THE ASPIRE BLOG

Manager of Crisis Services LouAnn Lemaire-Pyle was recently honored with a nomination for the Outstanding Professional Award from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Indiana. She has been with Aspire for 41 years and the organization is so proud of the work that LouAnn has done for individuals in our community!

Here are some testimonials about her lifetime of impact from colleagues both within and outside Aspire:

Jim Skeel, Information Officer

“LouAnn has been a tireless advocate and ambassador for suicide intervention and prevention for quite some time. She has been a key figure in our Zero Suicide initiative, 0 after 5 BHAG and ongoing process improvements for suicide care. She has been instrumental in shaping the care we provide, our community outreach, our crisis responding, and external training and education we provide in this area. It's an honor to work with such a passionate and dedicated colleague!”

Kaitlyn Ervin, Director of Service Entry

“There are many things LouAnn does that go above and beyond. One of the top things I have been able to learn from her is that she takes her time to make sure each individual is getting their needs met. LouAnn is able to do this because she has built relationships which allow her to understand Indiana’s crisis continuum and connect individuals to whatever support fits best with their current situation.”

Paul Braeger, Social Worker and Hospital Liaison

“I think LouAnn is admired and respected by many of our stakeholders and casts Aspire in a very positive light. These include but are not limited to the courts, probation, NAMI, the domestic violence network, Prevail and all the CIT training groups. She meticulously reviews crisis notes to make sure the best services are being provided for the clients who are in the most need.” 

Vanessa Pataky, Senior Director of Service Access

“I don’t think I have been in a community meeting about crisis where I haven’t been asked ‘do you know LouAnn?’ She is a staple in this community, and to be able to work alongside her and listen to her knowledge and wisdom about crisis is an honor. She has embraced the changing landscape of crisis services and is supporting the charge to evolve this crisis movement. We all already know about the invisible wins she has made in this field over the past 40 years.”

Ryan Turner, Program Manager of Deaf Services

“The Deaf Services team have always appreciated LouAnn's work with the deaf clients because she always makes efforts to fully understand a deaf client's situation, as well as the circumstances around the client. With LouAnn's approach, it is easy to coordinate with the Crisis team and client and/or parents to support the client in crisis. We cannot imagine what it would be like without LouAnn!” 

Sarah Dross-Gonzalez, Senior Director of Clinical Training

“LouAnn is very well deserving of this acknowledgement. She is a relentless client advocate and has formulated such strong ties with community partners throughout her many years of service. LouAnn has dedicated her life to helping those in the most vulnerable positions and possesses a contagious passion for the work. It has been a joy to work alongside her at Aspire!” 

Alyssa Yano Wier, Director of Assessment Services

“LouAnn is always focused on providing the best care for the client. She collaborates with staff and external partners to ensure clients who are at their most vulnerable are kept safe and feel supported. She has such a presence at Aspire and in the community and works tirelessly to keep everyone on the same page and focused on the client experience.” 

Heidi Schaefer, Direct Admissions Coordinator, Community Health

“Whenever I see LouAnn’s name pop up on my phone, I know she has a needy patient in mind for our Crisis/IP services. I admire her persistence in getting the type of help a person truly needs and have enjoyed working with her to achieve this over the years.”

Duncan Brown, Operations Director, Access, Consult, and Crisis Services, Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health/Recovery Center

“LouAnn has been a tireless and dedicated advocate for those experiencing and fighting mental illness and substance use disorders for decades at Aspire and in the communities we serve. LouAnn leads and provides compassionate crisis care and goes out of her way to ensure that client’s needs are being met, especially safety needs. She has spent her career building bridges between Aspire, local healthcare systems, law enforcement agencies and consumer advocacy groups such as NAMI to develop and sustain care systems that work for the individuals we collectively serve. I am better off from knowing LouAnn and am proud to have worked with her for many years at Aspire.”

Rita Langlois, Vice President, Behavioral Health Service Line, Stress Center

“I am so pleased to recognize LouAnn Lemaire-Pyle -- for more years than I'd care to mention for both of us -- LouAnn has been a ‘go to’ for assistance with assuring we make connections to serve persons in need. She is so responsive, efficient, skilled clinically and in a systems manner too. On top of all that -- just a lovely person. LouAnn, congratulations on this recognition -- well-earned and so deserved!”