EFTA01221831.pdf

A Passionate Advocate First lady launches inaugural CHADD support groups in the Virgin Islands by Karen Sampson, MA wo of the newest CHADD support groups have an unusual, but passionate, founder. Cecile deJongh, first lady of the U.S. Virgin Islands, decided with her husband's election as governor that she would help improve the lives of Virgin Islanders affected by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. "When I was first interviewed after my husband's inauguration I said this was my goal:' deJongh said,"to raise awareness through a CHADD support group:' Nine months later, she accom- plished that goal. CHADD Presi- dent Anne Teeter Ellison. EdD, joined deJongh, Governor John deJongh Ir., and the territory's commissioners of health, educa- tion and human services on Sep- tember 26 and 27, 2007, for the first meetings of CHADD support groups on the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas, Prominent at the first CHADD support group meetings in the Virgin Islands were, from left to right Vivian Fludd, Commissioner of Health; Chris Finch, "It was such a powerful meeting because you have the Commissioner of Human Services; Lynn Spampinato, Acting Commissioner governor and first lady making a commitment to their of Education; Anne Teeter Ellison, President of CHADD: Governor John citizens that they were going to address the problem of deJongh, Jr.: and Cecile deJongh, First Lady. AD/HD and do it in a coordinated fashion;' Ellison said. Karen Sampson, MA the communications manager of CHADD, "I kept telling the audience and the first lady that this is is ciss,sr.oit eo;Wr c.; Attention mogo7ine. remarkable" 30 Attention EFTA01221831