August 20, 2010 What's New Webinar: Helping Young Adults Navigate the Mental Health System NAMI and This Emotional Life are hosting a webinar titled “Helping Young Adults Navigate the Mental Health System” on Wednesday, Sept. 1 from 1-2 p.m. ET. The webinar will focus on the following topics: Where young adults living with mental health conditions can turn to for resources, services and support; Firsthand accounts of young adults and their experiences in the treatment system; and What you can do to ensure that your young adult is receiving the help that's needed. The webinar will be moderated by Maryann Davis, Ph.D.,research associate professor at University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Mental Health Services Research. Dr. Davis is a nationally recognized expert on services and supports for young adults with significant mental health needs during the transition to adulthood. Panelists include: Dana Markey, program coordinator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Child and Adolescent Action Center and StrengthofUs.org, NAMI's social networking website and online resource center for young adults living with mental health conditions; Wesley Kittel, young adult and StrengthofUs.org Expert Advisory Group member; and Elyse Hunt, young adult and facilitator for NAMI Peer-to-Peer Mentor Connections education programs. Sign up for the webinar online. Webinar: Mental Illness Awareness Week 2010 Thursday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. ET NAMI Communications will hold a webinar to discuss MIAW planning opportunities. We will use NAMI’s Live Meeting system for the webinar; please follow the instructions below to join us. RSVP to Christine Armstrong at christinea@nami.org if you would like to participate or if you have any questions about the webinar forum. TO JOIN THE WEBINAR: Step 1: Click here to join the web portion Step 2: Join the audio portion If you are using the web portion, dial the toll-free number below and enter the pass code when prompted to connect to audio: Toll-free: 1 (888) 858-6021 Participant code: MIAW2010 If you are unable to connect to the web portion: You can still join the audio portion only. Toll-free: 1 (888) 858-6021. Participant Code: 2653283109. We will send the PowerPoint presentation to you following the call. NAMIWalks: Changing Minds…One Step at a Time NAMIWalks is pleased to announce a new addition to our signature awareness-raising and fundraising program. PeaceLove Studios have designed a series of art tees that promote positive stories and creative expression and, most importantly, create conversations that build awareness and acceptance for mental illness. Each t-shirt is an original piece of artwork created by PeaceLove artists, some of whom live with mental illness. Purchase one of these art tees by clicking the link on the NAMIWalks page. Ten percent of every sale goes to support NAMIWalks. PeaceLove is a growing community of mental health advocates and artists creating conversations of acceptance, understanding and hope. If you are reading this and are near one of the nearly 80 NAMIWalks being organized for 2010, get connected and join the fun! In the eight years since its inception, NAMIWalks has become the largest national mental health awareness event and one of the fastest growing programs of it kind. More than 500,000 walkers have participated, raising more than $40 million to fund state and local NAMI advocacy, education and support programs. To find the NAMIWalk nearest you, visit www.nami.org/walks. Media Opportunity: Health Website Seeks Stories Related to Stigma A writer with a major health website would like to speak with people who have had experiences with stigma related to mental illness, specifically those who live in rural areas where stigma is pervasive or those who have faced stigma in the workplace. If you would like to be considered, please send a short description of your experiences (250 words or less) to christinea@nami.org and include your name, location and phone number. Ultimately, the writer will decide who may be a best fit for this opportunity. Announcements MIAW Planning Updates Additional resources for Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 3-9) have been added to the NAMI website at www.nami.org/miaw. These additions include a FaithNet toolkit for the National Day of Prayer for Mental Health Recovery and Understanding, observed on Oct. 5, along with a model press release, op-ed article and letter to editors. MIAW comes a month before Election Day, offering an opportunity to incorporate “Mental Health Gets My Vote” as a theme into broader MIAW activities. As part of your planning, please make sure to check out NAMI’s non-partisan Vote Mental Health website at www.nami.org/election. Beginning in September, PBS stations in some communities will begin airing the documentary Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia, which was screened at the NAMI national convention in July. The film is another tool that can be used in MIAW promotions or later public education efforts. Visit www.unlistedfilm.com for more information. August Adult Issues “Ask the Doctor” Call with Guest Nancy Rappaport When: Friday, August 27, 2010, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET Please join us for our monthly adult issues conference call with Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI’s medical director, and guest Dr. Nancy Rappaport for this month’s topic, “Children of Suicide.” Dr. Rappaport is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, attending child and adolescent psychiatrist in the Cambridge Public School System and director of school based programs at the Cambridge Health Alliance. To explore the impact of her mother’s death by suicide in 