“The Hope Award recognizes a NAMI Virginia family member or caregiver of someone with mental illness who displays exemplary leadership within NAMI’s education and support programs, advocacy, and other venues. I am pleased to present William “Corey” Trench with this year’s Hope Award.
Corey is president of NAMI Williamsburg, and like many NAMI advocates, started his journey down the advocacy path when his youngest son experienced mental health challenges while in college. As with so many of our NAMI families, the progression of his son’s mental health condition left his family with a struggle between hope for recovery and tacit acceptance of chronic mental illness. From his experience with his son, Corey developed a passionate advocacy for mental health education and reform, providing support not only for his son but to many others in the NAMI community. In addition to his leadership in NAMI Williamsburg, he has co-facilitated a weekly Family Support Group and co-instructed the Family-to-Family course for several years. Corey also presents to police officers during crisis intervention training along with many other community groups and raises funds through NAMI Walks.
As a NAMI Virginia board member and affiliate leader, I believe one of Corey’s most important, and I hope enduring, efforts has been his work on Hope Family Village. HFV describes itself as “a community-centric collaborative, offering acceptance, housing, and sustainable support for people with mental health conditions and their families.” As HFV co-founder, Corey recruited a group of other co-founding families from the NAMI Williamsburg and NAMI Mid-Tidewater affiliates to begin this pioneering pilot enterprise. The process began with seven families meeting monthly to get to know each other and brainstorm support initiatives. The collaboration evolved into the current HFV vision to provide a caring neighborhood support system for 25 families affected by mental illness. Through Corey’s support and advocacy, HFV has been named in a Virginia budget amendment along with Colonial Behavioral Health and Old Town Medical Center to secure state-owned property in Williamsburg adjacent to Eastern State Hospital. Details are still evolving but this is no small feat.
The Hope Family Village project represents the spirit of the Hope Award – concerned caregivers collaborating in unique ways to reform mental health. Congratulations, Corey, and thank you again for all you do for NAMI and the mental health community.
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