Committee interviews two candidates for Barry County Community Mental Health Authority board

The committee interviewed two applicants for seats on the Barry County Community Mental Health Authority during the April 1 meeting.

Jeff (last name not provided), who said he recently retired after 30 years teaching special education and had served two terms on the Hastings Public Library Board, told commissioners he has worked extensively with students with emotional impairments and wants to bring that experience to county mental-health oversight. "Mental health is typically like, there's never enough resources and making sure that we're reaching the largest number of people, and the most people who have the greatest needs," he said. Commissioners asked about his goals and experience; he said he has not previously served on the Barry County Community Mental Health Authority but has worked with services through Allegan County while teaching in Wayland.

Courtney Zinni, a Hastings resident, described professional experience at United Way and the Commission on Aging and personal experience navigating services through Barry County Community Mental Health for a son adopted from foster care and for a family member in recovery. Zinni said she has used multiple services, including wraparound services, in-home therapy, medication management and crisis intervention teams, and said those experiences inform her perspective. "There's a difference between trauma-informed and trauma-educated," Zinni said, adding she would maintain trauma-awareness in board discussions.

Commissioners thanked both applicants and told them the board would discuss appointments later in the day; no appointment votes were recorded in the committee discussion.