1963, Dr. Rappaport wrote the memoir In Her Wake, a powerful testament to a woman’s search for answers about loss and healing. To access the call, please dial 1 (888) 858-6021; participant code is 309918#. If you have any questions, please contact Bianca Ruffin at biancar@nami.org. "What a Difference a Friend Makes" Video and Essay Contest The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Ad Council are sponsoring the What a Difference a Friend Makes Contest. Submit a short video or an essay that tells in a creative and meaningful way how you've supported a friend during a tough time in his/her life or how a friend supported you. Read the complete rules and guidelines. Entries must be received by August 31. NAMI Blog: Local Mental Health Services and Supports are Key to Gulf Coast Recovery The official NAMI Blog is now up and running. NAMI Executive Director Mike Fitzpatrick has penned nine thoughtful posts so far. Read this week’s article, “Local Mental Health Services and Supports are Key to Gulf Coast Recovery,” and add your comments at blog.nami.org. June 25,2010 New Announcements NAMIWalks: Changing Minds...One Step at a Time Repeated Announcements Media Opportunity: Glamour Magazine Feature on Women Living with Mental Illness Media Opportunity: Speak with a Reporter from News 21 about Depression in Older Adults NAMI.org Connects, Mike Fitzpatrick Blogs Diversity in Action Workshop for State Conferences Help Save Medicaid Match Rate Extension from Defeat—Grassroots Advocacy is Crucial! Protect the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act What's Happening at the NAMI Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.? House Strikes Extended Medicaid Match Rate from Jobs and Tax Extenders Package New Issue of ¡Avanzamos!, NAMI's Bilingual Magazine Celebrating Mental Health in Diverse Communities Webinar Series MIAW 2010 Resources Are Up at Nami.org Important Information for NAMI State Leaders: How to Schedule Advocacy Visits to Capitol Hill During the NAMI National Convention, (June 30–July 3 in Washington, D.C.) NAMI's 2010 Board Candidates and Bylaws Amendments NAMI Convention Program Now Available Online! HUD Announces Availability of Housing Assistance for People Living with Mental Illness: NAMI Organizations Need to Urge Local Housing Agencies to Apply Leadership Institute to Target Diversity, Advocacy and Standards 2011 NAMIWalks Application Process Now Open New National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Resources The Implementation of Mental Health Parity: Has It Made a Difference? NAMI Education and Program Information New Announcements Repeated Announcements NAMI Connection Train the Trainers Peer-to-Peer Education Program Train the Trainers NAMI Conexión Pilot Project: Call for Applications De Familia a Familia Teacher Training Publicizing Family-to-Family Classes in 2010 Deadlines and Dates to Remember   New Announcements NAMIWalks: Changing Minds...One Step at a Time The 2010 Spring NAMIWalk season was one for the record books! The 41 NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates that hosted the NAMIWalks and the hundreds of other local NAMI Affiliates that participated raised nearly $4.7 million and involved more than 100,000 supporters. We look forward to celebrating new successes in the fall NAMIWalk season . NAMI Vermont will kick off the new season with their Walk on September 11 at the Waterfront Park on Lake Champlain. If you are reading this and are near one of the nearly 80 NAMIWalks being organized for 2010, get connected and join the fun! In the seven years since its inception, NAMIWalks has become the largest national mental health awareness event and one of the fastest growing programs of it kind. More than 500,000 walkers have participated, raising over $40 million to fund state and local NAMI advocacy, education and support programs. To find the NAMIWalk nearest you, visit www.nami.org/walks. Repeated Announcements Media Opportunity: Glamour Magazine Feature on Women Living with Mental Illness Megan Baker of Glamour magazine is working on an article about women living with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder and also women who have a sister living with any of those illnesses. She's looking to speak with women in their 20s or early 30s who fit these profiles. For this story she is focusing on these specific illnesses only. If you are interested in sharing your story of living with mental illness for consideration, please send your name, phone number and a short description (250 words or less) to Megan at Megan_Baker@condenast.com. Media Opportunity: Speak with a Reporter from News 21 about Depression in Older Adults Scott Sell, a reporter with News 21 at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, is working on a story about depression among older adults, as well as the rising rates of suicide among the elderly in the wake of the aging Baby Boomer population. Scott would like to speak with adults 65 and older who have been diagnosed with clinical depression and are managing their illness successfully. If you would like to share your story for consideration, please send Scott a short summary (250 words or less) of your experiences and include your contact information. He can be reached at scott.a.sell@gmail.com. NAMI.org Connects, Mike Fitzpatrick Blogs By now you've no doubt heard the term "social networking." In today's fast-paced, media-driven world it is essential that NAMI builds strong connections on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. In an effort to keep you connected with us when you're on the NAMI.org site, our web team added a comments feature on the top stories on NAMI.org. Comments will not only appear on NAMI.org, but may also be fed through the user's Facebook page if they