PAIMI Advisory Council

What Is the PAIMI Advisory Council (PAC)?

The PAIMI Advisory Council is a group that helps guide our work on behalf of people with mental health diagnoses.

“PAIMI” stands for the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness program. This federal program ensures that people with mental health conditions have their rights protected and are treated fairly.

How the PAC Supports Our Work

The PAC acts as a bridge between the community and our agency.

Their guidance helps us:

  • Better understand the challenges people face
  • Focus on the most urgent and meaningful issues
  • Strengthen our advocacy and impact

What the PAC Does

The PAIMI Advisory Council plays an important role by:

  • Sharing lived experience and community insight
    Members provide real-world perspectives on mental health services and systems.
  • Identifying gaps and concerns
    The PAC helps highlight problems or unmet needs in the mental health system.
  • Advising on priorities
    They recommend areas where our advocacy and legal work should focus.
  • Providing feedback on our work
    The PAC reviews our efforts and helps ensure we are meeting our goals.

Why the PAC Matters

  • The PAC helps make sure our work reflects the real experiences and needs of the people we serve.
  • Many members bring lived experience, family perspectives, or advocacy expertise. Their input helps us stay focused on what matters most.

PAIMI Advisory Council Members

  • Lindsey Betterman

    PAIMI Advisory Council Chair
    Key Largo

  • Enrique Escallon

    PAIMI Advisory Council Vice-Chair
    Miami

  • Alejandro Faria

    Gainesville

  • Ronnie Graham

    Jacksonville

  • Robyn Halisey

    Brandon

  • Jericka Knox

    St. Petersburg

  • Patricia Noe

    Fort Myers

  • Caroline Pittman

    Orlando

  • Emily Rey

    Clearwater

  • Danielle Tate

    St. Petersburg

  • Takita Williams

    Jacksonville

Who Can Join the PAC?

The PAIMI Advisory Council members are volunteers and made up mostly of people who have lived experience with mental health conditions, as well as family members, advocates, and professionals who support the mental health community.

Federal guidelines require at least 60% of PAC members are individuals or family members of those who have received or are receiving mental health services.

PAC members are:

  • People who have received or are receiving mental health services
  • Family members of people who have received or are receiving mental health services
  • Attorneys or mental health professionals
  • People who are knowledgeable about mental health diagnoses/the mental health community and have demonstrated a commitment to improving mental health services

We welcome people who are passionate about improving the mental health system and want to help shape our advocacy work.

If you are interested in applying for membership to the PAIMI Advisory Council, you can complete an online application. Or you can download the application as a Word document and mail it to:

PAC Application
Disability Rights Florida
2473 Care Drive, Suite 200
Tallahassee, Florida 32308