“[I love] seeing the transformation that our community can have, the person when they are whole, and a family whole. It's incredible to see that change, whether it's from addiction or people getting mental health help. And having those barriers removed, that family as a whole becomes whole. It's an incredible full circle to watch when we see people become whole.”
Ginny Bouchard is the executive director of Carroll County Mental Health Advocates, a nonprofit that’s literally close to home for The Zachos Team. We sat down with her to find out more about the organization and its impact on mental health in the community.
“On the mental health side of the house we run a court ordered diversion program that's community based. We help individuals get connected to mental health therapy and help them reduce barriers, whether that's employment, whether that's housing, and help reduce the recidivism with the revolving door going in and out of jail.”
Not only informed by hypotheticals, Bouchard has seen the effects of mental health struggles up close.
“I started my career as a deputy sheriff in Florida, and seeing firsthand the impacts of addiction and untreated mental illness on my community in North Florida was very eye opening as a young 20 year old. So I have progressed into a community based organization and also been involved in the policy realm and the Georgia legislature. So I've naturally progressed through my career to community based organization.”
As she mentioned, many mental health struggles arise from drug use and addiction. With close ties to both of these issues, the organization uses its funds to try and prevent these situations in the first place as well as remedy them when they appear.
“We save taxpayer dollars in our diversion program. We try to keep people out of jail. And unfortunately, as our society, we've kind of made incarceration the answer to some of our societal problems, but we help people get connected to resources. And whether it's on the recovery side or whether it's mental health, that first step getting into rehab or the first doctor's appointment, whether it's been insurance barriers or employment barriers, whatever that is, when we reduce those barriers, we help people become whole.”
Much of these funds come through fundraising and volunteer support. Bouchard highlights the organization’s annual fall fundraiser as a big piece of the puzzle.
“[We have] our largest fundraiser in October, and that is very impactful because the fundraising that we do there directly goes back into our programs to support our individuals that are in recovery and on the diversion program side to reduce those barriers that I was talking about. So we definitely appreciate your support this year.”
If you’re interested in supporting this cause and all they do, click here to donate. At the end of the day, Bouchard credits much of their motivation to building up community.
“Community is a big thing, and that's what we're doing. We're trying to help make our community a better place to live and work, and our mission supports that.”
Written by Paul Zachos III