lisa Preney Honored for Behind the Scenes Work for Family Organizations

SANFORD – Southern Maine Parent Awareness (SMPA) honored Lisa Preney, Social Marketing Coordinator, THRIVE System of Care, Lewiston, with its Behind the Scenes Mover and Shaker of the Year Award. Preney, who lives in Falmouth, received the award at SMPA’s Annual Awards Luncheon October 4.

“Lisa hung in there with seven sometimes cantankerous family organizations to help us define the public face of the Maine Alliance of Family Organizations (MAFO),” says Sue Henri-MacKenzie, SMPA Executive Director. “She kept us focused on creating an identity statement and image, which sustained our forward momentum.”

Over a year ago, SMPA, Learning Disabilities Association of Maine, Maine Parent Federation, G.E.A.R. Parent Network, Autism Society of Maine, Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine and the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Maine began forming an alliance to help families of children with disabilities and special health care needs and to strengthen family voice.

“This year, it was about choosing words and an image to define them collectively,” Preney said. “They are such distinct entities, yet share common vital goals for families. The photo they developed to brand themselves depicts seven authentic family members hands joined high looking out across a Maine lake. The camera is behind them, so the focus is on the future, which the alliance has chosen to face together.”

MAFO promotes the family role in influencing policies and procedures governing care for all children.

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Southern Maine Parent Awareness (www.somepa.org) is dedicated to providing information and referral, support, and education to families who have children with special needs throughout Maine.

Thrive System of Care (www.thriveinitiative.org) helps providers and community organizations in Maine transform the way services are delivered to children, families of children, and to youth who are affected by serious emotional and behavioral challenges. Thrive trauma-informed trainings and technical assistance are family-driven, youth-guided and culturally and linguistically competent. Thrive is a partnership of Maine’s Children’s Behavioral Health Services, Tri-County Mental Health Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in collaboration with local provider agencies.