choose. The official NAMI Blog is now up and running as well. NAMI Executive Director Mike Fitzpatrick has penned three thoughtful posts so far. Read his posts and add your comments at blog.nami.org. Diversity in Action Workshop for State Conferences Are you working to implement the Standards of Excellence and looking for some practical tools to help? The Let's Talk: Diversity in Action workshop will give your state's leaders a preview of the toolkit of the same name that was developed to help NAMI leaders take steps toward meeting organizational goals of diversity and inclusion. Learn more about the workshop and toolkit. Help Save Medicaid Match Rate Extension from Defeat—Grassroots Advocacy is Crucial! On Wednesday, June 16, the U.S. Senate voted against extending higher federal Medicaid match rates (known as FMAP) through June 2011. Another effort to pass the Jobs Extension Package, which includes the FMAP extension, is expected at any time . The outcome of this vote is crucial to protecting Medicaid services for children and adults with mental illnesses. NAMI urges you to call your Senators now to support the restoration of Medicaid FMAP funds into the Jobs and Tax Extenders Package. All Senate offices can be reached toll-free by calling (877) 210-5351 or (877) 442-6801 or through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. You can also send a message to your Senators and House member via NAMI's Legislative Action Center. Protect the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Congressman Paul Tonko (D– N.Y.) has circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter in the House of Representatives, which he will be sending to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury, urging the agencies to reject the health insurance industry's argument that mental illnesses cannot be treated like physical ailments. The letter also calls for preserving the strong interim final rules (IFR) for insurance companies implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) regulations. NAMI urges you to contact your Representative and ask him or her to protect the MHPAEA and sign on to this letter and preserve the IFR. Advocates can reach their Representative by calling (800) 828-0498. Read more about parity and view Rep. Tonko's letter. What's Happening at the NAMI Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.? You can now view the entire program schedule at www.nami.org/convention. We have a great program planned with an outstanding group of speakers. Did you forget to register in advance? No problem—you can register on-site at the Hilton Hotel beginning Wednesday, June 30. Don't miss this opportunity to join 2,000 of your fellow NAMI members in Washington, D.C.! House Strikes Extended Medicaid Match Rate from Jobs and Tax Extenders Package On May 28, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a Jobs and Tax Extenders legislative package by a vote of 215-204, but not before eliminating a provision that would have extended each state's federal Medicaid match rate (known as FMAP) through June 2011. The bill, known as the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act (HR 4213), now moves to the Senate where efforts will be made to get the extended Medicaid FMAP funds for the states back into the bill. Extended Medicaid FMAP is critical in fighting additional cuts to publicly funded mental health services at the state and local level. Learn more and take action. New Issue of ¡Avanzamos!, NAMI's Bilingual Magazine A new issue of ¡Avanzamos! is in the mail. If you haven't signed to receive this popular magazine, you can do so on the NAMI website, where you can choose to receive the print or e-mail copy. This new issue focuses on concepts of recovery, peer-networking and culture-based recovery supports for Latino communities. Contributors represent the Tenemos Voz National Latino Consumer Network, the National Latino/a Psychological Association and the NAMI STAR Center. Articles are provided in both Spanish and English. Visit the NAMI website to access previous issues of ¡Avanzamos! in the online archive. This publication is not only a great tool for outreach to Latinos and Spanish speakers, but also an interesting and uplifting read for all. Celebrating Mental Health in Diverse Communities Webinar Series Being held in honor of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month this two-part Webinar series will highlight the ways communities across the country are celebrating minority mental health. Part I of this webinar series will focus on Latino and American Indian communities and will take place on July 7. Part II, focusing on Asian American and African American communities will take place on July 28. NAMI will co-host this webinar series with the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED). Register for these Webinars through the NNED website. Visit the NAMI website for more information on National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month including helpful resources and suggestions for planning local activities throughout the month of July. MIAW 2010: New Theme Mental Illness Awareness Week runs Oct. 3-9 this year. This year's theme is "Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives." Start planning your MIAW activities now! Updated materials—including an Idea Book, stickers, posters and web banners—are available for download now. Visit www.nami.org/miaw. Or purchase stickers and posters at the NAMI store. Important Information for NAMI State Leaders: How to Schedule Advocacy Visits to Capitol Hill During the NAMI National Convention, (June 30–July 3 in Washington, D.C.) As the 2010 NAMI convention approaches, the NAMI policy staff would like to provide state leaders with important information needed to plan