ABERDEEN, MD, July 17, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Amy L. Ocasio has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Ocasio has made significant strides in the field of behavioral health, leveraging her extensive experience and academic background to make a positive impact in her community. As the co-founder and president of the LIVEFORTHOMAS Foundation Inc., established in 2020, she has been instrumental in guiding the organization from its volunteer-based beginnings to a fully funded entity by 2024. She co-founded the LIVEFORTHOMAS Foundation alongside her daughter, Michaela, following the loss of their 16-year-old son/brother, Thomas, to suicide on July 28th, 2019. Dr. Ocasio's leadership involves overseeing long-term goals, ensuring grant compliance, conducting trainings and presentations and managing organizational policies. Her expertise in grant writing, networking, program implementation and leadership has been pivotal to the foundation's success.

Before founding the LIVEFORTHOMAS Foundation, Dr. Ocasio dedicated her career to advocating for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault while pursuing her studies to become a licensed clinical professional counselor. Her commitment to mental health advocacy is further exemplified by her dissertation, "Male Coaches' Perceptions of Their Role and Capacity in Supporting Male Student-Athletes' Mental Health," which led to her testimony at a Senate hearing for Maryland State Bill 165. This legislation mandates that all Maryland public high schools and college institutions provide training for participating coaches to recognize indicators of mental illness and behavioral distress in students. This includes signs of depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide and substance abuse. The bill was enacted and went into effect in 2024.

Dr. Ocasio's academic journey laid a strong foundation for her professional achievements. She holds a doctorate in prevention science, a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, a Bachelor of Science in behavioral science, and an associate degree in social work. Her dedication to education has played a vital role in shaping her approach to mental health advocacy and program development. She is also a licensed clinical professional counselor.

Dr. Ocasio's success is deeply rooted in her faith and the mentorship she received from educators and professional leaders throughout her journey. She credits her accomplishments to these influences, believing that divine guidance and meaningful mentorship have been instrumental in supporting her path forward.

Beyond her professional commitments, Dr. Ocasio actively participates in civic organizations as a member of the Families and Communities Experiencing Suicide (FACES) organization and as a board member of both the Ed Lally Foundation and Armored AF Foundation. These roles reflect her dedication to community service and support for individuals facing challenging circumstances.

With her faith and family providing the foundation of her life, Dr. Ocasio cherishes time spent with family, particularly her daughter and grandchildren. She also enjoys reading. Looking ahead, she plans to expand the Den 22 program, which offers adolescents and young adults a safe space to decompress, receive peer support and access crisis intervention. The space also hosts various activities throughout the month such as game nights, paint nights, self-care nights, karaoke, jewelry making, planting, baking, scavenger hunts, holiday-themed events and weekly dinner nights. These activities are designed to foster social interaction, develop emotional regulation skills, promote boundary setting and provide other mental health management strategies.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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