Meet the Team
The Mental Health Association of Fauquier County has a small but mighty team that works together to promote and facilitate mental wellness in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties. The outstanding efforts of the staff members are wide-ranging and all geared towards helping everyone in the community. Here’s a look at who works behind-the-scenes to help this organization fulfill its mission and vision.
Renee Snyder Norden, Executive Director
Tell us about your role at the Mental Health Association:
I work with my Board of Directors and staff to address mental wellness concerns in our Fauquier and Rappahannock community through convening stakeholder groups, advocating for services, giving referrals, and providing education.
What do you like best about your position?
I love collaborating with individuals and organizations in our community to better our community’s mental wellness. I am excited to provide educational opportunities so that mental health challenges are better understood, recognized, and discussed. And hopefully this information will de-stigmatize mental health. I cannot wait for a time when we consider mental health exactly the same as we consider physical health.
What do you like to do for fun outside of work?
Hiking, walking with my dog around town, hanging out with my family and friends.
College/University you graduated from, and degrees you hold:
I graduated from the College of William and Mary with a B.A. Psychology, and then went on to graduate from the University of Virginia with a M.Ed. in Counseling.
Bridget Downey, Programs and Events Manager
Tell us about your role at the Mental Health Association:
In this role, I am responsible for planning, research, design and coordinating a variety of community events and presentations. With our emphasis on community mental wellness, this often involves collaborating with community partners to infuse a mental health component to their own programs. A few ongoing projects I oversee are our monthly Lunch & Learns, outreach and resource development for the faith community, events and activities for Mental Health Month and Let’s Volunteer days, and requests from other groups for programs or training on specific topics. I also manage logistics for our major fundraising events, and coordinate meetings for our Board and stakeholder groups.
What do you like best about your position?
Beyond the basics of educating and bringing awareness to mental health concerns, I enjoy normalizing the conversation about mental wellness. I enjoy the working relationships I’ve established with our community partners, and how we work together to address issues of those who are struggling in our region. In most cases, mental health is tied in with a variety of other social issues, and I enjoy identifying the obstacles and risk factors that lead to mental health challenges and developing preventative efforts. I have met so many wonderful, dedicated, and caring professionals through this work and I have also met so many individuals and families who are struggling to balance it all, and it is gratifying to match that care with that need and make a difference, however possible, right here in my hometown.
What do you like to do for fun outside of work?
There is nothing quite like the natural beauty of our area parks and trails, and I believe there is no better elixir for mental health than getting outside so I try to do that as much as possible. I also enjoy spending quality time with my son, visiting museums, listening to music, photography, and home décor.
College/University you graduated from, and degrees you hold:
I graduated with honors from SUNY Albany with a B.A. in English, and then attended Louisiana State University where I graduated with a M.S. in Library and Information Science.