Wyoming Department of Health

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division

MHSA Current Initiatives

Starfish Awards

2011 Starfish Award Winners

The “Starfish Thrower Award” gets its name from the story of the boy throwing starfish from the beach into the ocean. When a stranger asks, “Why bother? There are too many for you to make a difference,” the boy responds as he throws another back into the water, “I made a difference for that one!”

The 2011 Starfish Thrower Awards were presented during a recent luncheon in Cheyenne. The awards are given annually by the Wyoming Department of Health to celebrate excellence in changing the way Wyoming approaches mental health, substance abuse and related issues. The department’s Behavioral Health Division includes the former Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division.

Jamie Dakis of Jackson

Jamie Dakis was nominated by a friend to receive the "mental health advocate award." According to the nomination materials, "Jamie brought stories of mental health recovery alive with her poetry, paintings, plays….Jamie?s commitment to Wyoming advocacy includes work with the Wyoming Survivor?s Association for Greater Empowerment (WYSAGE); working tirelessly to get the annual consumer conference to the Jackson area; submitting and winning a national award for her art; being a founding and driving force in developing a consumer newsletter …. and most of all for just being that one person always ready, willing and able."

BJ Ayers of Cheyenne

Selected to receive the "parent advocate" award, BJ Ayers is the executive director and founder of Grace For 2 Brothers (GF2B) Foundation. Ayers founded GF2B, an outreach center for suicide prevention and survivors of suicide, after her sons, Brett and Beau Wagner, completed suicide at the ages of 19 (Brett) and 26 (Beau).

GF2B held its first memorial Walk of Grace in Cheyenne last summer. Many survivors—including those who have lost a loved one to suicide—joined more than 350 participants. According to the nomination materials, "BJ Ayers is a tireless advocate for suicide prevention and survivors of suicide."

Renee Corsi of Jackson

Renee Corsi was nominated by the Teton County Court Supervised Treatment Program, from which she is an August 2009 graduate. According to nomination materials, Renee is "an all around phenomenal advocate for sobriety and the benefits of treatment. She has taken advantage of substance abuse and mental health services to the greatest benefit possible …Her success in staying sober, given the depths to which she had fallen, can be an inspiration to any and all struggling with this deadly disease."

Lois "Lou" Dowell of Cheyenne

Selected as an "advocate for public change," Lois "Lou" Dowell serves as chairman for the Wyoming Survivors Association for Greater Empowerment (WYSAGE), the statewide consumer advocacy group; chairman of the Governor?s Mental Health Planning Council; a Wellness

Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) facilitator; an In Our Own Voice (IOOV) facilitator and presenter; sits on the Peak Wellness Center Program Advisory Committee; is part of the Laramie County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) team; is on a sub-committee to revise mental health standards in Wyoming and has developed and facilitates groups at Peak Wellness Center as well as individual peer mentoring.

According to nomination materials, "With a consumer voice, Lou has been a shining example of what it is and can be to live in full recovery from the symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse….Lou has the respect of the people with whom she works, as well as staff and administration. Lou is a role model for voice, choice, and advocacy."

Laura Griffith of Cheyenne

Laura Griffith was selected to receive the "follow your star" award. According to the nomination materials, Griffith "demonstrates a high level of commitment and integrity in her personal recovery efforts, in sponsoring other women, and by being a model of recovery in action…Laura?s leadership in state government raised public and political awareness on issues regarding addiction and recovery.

"Laura?s dedication to the recovery of others and the positive impact they have for Wyoming has challenged her to „Follow Her Star? in creating and becoming the executive director of Recover Wyoming. This new non-profit organization will impact individuals and Wyoming communities through education, information and recovery support."

Evanston Youth Group

With 433 members, Evanston High School?s Aspiring Attitudes: Mission Possible (AAMP) has successfully reached more than 50 percent of the student body. Members of this organization commit to a drug- and alcohol-free life including submitting a waiver to be placed in the random drug testing pool. A peer leadership program involves visits to elementary and middle schools to teach a clear message of prevention. Beyond the peer leadership program, they are instrumental in the planning of several community events that are free of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. AAMP is also working with business owners, council members, local government and law enforcement, and more to promote healthy communities.

According to the nomination materials, "This group of young adults is on their way to changing the world."

Johnson County Wellness Group

According to the nomination materials, the Johnson County Wellness Group (JCWG) has "contributed significantly to positive change in our community. The group has brought together community organizations, agencies, and leaders in one open forum with a singular goal of making Johnson County a healthier community: physically and mentally.… The JCWG has been and continues to be a tremendous asset to the community. Communication between organizations, agencies, the school district, hospital, and community members has never been better…."

Jerry Osborn of Buffalo

Jerry Osborn was selected to receive the "prevention advocate" award.

According to the nomination materials, Osborn "is on fire to prevent substance abuse and its consequences in Johnson County. He is the shining example of the volunteer every organization wants …. He is the first to offer to collect signatures for a petition, write a letter to the editor, or talk to the owner of a restaurant or bar to urge them to be smoke-free. He is passionate about the welfare and safety of the youth in Johnson County. Jerry has been known to sit with depressed and possibly suicidal youth at the Crisis Center until they are stabilized. He has gone on domestic violence calls with Crisis Center staff in the early morning hours. He has assisted families to move out of abusive situations to a safe shelter. Using his own money, he has attended trainings to improve his knowledge of what will best improve the community."

Leona McGraw of Gillette

Chosen for the "provider" award, Leona McGraw has worked with children in treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues at the Y.E.S. House for 20 years.

According to the nomination materials, "If you meet Leona in person, you will know that this lovely lady has deep compassion and caring for every human being. She believes in you regardless of your history. Leona will call you „honey? because she thinks you are a sweet person; she gives you a hug because she believes a person needs a hug every day; and she gives unconditional support and inspiration always. The children at the Y.E.S. House are her family: she loves them like her own children. Leona expects the same respect that she gives—and she gives from her heart. Clients come back to visit Leona years after they leave Y.E.S. House cottage to tell her how they are doing."

Andi Nokes of Laramie

Andi Noakes was selected to receive the Rodger McDaniel Award, which is intended for a person demonstrating exceptional courage to address a human needs issue.

Over Christmas vacation, Nokes and her yellow lab Harmony walked more than 200 miles to raise about $6,000 for the Laramie Soup Kitchen and Interfaith Good Samaritan. Despite freezing weather, blizzards, grueling conditions, pained feet, and the many miles, Andi completed the walk from Laramie to Cheyenne to Greeley then back to Laramie. With the support of her church, family, friends and people who were previously strangers, she coordinated media and other communication avenues—such as Facebook—for the charity walk.

Dan Cantine is 2011 Starfish Award Winner for Casper Effort

A Glendo resident has been selected for a 2011 Starfish Thrower Award by the Wyoming Department of Health?s Behavioral Health Division for work involving a Casper recovery

According to nomination materials, "Through Dan Cantine?s leadership, Casper has embraced recovery as the expected outcome of addiction. Dan tirelessly worked in the community with business, faith, political, nonprofit and other leaders to assure effective community-based support for people in recovery….

"Through Dan?s efforts, the 12-24 Club has transformed into the center of recovery in Casper. He persuaded state and community leaders to provide the necessary resources to remodel an existing building into a welcoming recovery center….On a day-to-day basis, the 12-24 Club?s purpose is to keep our doors open so the suffering addict or alcoholic (or suffering loved one) has a safe haven of support every day of the year..."