It’s no surprise that Duane L. Tarnacki, one of the top nonprofit lawyers in Michigan, serves on the Flinn Foundation’s Board. He has a heart for service, something he cultivated in the 12 years he spent as a student at Dearborn Divine Child, and something he and his wife, Sheila, have instilled in their children. His son, Alec, works at Bethany Christian Services in Grand Rapids as housing director in their refugee family resettlement program, and his daughter, Alanna, is an ICU nurse in Marquette.
We asked him what specifically drew him to Flinn’s mission and some other questions to “get to know” our board chairman a bit better.
I have always been interested in mental health: I was a psychology major at the University of Michigan; my mother was a psychiatric nurse and my older sister is a social worker. I guess it runs in the family!
It is so often overlooked and carries way too much stigma. Positive mental health makes people’s lives better!
“If not us, who? If not now, when?” – John F. Kennedy
Playing golf (poorly) and bike riding around Kensington Metropark. I also do amateur yoga.
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
Neither. I prefer a “loosey” i.e., a loose hamburger on a hot dog bun with chili and mustard and onions
I like data.
The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation is pleased to announce that we are accepting proposals from non-profit organizations that deliver mental health care and services in southeast Michigan (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw).
All applications must be submitted through our Online Grant Application Process which is accessible directly from our website
A tutorial is available to help familiarize you with the process
The deadline for all applications was Thursday, June 29, 2023 – before 4:00PM
Please click on the following Request for Proposals (RFPs) links for details:
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES – ADULTS
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES – CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
CAPACITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM
Since the Flinn Foundation’s founding in 1976, the goal has been the same — improve the lives of children, adolescents and adults with mental illness. But we all know that a goal is only as good as the strategy behind it.
That’s why we created a Strategic Plan. Here are some highlights of how we are putting our mission into action and how you can help.
To improve the quality, scope and delivery of mental health services in Michigan.
To advance effective, well-researched mental health treatment, services and programs that meet the needs of people in Michigan.
As you can see, we have some lofty goals for the Flinn Foundation over the next few years. And it can seem like an uphill battle. But every effort — big and small — can add up to make a big difference in achieving that simple, founding goal: improve the lives of children, adolescents and adults with mental illness.
You can contribute to this cause in the following ways:
1. Care for your own mental health: One of the first things we can all do to help destigmatize mental health is taking ownership of our own mental health needs and advocating for what we need — whether it’s therapy and programs or mental health days and stress-relieving activities and habits. Start thinking about your mental health; take steps to care for it like you would your physical health. And, if you have children, model that mental health awareness and care are important.
2. Encourage others to change how they think of mental health. We all have friends or relatives who are afraid to get mental health care. Perhaps they feel a stigma around mental health care needs, or maybe they aren’t sure they can afford care. Whatever the reason, encourage them to ask for help and seek out support.
3. Consider the words you use — and how they impact mental health perceptions. We’ve all called someone “crazy” at some point in our lives. Or, perhaps you’ve even trivially said you “felt bipolar” or made that casual reference about someone else. These words and expressions aren’t as harmless as they may seem in the moment. These casual references to mental health can contribute to the stigma those with mental health challenges feel. It can also make people — including your kids — feel less inclined to ask for help if they need it.
4. Let policymakers and stakeholders know that mental health matters to you. Michigan needs more resources to help those with mental health care needs. And it needs more equitable access among racial and income groups. Make sure your representatives know this is an important issue to you. Make sure they see that the mental health of our community is an integral part of our overall health. Vote for representatives who value mental health advocacy and resources like you do.
5. Follow Flinn on social. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to for notable updates, mental health tips and other information. If you’re part of the local mental health community, you’ll want to know when our annual grant application period begins. That will be announced first on our social channels. Be sure to “like” and share our posts to help us spread the word about our mental health mission.
By Andrea Cole
My husband, Kelvin, and I starting riding our bikes during the pandemic. It was a safe way for us to get out of the house, get some fresh air and exercise. Kelvin is more disciplined than me and sometimes I would want to talk my way out of going.
But as time passed, I found myself looking forward to our daily trips.
I created a playlist of my favorite songs and it was so relaxing. Kelvin created different paths for us and we rode through subdivisions near us. Seeing people out and about gave us a sense of normalcy. We also met families we never saw before the pandemic.
It’s funny how you can live on the same street for years and not know your own neighbors.
Those simple bike rides do so much for my mental health. I feel better and it gives me a break from the computer during the day. This winter was pretty cold, so we are starting to get out again now that it’s warming up.
