Meet Our Team

Dottie Bailey

Founder and CEO

Dottie Bailey was born in Savannah, Ga. After high school, she joined the United States Air Force, where she served for eight years active duty and two years in the Reserves. After serving in the military, she was able to complete her Associates's degree in addition to a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She was working on her master's degree in Evangelism when her illness became so severe; she had to quit.

She became a Certified Peer Specialist in 2011 and used her skills as a volunteer for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). She is a Connections Support Group Facilitator, and an In Our Own Voice Facilitator.  She has served as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children in the Foster Care system. Dottie has many years of volunteer service in the Church. In 2011 she became a presenter for CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) on what it is like to live with a mental illness. In 2012 she won the NAMI/CIT Consumer Advocate of the year award for the State of Georgia. She has worked for Gateway Behavioral Health Services and is currently working as a Peer Mentor for Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network (GMHCN)contracted to Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah by DBHDD (Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities).

She was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 and Delayed Onset PTSD in 1989. She started the Mental Health Alert Wristbands with the hope that it would save lives and keep her peers out of jail. She has two grown sons and two grandchildren. She devotes her time to her family and the wristbands.

Chief Shannon Brock

Board Member

The United States Marine Corps Veteran, Served in many law enforcement capacities for 19 years with St. Marys Police Department St. Marys, Georgia, Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certified Peace Officer, Managerial Certificate thru POST and Carl Vinson Institute, POST Certified General Instructor, POST Certified Firearms Instructor, POST Certified Emergency Vehicle Driving Instructor, POST Certified Field Training Officer, Adjunct Instructor with Georgia Public Safety Training Academy, Police Academy Advisory Board Member, Crisis Intervention Team Instructor, Standardized Field Sobriety Instructor, International Chiefs of Police Drug Recognition Expert, Taser Instructor, RADAR, and Lidar Certified.

Chief Hiram Rivera Jr.

Board Member

Lieutenant Hiram Rivera Jr. is an 18 year veteran of the Savannah Police Department. Lt. Rivera earned his BA in Criminal Justice in 2008 from St. Leo University. He is a GA POST-certified Instructor and currently serves as the Director of Training for the SPD. Lt. Rivera has extensive investigative experience in Homicide Investigations and teaches Interviews and Interrogations for GPSTC. For the past several years, He has served as one of the Crisis Intervention Team Training Coordinators for the Savannah Police Department and the Coastal Region. Lt. Rivera was recognized in 2014 as the CIT training coordinator of the year. He has lead de-escalation training for the CIT program as well as instructs blocks on Suicide Prevention and Officer Self Care and Peer support.

In addition to teaching and training Law Enforcement, Lieutenant Rivera currently serves as the Assistant Commander of the Hostage Negotiation Team. In 2014, Lt. Rivera attended the CIT International Conference in Chicago and has been an advocate for the development of Peer Support program for our Law enforcement officers as well as the development of a full-time Behavioral Health Unit partnering CIT officers with clinicians to address mental health crisis incidents and connect people to services.

Angela Michele Patterson

Angela Michele Patterson is a person living in long-term recovery from SUD (Substance Use Disorder) and Mental Health Concerns. She works for the GMHCN (Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network) as a CPS-MH (Certified Peer Specialist-Mental Health) and WHWC (Whole Health Wellness Coach), State Coordinator and Facilitator for DTR (Double Trouble in Recovery), Peer Mentor and Advocacy Captain for GMHCN DBHDD Region 4. 

As a member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) her roles include serving on the leadership committee for the Albany Affiliate, Connection Support Group Facilitator/Trainer and Peer to Peer trainer. She is a public speaker with NAMI’s “In Your Own Voice”, the GMHCN Respect Institute and mental health community presenter Consumer Advocate at the CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) training for Georgia Law Enforcement Officers.

Angela attended Columbia National University in South Carolina where she studied early childhood education.  

Chiara Blair

Chiara has lived in long-term recovery with mental illness and substance addiction since 2007. After her diagnosis, she acquired her Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Human Services. She has also acquired her certifications in CCAR (Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery), SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training), and CPS (Certified Peer Specialist). She worked in Peer Support with Gateway Behavioral Health Systems for three years before leaving to follow her passion of assisting in strengthening relationships between first responders, law enforcement and individuals living with a dual diagnosis. She  is a CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) presenter, teaching first responders, and law enforcement about what is it like living with a dual diagnosis. She is also a mother of three girls and a grandmother of one.

Lynn Wilson

Lynn Wilson is a retired School Improvement Specialist. Educated in Colquitt County Schools, she received her undergraduate degree from Emory University and graduated degrees from Valdosta State University. She volunteers her time as President of NAMI Moultrie. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the largest grassroots organization providing education, support , and advocacy for mental illness. She and her husband's blended family includes 6 adult children and 11 grandchildren. Other than advocating for mental health, she enjoys reading, traveling, working in the yard, and scalloping in St. Joe Bay Florida.

Jean Bailey Griffin

Jean maintains all of the supplies, fills and ships orders and keeps records of all orders. She has worked in customer service for over fifty years. You are truly making a difference in the world. Thank you for your time and dedication to helping others.
We couldn't do it without you Jean!!