Vincent House Welcomes our New CEO

What a remarkable woman of empathy and experience! Our newest addition here at Van Gogh's Palette -Raine Johns hired and our CEO- is indeed inspirational and carries herself well. I believe she will represent us with great expertise. First and foremost she brings fortitude to the table. She has, “been there and done that” one might say, in the mental illness field. Not only does she have a personal side to her journey, in that her daughter has been with PTSD from the mere age of 6. She currently holding down a job and attending college in San Diego. Raine learned throughout the experience how to be a friend to her daughter and to the people living with mental illness.

Ms. Johns comes to us from the Pinellas/Pasco Public Defender’s office with a 13 year career in an advocacy role for people living with mental illness.  Additionally, she has witnessed countless Baker Acts implemented, many unjustly. She worked diligently to see the release of such individuals without a voice, or means of defense in an, often times, debilitating system of unfairness. She knows the ropes, she is well connected, and is extremely committed to maintaining the fidelity of Vincent House and the foundation laid by Dianne and Elliott Steele. I, for one, say a great big thank you not only to her, but to the Board of Directors for their selection.   

I know Ms. Johns has her work cut out for her with our three current locations. However, being from Pasco County I stand very excited that she also has a vision for a Vincent House model in Pasco County, as well. We know she is the perfect woman to help us transform more lives of those who have mental illness.

Celebrating New Employments

Congratulations to our members whom are starting their new employment opportunities. Ben Darnell is working on a temporary employment opportunity as a mail clerk at the Public Defender’s Office and Chris Valenoté has a custodial position at Digigone. Also, congratulations to Genesis Gardner and James Matacchiero for starting their permanent jobs after successfully finishing their temporary assignments at Sirata Beach Resort as a Pool Hut Attendant and Busser at Rum Runners. These outstanding accomplishments that we celebrate at Vincent House help to show everyone in the community that just because you have a mental illness does not mean that you can’t be just as successful in this world! The temporary employment opportunities sometimes help lead to permanent employment and is something Vincent House prides itself in. We thank all of our employment partnerships for allowing us to not only transform individual’s lives, but to curb the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

Thomas Schenk starts his Transitional Employment job at the Public Defender's Office.

          Congratulations to Thomas Schenck for getting a Transitional Employment position at the Public Defender’s Office. Thomas is the new Mail Clerk at the Public Defender’s Office.

  You may be wondering what a Transitional Employment job is. A Transitional Employment job is a part-term position at a local business where a member works alongside Vincent House staff to slowly reintegrate him or her into the work force. This work opportunity lasts about 6-9 months. It helps members gain employment skills to prepare them for a permanent employment position. Many people might not know this, but 85% - 90% of adults with severe and persistent mental illness are unemployed – some for several years and some for a life time. Transitional Employment allows members to get something recent on their resume and continue to build confidence while having a lot of support from Vincent House staff.  A few of the businesses we partner with are Sirata Beach Resort and Conference Center, Digigone, Northside Hospital, Suncoast Centers and the Public Defender’s Office for Pinellas and Pasco counties. We are thankful to our employment partnerships for showing that Recovery through Work is possible for those with mental illness.