meetings with each state's congressional delegation on Thursday, July 1— the "Advocacy Day" of this year's convention. Holding the convention in Washington, D.C., affords both statewide NAMI affiliates and NAMI an important opportunity to educate members of Congress about severe mental illnesses. We plan to advance a legislative policy agenda that improves the lives of children and adults with severe mental illnesses and their families. No one is more effective in delivering this message to the U.S. Congress than NAMI advocates who live every day with serious mental illnesses. State Leaders: get details on how to schedule Hill visits for your state delegation. NAMI's 2010 National Board Candidates and Bylaws Amendments NAMI is pleased to introduce the candidates for NAMI's Board of Directors. Elections will be held in conjunction with the NAMI National Convention, June 30-July 3 in Washington, D.C. For more information about NAMI elections visit www.nami.org/voting. Voting packets will be mailed in late May to all Affiliates and State Organizations that completed the certification process by April 3. This year, six board members will be elected. Five candidates will be elected to serve for the standard three-year term and one candidate will be elected to fill the balance of a vacated term for one year. Ten candidates have been nominated for the six board seats that are open in this election year. Voting delegates must cast votes for five candidates seeking a three-year term (eight candidates) and one candidate seeking a one-year term (two candidates). The candidates with the highest numbers of votes in each category will become the new NAMI board members. Candidates are listed in the order in which their nominations were received at the NAMI office. Seeking one of five three-year seats: Moe Armstrong, nominated by NAMI Tri-County Family Support, Virginia David Anderson Brown, nominated by NAMI PA, Cumberland and Perry Counties, Penn. Clarence Jordan, nominated by NAMI Tennessee Kevin B. Sullivan, nominated by NAMI Connecticut Clarice Raichel, nominated by NAMI Southwest Louisiana, La. Joe Tyler, nominated by NAMI Nevada Linda Jensen, nominated by NAMI Nebraska John Dornheim, nominated by NAMI Texas Seeking the one one-year seat: Ron Morton, nominated by NAMI Knoxville, Tenn. This year, two amendments to NAMI's bylaws have been proposed. Bylaws amendments may be proposed by NAMI affiliates, state organizations or by a member of the NAMI Board of Directors. Bylaws changes require a two-thirds majority of those voting to pass. To review the proposed bylaw changes, please visit www.nami.org/voting. NAMI Convention Program is Now Available Online! See the program details for the 2010 NAMI National Convention in Washington, D.C. HUD Announces Availability of Housing Assistance for People Living with Mental Illness: NAMI Organizations Need to Urge Local Housing Agencies to Apply On April 7, 2010, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the availability of $30 million in funding for approximately 4,000 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) for non-elderly disabled households. Funds unobligated under previous HUD NOFAs will also be made available as part of this NOFA, bringing the total funds available to $40 million for approximately 5,300 vouchers. Get a complete copy of the NOFA. Applications are due to HUD by July 7, 2010. Visit www.tacinc.org for more information. Leadership Institute to Target Diversity, Advocacy and Standards The Center for Leadership Development has announced a series of sessions for this year's Leadership Institute, scheduled for the morning of June 30 during the NAMI National Convention. Sessions will focus sharply on three NAMI priorities: inclusion and diversity, advocacy and the NAMI Standards of Excellence. All participants will take part in all three workshops. The Leadership Institute offers education, technical assistance and tools to experienced and emerging volunteer and staff leaders in NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates. It is held in conjunction with NAMI's National Convention, and there is no additional fee to attend. This year's Convention is scheduled for June 30—July 3 at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C. For more information on the Leadership Institute, contact Annie Suliga at annies@nami.org. For more information on NAMI's National Convention, go to www.nami.org/convention. 2011 NAMIWalks Application Process Now Open Applications are now being taken for the 2011 NAMIWalks season. If your affiliate is interested in participating in 2011, please go to www.nami.org/namiwalksapp for detailed information about how to apply and exactly what involved in becoming a NAMIWalks franchise holder. Raise the visibility of our cause, build new partners in your business community, raise new, unrestricted funds to help accomplish your mission and have some fun at the same time. In the seven years since its inception, NAMIWalks has become the largest national mental health awareness event and one of the fastest growing programs of it kind. More than 500,000 walkers have participated, raising more than $40 million to fund state and local NAMI advocacy, education and support programs. To find the NAMIWalk nearest you, visit www.nami.org/walks. New National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Resources Promotional posters have been added to the available resources to help you start planning for National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, July 2010. Like the other available resources, these posters are available in both English and Spanish and can be utilized to promote local activities and partnership efforts in July. Start planning now and utilize the resources available on the NAMI