[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF ANN FISHER RANEY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 2, 2026

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Ann Fisher Raney on 
her retirement from Turning Point Behavioral Health. Ann spent three 
decades serving Turning Point and led it as Chief Executive Officer for 
twenty-five years--a quarter of a century. Turning Point, a vital not-
for-profit organization in the 9th Congressional District, provides 
essential mental health support to a vulnerable population of clients, 
94 percent of whom are low-income.
  Under Ann's leadership, Turning Point has grown steadily in size, 
scope, and reputation, to better serve the growing needs of the 
community. What began as a community mental health agency evolved into 
a regional leader, now serving over 1,000 clients annually across 
outpatient therapy, residential programming, case management, and free 
24/7 crisis support.
  One of Ann's signature achievements was the 2011 launch of the Living 
Room program, which offered something the field was only beginning to 
recognize as necessary: a free, welcoming alternative to the emergency 
room for adults in mental health crisis. Fifteen years later, the 
program maintains a 98 percent success rate in keeping guests out of 
the hospital and offers expert and compassionate care, including crisis 
intervention, support, and mentoring. The broader mental health field 
has taken notice and the Living Room has become a model program--
Turning Point receives praise whenever it is mentioned.
  Turning Point received the highest ratings from the Commission on 
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and has been recognized 
with a host of awards recognizing their impact broadly and locally in 
the communities they serve.
  These achievements reflect the dedication and skill of everyone at 
Turning Point, with Ann as their steady, thoughtful and gifted leader. 
As a result of these and other efforts, Ann was personally honored with 
the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of 
Social Workers, Illinois Chapter.
  I have had the privilege and pleasure of knowing and working with Ann 
for the past 3 decades, and what the awards and statistics cannot fully 
capture is the calm, thoughtful steadiness she brought to this work. 
She and her team work closely with elected officials to help advocate 
for policies and programs that will help their clients and the 
community as a whole. Importantly, Ann and her team also work to ensure 
that their clients' voices are heard by community leaders and elected 
officials directly. My staff and I relied on Ann for advice and 
guidance on legislation, policy and helping constituents in need. I 
truly treasure my and my office's relationship with Ann, and appreciate 
all that she has done.
  Turning Point's mission is to provide solid support when and where it 
is needed most, and Ann embodied that mission throughout her tenure. On 
behalf of the residents of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, 
I thank her for thirty years of service to our community and wish her 
well in the chapter ahead.

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