December 18, 2025
The Ally: Joy Hogge Announces Retirement, Families as Allies Invites Executive Director Applicants
On Joy’s Retirement, From the President of The Board of Directors
In July 2025, Joy Hogge, executive director of Families as Allies, told me that she wanted to work with the board of directors to develop a plan to transition out of her position over the next six to twelve months. She said she wanted to work on this transition in the same way we do everything else at Families as Allies: working in unity and in a family-driven way. And that is what we did.
When I first darkened the doors of Families As Allies, I was all ego and very little self-esteem. As our good friend and colleague Henry Moore likes to say, I was a lion cub learning how to roar.
I had significant experience in the realm of activism for issues that involved me, but I had never needed to be an advocate for my child to such an extent that I needed outside intervention, and my fear had me on the attack. Perspective is hard to come by in matters involving my own child.
Along came Joy Hogge. As I learned and used the tools Families As Allies provides, I developed a friendship with Joy and began to absorb her traits of diplomacy and encouragement. She’s helped me to see every person as a potential member of my team, even when I greatly disagree with them. With every softly spoken “you’re doing a great job,” Joy has been an integral part of my advocacy maturation, even after my son has graduated.
I know I’m not alone.
To Joy,
In your 15 years of dedicated service to Mississippi Families As Allies, you’ve helped to turn so many scared family members into rock-solid, confident decision makers on a team.
You’ve helped guide countless peer supporters to fulfilling their dreams of helping others.
You’ve helped lawmakers understand the fears that families like ours feel and,in doing so, helped transform the future for all Mississippians.
You’ve meant so much to so many people, and now it’s time for you to mean the most to you. I wish you a purposeful and peaceful retirement, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of the entire board.
Our next Community Partnership will celebrate Joy’s years of service. We will share those plans shortly and hope all of you will join us. In the meantime, won’t you all join me in donating $15 in honor of Joy’s 15 years of service to Families As Allies?
The executive director position announcement is posted. We anticipate hiring a new executive director within the next three months, with Joy remaining on to support that person for the first few weeks of their tenure.
-Stacey J. Spiehler
To Joy,
In your 15 years of dedicated service to Mississippi Families As Allies, you’ve helped to turn so many scared family members into rock-solid, confident decision makers on a team.
You’ve helped guide countless peer supporters to fulfilling their dreams of helping others.
You’ve helped lawmakers understand the fears that families like ours feel and,in doing so, helped transform the future for all Mississippians.
You’ve meant so much to so many people, and now it’s time for you to mean the most to you. I wish you a purposeful and peaceful retirement, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of the entire board.
Our next Community Partnership will celebrate Joy’s years of service. We will share those plans shortly and hope all of you will join us. In the meantime, won’t you all join me in donating $15 in honor of Joy’s 15 years of service to Families As Allies?
The executive director position announcement is posted. We anticipate hiring a new executive director within the next three months, with Joy remaining on to support that person for the first few weeks of their tenure.
-Stacey J. Spiehler
NEWS
The Board of Directors of Families as Allies announces an opening for the position of executive director of the organization.
We thank Shayla Knighten for her intern work and congratulate her on her graduation from Jackson State and plans to pursue a Master's degree.
Families as Allies invites you to consider joining our board of directors to help us reach our true potential and succeed as an organization.
EVENTS
The Department of Mental Health Regular Board meeting will be held virtually on December 18, 2024, at 9:00 am.
Parent peer support is a parent/caregiver or using their lived experience to support others going through similar experiences.
Join other parents for a monthly meeting and online gathering to coach and support other parents in any system.
The Families as Allies quarterly board meeting will be held in ZOOM and is open to anyone who wants to attend.
Please join us in congratulating our newest class of parent peer support graduates. In addition to celebrating their accomplishments.
The Special Education Advisory Panel will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. either online or by phone.
RESOURCES
Each year, during the first full week of May, the National Federation of Families takes the lead in celebrating the mental health of children and youth. Mark your calendars for Children's Mental Health Action Week (CMHAW)!
With the country’s mental health system reaching a breaking point, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released a new poll today highlighting Americans’ concerns about the nation’s mental health system and showing their strong support for Congress to address the mental health needs of Americans. As recent federal actions cut funding from important services and support, including supportive housing, early intervention, and Medicaid coverage, the new poll finds Americans overwhelmingly oppose federal cuts for mental health-related programs and are concerned about their negative impacts.