website. Among those resources is the recording of the first National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month 2010 planning Webinar. This Webinar featured information on social marketing and media outreach strategies as well as provided an example of an event held in 2009. The planning Webinar series will continue to be offered leading up to July to help NAMI states and affiliates plan activities and partner outreach strategies for National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month 2010. Stay tuned! Visit the NAMI website for more information on National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The Implementation of Mental Health Parity: Has It Made a Difference? There is no single date for implementation of the new federal mental health parity law. Beginning Oct. 3, 2009, as health care insurance plans are renewed, they are required to include the provisions outlined in the law. Learn more about the new law and share your experience. We want to hear from you! Share your experience as mental health parity is included in your health care plan. Join the discussion and share the good news and the bad: Is my plan imposing separate deductibles for mental health and general health...or what is the difference for me now that these are equal? Are there higher co-pays imposed when I visit my mental health care providers...or are these now equal to other health care provider co-pays? More... Join the discussion at www.nami.org/discussion/parity. NAMI Education and Program Information New Announcements Repeated Announcements NAMI Connection Train the Trainers The NAMI Education, Training and Peer Support Center is pleased to announce its fifth Training for NAMI Connection State Trainers. This event will be held at the St. Louis Airport Hilton Hotel from Thursday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. through Sunday, Sept. 26 at 12 p.m. Individuals attending this training will be certified as state NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group State Trainers. Participants selected by the state to attend this training need to be certified NAMI Connection facilitators who have been facilitating a Connection group for a minimum of five months by Sept. 23, 2010. Costs for transportation, training materials, meals and lodging (shared rooms) are covered by the Connection Program for the initial three state trainers selected by each state. Once a state has three trainers' expenses covered by NAMI, the state is responsible for covering the cost of additional trainers. The training fee for Connection state trainers is $350, which does not cover transportation. Train the Trainer registrations are only accepted from NAMI state offices and are due by August 16, 2010 . For more information contact Anna Goodwin, Connection Training Manager agoodwin@nami.org. Peer-to-Peer Train the Trainers We are pleased to announce that registration is now underway for the Peer-to-Peer Train the Trainers event in St. Louis, Sept. 23–26, 2010. August 16 is the absolute deadline for registration. After that date, we cannot accept any late registrations. A letter of support by your state program director, executive director or board president is required with the application. Send an e-mail to trainthetrainers2010@nami.org to receive the application. NAMI Conexión Pilot Project Call for Applications Many of you have expressed an interest in the NAMI Connection Spanish pilot project, NAMI Conexión. NAMI is now accepting applications to participate in this exciting endeavor. We are able to provide a $2,000 grant to states selected to take part in the pilot. With our translated materials nearly complete, we are very eager to start working with states on this project. Please note the deadline for application is July 1, 2010. For the application overview and guidelines, please contact Veronica Guerrero (veronicag@nami.org) or (703) 516-7980. De Familia a Familia Teacher Training NAMI would like to help you implement or expand the De Familia a Familia program. Depending on the level of interest, we will hold a teacher training on Friday, August 27through Sunday, August 29 in St. Louis. If you have Spanish-speaking family members interested in teaching De Familia a Familia, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. We must hear from you before June 28 in order to proceed with arrangements at the hotel. Cost: $350 registration plus round trip airfare to St. Louis. NAMI covers lodging in a shared room, meals and materials. Please contact Lynne Saunders at Lynne@nami.org to request an application and/or if you have any questions. Publicizing Family-to-Family Classes in 2010 NAMI wants to publicize your Winter/Spring 2010 F2F classes. You may post your class information by accessing the Family-to-Family Intranet and clicking on the link Add/Edit a Class. Please make sure your state Family-to-Family program director knows about your classes. You may also contact Marshall Epstein at marshall@nami.org or (703) 516-7975 to have him enter your class information. He will also provide advice about the intranet. Deadlines and Dates to Remember June 28: Deadline to Submit Interest on Attending De Familia a Familia Teacher Training June 30–July 3: NAMI 2010 National Convention in Washington, D.C. July 1: Application deadline for NAMI Conexión Pilot Project July 7: HUD Applications Due July 7: Part I of Celebrating Mental Health in Diverse Communities Webinar Series July 28: Part II of Celebrating Mental Health in Diverse Communities Webinar Series August 16: Deadline to Register for Peer-to-Peer Education Program Train the Trainers August 27-29: De Familia a Familia Teacher Training in St. Louis September 23-26: Training for NAMI Connection State Trainers and Peer-to-Peer Trainers in St. Louis

