BY KAREN BOSSICK

Christina Cernansky is leaving her post as director of NAMI-WRV to take her dream job working with the military on suicide prevention training in Boise.

Cernansky has been with NAMI-WRV for nearly five years—three of those years as executive director. During her tenure, NAMI-WRV created three education events: Journey to Wellness art show/fundraiser, the Biking for Mental Wellness stigmafree ride for Mental Health Awareness Month and the Swing Fore Recovery 5B Open golf tournament for National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

She also introduced the NAMI National stigmafree campaign to Wood River Valley, providing presentations to employers about mental health and wellness in the workplace.

She just wrapped up her tenure as the Wood River Valley Chamber board president.

Cernansky and Amber Leyba-Castle, then a Wood River high School sophomore, founded the Bluebirds adolescent mental health support group in 2017. The program, which started at Wood River high School, has since expanded to Wood River Middle, Silvercreek and Carey High School.

And the idea is being considered across the country.

NAMI also has expanded from five monthly support groups to 60 opportunities a month for support groups for adolescents, adults and family members faced with mental health challenges.

Brittany Shipley, the head facilitator of the Bluebirds teen support group, has been appointed program director. The position of executive director has been posted on www.namiwrv.org/job.

“This is an inspiring time at NAMI-WRV,” said Page Klune, board president. “We have been blessed that Christina has helped us get to this point. We have an exciting new board that is committed to the mental wellness of our community, and fortunately, we have our systems in place to ensure stable support during these unstable times. We have put together a search committee and hope to hire a new executive director by January 2021. Next year is our 20th anniversary, and we are looking forward to the next chapter in our affiliate’s history.”

In addition, NAMI-WRV has appointed a few new board members. Board members for 2020-2021 (with newly appointed members indicated with an asterisk) include:

• Mr. Jason Barbee - Mental Health Therapist*
• Ms. Melanie Collins - Accounting Professional
• Ms. Trinita Annys Dye - WRMS Special Education Teacher*
• Ms. Kerri Everett - Speech-Language Therapist
• Ms. Page Klune - Realtor & Small Business Owner
• Mr. Chris Koch - Teacher at Silvercreek High School
• Ms. Bailee Rider -  Administrative Assistant at BCSD*
• Ms. Alyson Witmer- Family Therapist

The board reappointed Page Klune to serve as Board President and Chris Koch as Vice-President.