The Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County is a leading advocacy voice for children and adults with mental illness and their families. I have volunteered my time to the organization for three years because, as a parent to a young man with serious mental illness, I understand how important organizations like MHAPBC are. Its promotion of health and mental health care integration, its prevention work with young children, and its peer services are all exactly the kinds of programs that are needed to prevent and mitigate the effects of serious, chronic conditions like PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Sadly, mental health budgets have been cut by state and local governments throughout the country in recent years, leaving many people with serious mental illness homeless or worse. Now, more than ever, MHAPBC needs the support of citizens who care.