---

NAMI Friday Facts are electronic newsletters provided free of charge as a service to NAMI members, leaders and staff. NAMI is the largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Contributions to support our work can be made online.

 

NAMI Friday Facts- February 26, 2010

From NAMI National

New Announcements

• NAMI Briefs Congress: State Budget Cuts
• Do You Know Your State's Impact?
• Prisons & Probation: Interview Request
• Movie Protest
• SAVE THE DATE: March 10 at 1 p.m. (EST); Advocates for People with Disabilities Urged to Participate
• Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Conference

Repeated Announcements

• The Implementation of Mental Health Parity:Has It Made a Difference?
• Coming Soon: New Issue of ¡Avanzamos!
• State Advocacy 2010: Tools You Can Use
• Feedback Needed
• Individual and Family Input on DSM-5 Needed
• Hearts & Minds: New Program Launch
• Convention Poster Applications Due by February 28
• NAMI 2010 Election Announcements
• Sharing Hope Grant Applications Due Monday, March 1!
• Keep Them Coming! Media Stories Wanted
• Advocate Reader Survey
• Join NAMI Asian American and Pacific Islander Leaders Group
• Convention e-Newsletter Is Now Available
• NAMI 2010 National Convention Is Open For for Business

NAMI Education and Program Information

Repeated Announcements

• Register Now for the April Education and Support Train-the-Trainers
• NAMI Connection Training of Trainers
• Publicizing Family-to-Family Classes in 2010
• New Resource for F2F/VHA Outreach
• New Education, Training and Peer Support Center e-Newsletter

Deadlines and Dates to Remember

From NAMI National

NAMI Briefs Congress: State Budget Cuts

Former Connecticut Lt. Governor and NAMI national board member Kevin Sullivan testified at a special Congressional briefing this past week, calling on the U.S. Senate to pass a "Medicaid match" extension" as part of pending economic recovery legislation. "We are facing a trifecta of budget challenges at the state level that is a direct result of America's economic distress," said Sullivan. "States are struggling with declining revenues, deep cuts in mental health services for children and adults who live with serious mental illness, and increasing demand for mental health care. The federal government must help. Medicaid especially is a lifeline."

Do You Know Your State's Impact?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced $4.3 billion to reduce state payments for federal prescription drug coverage of residents who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Retroactive to October 2008, they will be deducted from what states would otherwise have owed going forward. Check the HHS state table in column D to find the millions of dollars in savings that your state will realize. Use this number to fight state budget cuts in mental health services. Don't let it be sucked into the general fund. Protect and strengthen access to medications and other treatment services in your state's Medicaid program by demanding that it be used to save mental health. For more information, E-mail Angela Kimball, NAMI's Director of State Policy.

