Noteworthy visits!
DI RESIDENTS GO TO CAPITOL HILL TO DISCUSS YOUTHS AND MENTAL ILLNESS
Daniel Island resident Karsen Blalock, her mother Kim Goides, and her brother Nicholas recently traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with the staff members of Sens. Lindsay Graham (SC) and Tim Scott (SC), as well as Rep. Mark Sanford (SC) as part of a 15-member delegation from the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP). NATSAP is the North American resource for programs and professionals assisting young people with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
In addition to meeting with staff members from Sens. Graham and Scott, and Rep. Sanford’s offices, the Daniel Island group joined six of their NATSAP colleagues to meet with Rep. John Faso (NY), and staff members from Sen. Charles Schumer (NY); and Reps. Mark Walter (NC) and Lee Zeldin’s (NY) offices.
“We discussed the role of therapeutic treatment programs in today’s society and how these programs benefit at-risk adolescents and young adults confronting serious and life-threatening mental health issues,” said Kim. “We emphasized the stringent credentials required of those facilities that are NATSAP-member programs.”
The eight-member NATSAP delegation discussed its desire to promote legislation that improves the credentialing process--not just for NATSAP-member programs--but also for all therapeutic schools and programs in North America.
“With mental health issues making headlines today, bringing a delegation to Capitol Hill provides us with an opportunity to share our personal stories and to express NATSAP’s desire to work with congressional leaders on improved, mutually-beneficial, effective legislation,” said Karsen.
NATSAP and its members work year-round on communicating with national and state legislators culminating in the annual NATSAP Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C.
“NATSAP members join together to have a voice in Washington, D.C. because we believe it’s imperative to educate legislators on the importance of tackling mental health issues,” said Megan Stokes, Executive Director of NATSAP. “We explain to those on the Hill how NATSAP programs help fill the gap of mental health programs for adolescents and young adults that are not being met by publicly-funded programs.”
All NATSAP member programs that treat children under 18 are overseen by state therapeutic licensure or accredited by major mental health bodies, and, in some cases, both.
For more information about NATSAP, visit www.natsap.org.
RARE BOOK GIFTED BY DI RESIDENT AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO CLEMSON COACH DABO SWINNEY
Col. Matt Chandler, US Army (Retired,) of Daniel Island; Matthew Strom Chandler, of Mount Pleasant; and Mark and Sandy Chandler of Columbia presented their Grandfather’s 1901 Clemsonian Yearbook to Coach Dabo Swinney in his office at Clemson University on June 11.
The significance of this particular rare book is that it was the first publication of the Clemsonian (the current yearbook is Taps). It was also Clemson’s first undefeated season under Coach J.W. Heisman (the Heisman Trophy is named after him) in which they also defeated Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. The family said they wanted Coach Swinney to have it “because of the success he has had in keeping with the finest traditions of Clemson Football established by Coach Heisman and because he is a good Christian.” Coach Swinney was eager to share the book with the team at pregame team meetings.