Press Releases

          International Mental Health Leaders Discuss Single-Payer Health Care System at         
    Presentation Hosted by Aurora Mental Health Center on Monday, August 27 at 1:30 PM

Aurora, CO, August 23, 2007—The International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL), a group of mental health leaders around the world intended to share best practices and services, will be meeting with Aurora Mental Health Center on August 27 and 28, 2007 to exchange ideas and best practices on single-payer health care systems and what they have experienced as public policy challenges.  Legislators and media are invited to attend a presentation on this topic held at the Aurora Mental Health Center, 11059 E. Bethany Dr., Aurora, CO 80014, Viewpoint Board Room (upstairs), on Monday, August 27, 2007, from 1:30-3:00 PM.  This timely and informative discussion will offer valuable insight to policy makers in Colorado.

Mental health representatives presenting on the health care system will include Shaun Clee, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom, Lynne Edmonds, Service Manager for Community Mental Health Centers and Pacific Mental Health from Greenlane, Auckland, New Zealand, and Randy Stith, Ph.D., Executive Director for Aurora Mental Health Center, Aurora, Colorado.

“With heightened awareness of mental health needs here in Colorado,” said Randy Stith, Ph.D., “it’s an honor to have such distinguished guests join us from around the world to better exchange operational ideas and philosophies.”

The field of mental health has been focusing on identifying evidence of best practices and services that will enable and support single-payer health care systems.   By supporting innovative leadership processes, IIMHL has worked together to improve mental health systems and services around the world.  Such leadership includes the ability to locate, understand, and adapt benchmarked excellent organizational practices and develop robust organizational and managerial skills.

Following the meetings in Aurora, the group will then attend the 2007 International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership Conference beginning Thursday, August 30 in Ottawa, Canada.  The working conference is centered on a broader view of leadership exchanges, transfer of service improvements and designs, and the intent to launch joint ventures and research.

About the IIMHL Representatives

Shaun Clee, with nearly 30 years experience in Mental Health services, joined Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust (NHS) in January 2007 as Chief Executive leading them to Foundation Trust status by July 2007.  NHS is now one of only 10 Mental Health Trusts in the UK to achieve Foundation Trust status.  With his strategic and operational management experience and clinical background, he is able to lead a large-scale organizational change while delivering challenging objectives within interagency settings.  Previously, Clee led his last organization to ranked top 3 in the UK for mental health minimal data set implementation, piloted the Health Care Commissions community mental health team evaluation, and ranked for introduction on partial booking targets – being awarded “Excellent” in September 2006.  Clee has presented at numerous national and international conferences, is an active member of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership, an alumni of the Leadership Trust and places a great deal of emphasis on leadership skills development.

Lynne Edmonds has been the Service Manager for Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) Community Mental Health Service for adults for the past five years.  This service provides a broad range of recovery focused clinical and support services, including the community acute service.  Most of the support services are provided in partnership with community NGO’s.  Initially trained as a registered nurse, Edmonds has many years experience in clinical pediatrics, public health and community child health services.  Prior to this role in mental health, she was the manager of a Community Child and Youth Health service for the ADHB in Auckland.

Randy Stith, Ph.D. has been the Executive Director of Aurora Mental Health Center (AuMHC) for 29 years.  Under his leadership, AuMHC has been an integral part of the Aurora community by providing mental health services to more than 8,500 people annually through 16 specialty clinics.  Stith is a graduate of St. Louis University with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and philosophy, a Master’s degree in research, and a Doctorate degree in clinical psychology.  Along with his leadership skills, his specialty is in child and family counseling.  Over the years, Stith, a nationally known speaker, has received numerous achievement awards for his high ideals, accomplishments, and commitment to community mental health.