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AMY COOMBS

Professional lobbying is about relationships. Trust is essential to building strong relationships and without meaningful relationships, it can become difficult to get to "yes". Qualities that set me apart from other lobbyists include practical skills which have enabled a solid record of success, a diverse education as a macro social worker and clinical therapist, and my rich experience as a listener and problem solver.

1) American Society for Interior Designers-Intermountain Chapter

2) International Interior Design Association- Intermountain Chapter

3) Medical Professionals for Chronic Pain

6-10 years

* Awarded Maryland Official Citation of Recognition in behalf of work advocating for mental health consumers. Lauded for "tireless efforts within legislative process."

* Advocated for and passed first legislation in over a decade establishing practice rights for commercial interior designers previously prevented from participating to the full extent of their education and experience.

* Legislative Sponsors received "Legislation of the Year" for Trauma-Informed Justice Provisions HB 177 at the 2018 Utah Council on Victims of Crime Annual Conference.

* Acquired additional resources for RFP process at the state, tribal, and community levels for South Dakota tribes by assisting with Title 4-E grant writing and funding through SAMHSA's SPF-PFS system.

* Promoted federal initiatives to support public education on mental illness and addiction, such as the Mental Health First Aid, Excellence in Mental Health, and Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Acts.

* Preserved funding for existing programs like the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Grant Block and worked with behavioral health providers to ensure eligibility for various incentives.

* Multiple presentations and relationships with the Utah State Legislature including the following committees: Health Reform Taskforce Committee, Business and Labor, House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee, Occupational and Professional Licensure Review Committee
* Dr. Joseph Miner, Executive Director Utah Department of Health
* Mark Steinagel, Executive Director, Utah Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing
* Utah County Commission
* Richard Nance, Executive Director, Utah County Department of Substance Use and Alcohol Treatment
* Voting member, Utah Multi-Disciplinary Trauma-Informed Committee, the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; Chair of the 2019 Victim Advocate Credentialing Sub-Committee
* Member of Influencing Social Policy; ACOSA
* 1st and 2nd Year Network for Social Work Management Policy Fellow from 2016-2018
* NSWM Annual Conference Paper Presentation 2017 (NYC); Presenter 2018 (San Diego)
* Participated in the Policy Practice Summit (SWIPI)
* National Behavioral Health Council (State efforts for Day on the Hill; opioid policy)
* USC Alumni Association
* Speaker at the 2015 National Republican Liberty Caucus Conference, "Minority Outreach"
* Member; Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault's Sexual Violence and Suicidality Workgroup
* Served as Chair of Frm. Rep. Ken Ivory's (UT-47) Trauma-Informed Legislative Workgroup (2018)
* Brigham Young University School of Social Work Capitol Hill Day (annual)
* Senior Advisor & Campaign Manager, Smigiel for Congress, 2015 to 2016
* 2015 National Republican Liberty Caucus Conference, Nashua, New Hampshire. Speaker, "Minority Outreach "and Moderator of panel on "Federal Reserve and U.S. Debt".
* Our America Initiative 2016, Colorado and New Mexico, "Promoting Liberty" Speaking Tour.
* 2016 IIDA Legislative Symposium, Denver, Colorado "Lobbyist Panel" and Featured Speaker, "Defining Success in Advocacy".
* Council of Delegates Annual Meeting 2016, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Interior Design Lobbying and Advocacy National Speaker Panel

Amy Coombs is setting a new standard when it comes to creating policy, advocating for clients, and conducting ethical government relations. Her commitment to trauma-informed processes is changing the way the criminal justice system interfaces with consumers, victims of crime, staff and government. As President of Prestige Government Relations & Consulting, Amy is credited with passing landmark occupational and professional licensing legislation, featured as a national expert in IIDA's 2017 Faces of Advocacy Report and participated in the Social Work Policy Institute's (SWIPI) Policy Practice Summit. As a Network for Social Work Management (NSWM) Policy Fellow, her co-authored editorial was published in the Human Resources Organizations, Management, Leadership and Governance Journal.

Amy is dedicated to improving access to safe and ethical mental health services for all. She received an Official Citation of Recognition from the state of Maryland in January 2015, in recognition of her tireless efforts within the legislative process on behalf of consumers of mental health services. In 2018, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed HB177, Trauma-Informed Justice Provisions, into law. Amy currently serves as a voting member on Utah's Multi-Disciplinary Trauma-Informed Committee, under the direction of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. She recently completed her service on the National Board of Directors for the Council for Interior Design Qualification, whose members include state and provincial regulatory boards.

Amy is a proud alum of University of Southern California where she received a master's degree in Social Work. In addition to her lobbying and consulting work, Amy has practiced as a clinical therapist at Utah County's Department of Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment and continues to see clients via private practice. She enjoys regular speaking invites at universities and colleges across the country.