I didn’t realize how much better it makes me feel until weather stopped us for a couple of months.
Even if bike riding isn’t for you, you can still find a simple thing to do that makes you feel good. Once you get a routine, it becomes easier and you have something to look forward to.
These two years have not been easy for any of us, and it’s important that we stay connected to some sense of normalcy. Tapping into something we enjoy doing that’s easy to commit to is key.
Whether it’s listening to music, taking a walk or riding a bike, just DO it! It can make a huge positive impact on your mind, body and soul.
The Flinn Foundation’s new CFO, Julie Ermler, brings more than 25 years of accounting and finance experience from positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Skillman Foundation and, most recently, the Hudson Webber Foundation.
So, what brought her to Flinn in 2022? We asked her that — and a few other questions — to “get to know” this new addition to the Flinn team.
I worked with Andrea (Cole, executive director and CEO) and Arnita (Thorpe, operations manager) before at another private foundation. They are great people and I enjoy being around them. What also drew me to Flinn is their mission of advancing mental health programs in Michigan, which really resonates with me.
I have family members with mental health issues. They suffer from depression and anxiety at different level of degrees and I am saddened by it. Learning more in the area can only help strengthen my support for them in seeing a healthy path forward.
The first thing that came to mind is the saying “no pain, no gain.” In order to get to where I wanted to go in life, I had to work hard and had to sacrifice doing easier things. I look back now and realize how much work I put in to get to this good place in my life.
To cope with stress, I work out and I like to go on fairly long hikes. Even taking a short walk during the day helps minimize my stress. Being outside is a big stress reliever for me.
My happy place in Detroit is on the east side by the city airport. I remember warm days being outside and listening to the airplanes taking off and landing. Being there brings me back to my childhood.
Well that is a hard choice — I like both Coney dogs and shawarmas. I also like paczkis and all the different styles of pizza. This area has a lot to offer in regard to all the wonderful varieties of food choices.
I like to travel. I lived in Europe for three years and I was able to travel to different historical sites as well as see the countryside and experience the diverse cultures.
The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation partnered with Metro Parent to create a year-long series of articles promoting mental health awareness and understanding. We invite you to read the current article, Raising a Mentally Healthy Child in a Fearful World.
To follow the series, go to www.metroparent.com. We encourage you to contact us with questions or comments.
The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation is excited to announce that Julie Ermler, former Vice President of Finance and Administration of the Hudson-Webber Foundation, joined the Foundation as Chief Financial Officer on January 1, 2022 to succeed retired Chief Investment Officer, Leonard Smith.
Julie Ermler brings more than 25 years of finance, accounting, investment, tax, human resources, and administrative experience. After obtaining her MBA from Wayne State University, Ermler started her financial professional career as an auditor at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She worked at The Skillman Foundation as Accounting Manager. She joined the Hudson-Webber Foundation in 2008 as Director of Finance and became Vice President of Finance and Administration in 2015, where she participated in the day-to-day leadership of the organization to help achieve its mission.
Ermler has served as a member of the Foundation Financial Officers Group, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, and served two terms as an audit committee member of the Council of Michigan Foundations. She is a member of Leadership Detroit Class XXXII.
“The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation plays an invaluable role in the mental health community especially during these past two years, which has been difficult for so many individuals, communities, and mental health service organizations in Michigan,” Ermler said. “I look forward to contributing to the success of the Flinn Foundation’s mission to improve mental health services and supports in our community.”
“We are so thrilled to have Julie on board as CFO. I worked with her at Skillman and know that we are in good hands. Julie brings exceptional financial and investment expertise, integrity and dedication to the Flinn Foundation,” said CEO Andrea Cole.
Leonard W. Smith provided 44 years of dedicated service to the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation. Mr. Smith initially served as the Foundation’s legal counsel. In 1977, he was elected as Trustee Secretary and Foundation Manager. Upon Ethel W. Flinn’s death on March 6, 1994, Leonard became the Foundation’s President and Board Chair. He was elected Chief Investment Officer in 2007 and provided diligent stewardship of the Foundation’s endowment until his retirement on December 31, 2021. “We are thankful to benefit from Leonard’s continued knowledge and wisdom as he has agreed to serve as a valuable member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees”, said Cole.
The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation partnered with Metro Parent to create a year-long series of articles promoting mental health awareness and understanding. We invite you to read the current article, Is Your Family Addicted to Social Media?
To follow the series, go to www.metroparent.com. We encourage you to contact us with questions or comments.