Carol Marie Vlack

I am presently on Inactive status with the FLorida Bar, and am not practicing llaw in Fla. I write about law and legal matters and teach at a local community college. I am intersted in presenting programs on Mental Health and the Law; the Law and your Child: Teen Straight Talk about going to Court: Delinquency and the Child of DIvorce: Elder Law and your Parents. I do NOT practice law in Ohio. I am available to work for I write articles, lecture, teach, and do legal research.

My hope is to educate about the law. I have practiced law as a trial attorney and represented juveniles, adults,and the vulnerable of our society.

I am a mother of 3 children,and have a great compassion for families who live with a mental health diagnosis of a child. Two of my children have graduated from college, and I understand and have lived as a divorced woman, rasing these children on my own. I have walked the walk of dedicating my life to my family, and cared for my elderly parents in my home until they were physically disabled and needed a nursing facility. My  commitment is to help families facing the decline of their parents and make some choices and do planning for their parents final years.

As a writer and educator about the Law and families, I have [presented programs to open discusions to make the law more responsive and the process less costly for those facing divorce .

Please contact me if you care to get involved with the destigmatization of mental illness in the legal profession. The fact that mental illness is a biological based medical disorder is not recognized amid the legal profession. It is time to open discussions on the fact that many lawyers and judges have dealt with depression, anxiety issues, and even manic depression and schizophrenia.

It is my hope to bring this matter for a publ;c discussionat a national meeting of the grassroots advocacy organization, NAMI, the National ALLiance for Mental Illness.

I do plan to return to the practice of law in the future, and hope to one day participate in a Florida Bar program on Mental Health and Lawyers.