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LESLIE CARPENTERadvocacy MENTORLeslie Carpenter is a prominent advocacy leader, clinical professional, and the Legislative Advocacy Manager for the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC). A retired Physical Therapist and co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy, Leslie serves as the vital collaborative bridge between TAC and the National Shattering Silence Coalition (NSSC), ensuring a unified national front in the fight for medical accountability and psychiatric care reform.
Legislative Leadership & National Liaison In her role at the Treatment Advocacy Center, Leslie directs legislative efforts to dismantle systemic barriers to treatment for those with severe brain disorders. This national oversight is informed by her deep roots in Iowa, where she spearheaded the development of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) within the state’s 6th Judicial District and supported the inaugural Civil Mental Health Court. By aligning the strategic resources of TAC with the grassroots power of NSSC, Leslie facilitates a high-impact policy exchange that drives institutional change across state and federal levels. Volunteerism & Community Impact Beyond her professional leadership, Leslie remains a pillar of the volunteer community, serving on the NAMI Iowa Board of Directors and specializing in NAMI Provider Training for hospital clinicians. She provides family-perspective guidance on the University of Iowa Psychiatry Patient and Family Advisory Council and the Guidelink Center Advisory Board. For her career-long dedication to humanizing the mental health crisis, Leslie and her husband, Scott, were honored with the Isabel Turner Award from the Iowa City Human Rights Commission. At NSSC, she serves as an Advocacy Mentor, leveraging her unique position as a national liaison to empower local advocates. |