Florida Assisted Living Association | 7 A caregiver who is passionate about ALFs and their residents, Mr. Collazo has managed and operated Palm Breeze Assisted Living Facility since 1997. The 61-bed facility predominantly provides care for those individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Mr. Collazo has not only been president of the Miami-Dade andMonroe County chapters of FALA, but has initiated lobbying efforts and grass roots movements to educate the state legislature about the needs of the assisted living facility industry. Additionally, Mr. Collazo was appointed to the Miami-Dade County Elder Abuse Task Force, the Town of Miami Lakes Elder Affairs Committee and Elderly Affairs Committee. He is also vice-president of the Florida Coalition for Assisted Living andMental Health. Noted for his tireless advocacy and lobbying efforts, in 1997 he received both the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs Alliance for Aging Margaret Weedman Elder Advocate Award and the South Florida Mental Health Association Hero in the Fight Award. FUTURE GOALS FALA intends to continue to carry out its vision of displaying integrity and professionalism, best practices in providing quality of care and innovation and commitment to the profession. We have accomplished a great deal in 20 years, and look forward to 20 more. Pat Lange is Executive Director of the Florida Assisted Living Association, which is based in Tallahassee and represents more than 600 assisted care communities and assisted living facilities in Florida. She can be reached at PatL@falamail.org.
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