Press Release – Floyd Nease New Executive Director of the Vermont Association for Mental Health

Monday, November 8, 2010       On behalf of the Vermont Association for Mental Health, the Board of Directors announced today that they have hired Floyd Nease, of Johnson, as their new Executive Director.  Nease will follow Ken Libertoff, who served in that role for 30 years. Peter Albert, President of the Board said this of Nease’s hiring:  “The Board and members of VAMH are extremely excited by Floyd’s willingness to serve in this capacity.  His combination of experience as a clinician, administrator and legislative leader are ideally suited to lead this organization to a bright future.”  Nease recently won re-election to his seat in the Legislature, where he has served for eight years, six of which were in leadership roles.  He is currently Majority Leader in the Vermont House, and works as a senior manager at Washington County Mental Health Services.  Nease served as Executive Director of Laraway Youth and Family Services in Johnson for ten years.  Prior to that, he served as Director of Child, Youth and Family Services at Lamoille County Mental Health. “I am humbled and honored even to be asked,” Nease said.  “The Vermont Association for Mental Health’s advocacy has made historic gains for the parity of mental health with physical health.  On that issue alone, VAMH’s leadership has been recognized nationally.  VAMH’s programs like Friends of Recovery Vermont and Camp Daybreak, which was the first camp in Vermont for children with special needs, are serving Vermonters in ways that change lives.”   “There has not been a time in Vermont’s history when the issues facing the mental health and substance abuse systems have been more critical to the future of Vermont’s citizens.  The need for VAMH’s voice to be heard loud and clear has never been greater.” Nease continued.  “The future of Vermont State Hospital is still way up in the air. Designated Agencies have been cut more than ten percent over the past three years.  They are being asked to do much more with much less.  People who need addictions and mental health services are being sent to jail, where effective treatment is unavailable.  Homelessness among people and families with addictions and mental illness is way up in Vermont.  Public policy issues like forced medication, shackling practices, Vermont’s abandonment of transition aged youth, remain unresolved.  There is the ongoing struggle to achieve real parity.  A parallel challenge is the importance of integrating substance abuse services into every facet of our health care system.  Finally, and perhaps most important, there is real work to be done about the stigma that mental illness and addiction disorders still carry.  I look forward to working on all of these things and more.” Nease’s first appearance in this role will be at Washington County Mental Health’s annual meeting this (Monday) afternoon. 

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