How Your Voice Can Change the System: Regional Family, Youth, & System Partner Round Tables (FYSPRTs)
A Conversation with Raymond Gregson
Raymond Gregson is a model for making the change he wants to see in the world. As a person with firsthand experience interacting with Washington’s public behavioral health system, he has spent much of his time, effort, skills, and wisdom over the past several years working to improve the system for youth and families. One of the many ways he does this is by serving as the Convener/Coordinator for the Great Rivers Regional Family, Youth, & System Partner Round Table (FYSPRT).
Washington State Family Youth System Partner Round Tables (FYSPRTs) provide a forum for families, youth, systems, and communities to directly impact regional and statewide behavioral health policy by providing community-based approaches to address the individual behavioral health needs of children, youth, and families. There are ten regional FYSPRTs and one Statewide FYSPRT. As Ray explains, anyone in our state is welcome to attend a FYSPRT meeting and get involved, whether or not you have direct experience with our state’s systems.
“This is for anyone in your community. If you want a healthier, safer community, for your families, and your youth, this is a space to start from.”
Ray’s passion for advocacy has been inspired by his own lived experience dealing with dependency, despair, trauma, and the many supportive people who have played important roles in his journey. While his advocacy journey started with the Great Rivers FYSPRT, it certainly didn’t end there. Ray is now a certified peer counselor, serves on the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Certification Advisory Committee for the Department of Health and the Washington Fatherhood Council, and has opened a business called Growing Your Mindset. Ray’s daughter has followed in his advocacy footsteps, becoming a champion for youth voice as the youngest FYSPRT tri-lead in the state of Washington when she was just twelve years old.
CoLab’s Community Outreach Specialist, Dominique Smith, recently spoke with Ray. He generously shared his personal story with us and explained how anyone can get involved with mental and behavioral health advocacy in Washington state and create change, starting at the regional level. Check out their conversation, below.
“Stepping into that river of change is really frightening. But once you get there, and you get comfortable in the unknown, that’s when the magic happens. That’s when you get to create something instead of always reacting to what happens to you in your life.”
CoLab and the CARE for Kids & Families team are honored to partner with community advocates like Ray who are using their knowledge and experience to improve our state’s behavioral health systems. We extend our gratitude to Ray and the Great Rivers FYSPRT for working with us on this piece.
To learn more about the Great Rivers FYSPRT, visit grbhaso.org/fysprt.
To learn more about the statewide FYSPRT program, visit hca.gov.
To learn more about Ray’s business, visit growingyourmidset.com.
To join the Growing Your Mindset Facebook group, visit facebook.com.
Visit the Growing Your Mindset Youtube channel to learn about the Unlocking Your Potential course.