Overview of the LAC and SAA Process

WSAA Local Advisory Councils & Committees
Location (County)
Meeting Schedule
Contact Person(s)
Other Officers
Beaverhead Co.
Dillon
2nd Friday
of each month
@ Noon
in the Courthouse
Pam Mussard -- Chair
41 Barrett St
Dillion, MT   59725
Phone: 683-1119
pmussard@buttechc.com
Flathead Co.
Kalispell
2nd Wednesday
of each month
@ 12:30pm to 2:00pm
in The Summit
Tom Bartlett -- Chair
33 Hathaway Lane
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 885-3865
bartlett@montanasky.net

Lake Co.
Ronan & Polson



1st Wednesday of each month
@ 2:00 PM
at County Courthouse
in Polson

Royalee Bishop -- Secretary
1105 First Street East Polson, MT
883-3556
royaleebishop@yahoo.com
Tom Camel -- Chair

Paddy Trusler -- Treasurer
Lincoln Co.
Libby
2nd Tuesday of each month
@ 2:00PM
at Lighthouse Day Treatment Center, Basement of WMMHC
1469 S Hwy 2 in Libby
Alyce Anderson -- Chair
519 East 4th Street
Libby, MT 59923
Phone: 293-5370
A_alyce@hotmail.com
Sunny Terry -- Vice Chair
Christine Hartzmann -- Secretary
Breena Hanley -- Treasurer
Missoula Co.
Missoula
3rd Monday
of each month
@ 2:00 PM
At River House ADT
1315 Wyoming St. 
Brook Jaqueth -- Chair
1437 S 1st St W   Apt A
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: 728-8093
brookelovesred@bresnan.net
Patrick Wayne -- WSAA Rep.
Stacey Wheeler -- Secretary
Ravalli Co.
(Bitterroot Valley LAC)

Hamilton
2nd Monday of each month
from 12-2PM
At Conference Room
Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital
Charles Baker -- Chair / WSAA Rep.
PO Box 134
Hamilton, MT   59840
Phone: 381-0559
charles@bakertime.com
Denelle Pappier -- Secretary / WSAA At-large Board member
363-1311
dpappier@aol.com
Mavis Vaillancourt -- Vice Chair

Barb Lucas -- Treasurer
Silver Bow Co.
Butte
2nd Thursday of each
month
@ Noon
In the WMMHC
at 106 W. Broadway
Michelle Lewis -- Chair
106 W Broadway
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: 723-5489
jmartz@wmmhc.org

Counties in WSAA Area without LACs:
Mineral Co. -- Superior (in process of forming from March 2006)
Powell Co. -- Deer Lodge (inc. Montana State Prison)
Granite Co. -- Philipsburg
Deer Lodge Co. -- Anaconda (inc. Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs)
Madison Co. -- Virginia City
Saunders Co. -- Thompson Falls (was affiliated with Lake Co LAC)

Overview of the LAC and SAA Process
by Charles Baker
--adopted from New Beginnings Activities Center Jan. 2006 Newsletter


The Montana legislature has passed laws creating various boards that work with Addiction and Mental Disorders Division (AMDD). These boards are: Local Advisory Councils (or Committees) (LACs), regional Service Area Authorities (SAAs), and the Mental Health Oversight Advisory Council (MHOAC). The majority of the members of MHOAC and the majority of the board of directors of the SAAs must be consumers or family members. “The LACs must seek active participation of primary and secondary consumers, family members, and advocates and must include ‘significant representation’ of these groups.” (From MHOAC’s Policy on Local Advisory Councils.) 

People who are concerned about the mental health needs and services in each county are encouraged to participate in or to form LACs to determine needs and suggest solutions to their regional SAA, MHOAC and AMDD. “LACs primary focus will be to advise the (regional) SAA on program issues affecting the community.” (From MHOAC’s Policy on Local Advisory Councils.)