Prisons & Probation: Interview Request

Freelance reporter Bernice Yeung is currently working on an in-depth story and wants to talk with people living with mental illness who have personally experienced "the revolving door between the mental health care system and jail or prison, particularly through the parole system." She wants to illustrate the realities of the system for the public to identify areas for policy reform. She is especially interested in innovative criminal justice and prison programs in California programs, where she is based, but welcomes information from other states. Please circulate this notice to anyone whom might be able to help. E-mail Yeung, a John Jay Reporting Fellow, by clicking here.

Movie Protest

Are your state and affiliate members angry over ads for the movie The Crazies? Do you want to do something, but don't want to protest loudly if it only helps sell tickets? Consider your options by reading the latest StigmaBuster Alert. The alert also discusses the movie Shutter Island. Please circulate and refer people to it for guidance. To provide feedback, please E-mail us.

SAVE THE DATE: March 10 at 1 p.m. (EST); Advocates for People with Disabilities Urged to Participate

On Wednesday, March 10, at 1 p.m. (EST) the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Housing Task Force in conjunction with the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) will host a very important conference call on HUD Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program highlighting drastic cuts to the Section 811 proposed FY 2011 budget and critical Section 811 legislation which must be enacted to reinvigorate the program.

What the Call Will Cover:

• The HUD FY 2011 Budget proposal eliminates all funding for new, permanent, supportive-housing units financed through the Section 811 program until the new legislation is enacted. We need your help to advocate with Congress to restore these cuts.
• Currently, critical Section 811 legislation is pending in the Senate and has already passed the House with strong bipartisan support. The call will focus on strategies and information you can use to engage your senator to sign on as a cosponsor to S.1481 and save the Section 811 program.

Please join this call on March 10 at 1p.m. (EST) to learn how to engage your senator to cosponsor this important legislation.

Conference toll free call in number:
(866) 266-3378
Pass code: 8224620005#

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Conference

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Conference will be in San Antonio June 1-3. The conference brings together local law enforcement agencies, mental health providers and NAMI advocates to network, celebrate the CIT movement and learn more about CIT. Register online today! Early registration ends April 15. Fred Frese, former NAMI Board of Directors member, will be a featured speaker at the conference.

For more information visit the CIT International Conference Web site.

The Implementation of Mental Health Parity: Has it made a difference?

There is no single date for implementation of the new federal mental health parity law. Beginning Oct. 3, 2009, as health care insurance plans are renewed, they are required to include the provisions outlined in the law.

Learn more about the new law and share your experience.

We want to hear from you! Share your experience as mental health parity is included in your health care plan. Join the discussion and share the good news and the bad:

• Is my plan imposing separate deductibles for mental health and general health …or what is the difference for me now that these are equal?
• Are there higher co-pays imposed when I visit my mental health care providers….or are these now equal to other health care provider copays?
• More...

Join the discussion

Coming Soon: New Issue of ¡Avanzamos!

A new issue of NAMI's popular, fully bilingual publication, ¡Avanzamos!, will be out soon. This new issue features articles contributed by Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola and other expert researchers and faculty of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities, U.C. Davis School of Medicine as well as personal stories on the experience of immigration and finding mental health supports. This is our best looking issue yet! Articles are provided in both Spanish and English.

Visit the NAMI Web site to subscribe to this publication in electronic format via e-mail, receive the print version via standard mail and access previous issues of ¡Avanzamos! in the online archive. This publication is not only a great tool for outreach to Latinos and Spanish speakers, but also an interesting and uplifting read for all.

State Advocacy 2010: Tools You Can Use

Save mental health! Fight back against state budget cuts!

If you haven't already, please browse the resources and circulate to others the link to NAMI's new State Advocacy Web site, which includes a special media tool kit. For more information about how you can participate in protecting and strengthening mental health services in your state, please contact NAMI State Policy Director Angela Kimball at angelak@nami.org.

Feedback Needed

Don't forget that Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness, the PBS documentary that premiered during MIAW 2009, can also be used as an advocacy tool. It can be shown to groups of elected officials or at broader public education events to encourage action.

• Have you used Minds on the Edge as part of any state or local activity?
• Are you currently planning to do so?

Fred Friendly Seminars, Inc. (FFS), which produced the documentary, would like to know all about it. Please send details to FFS Director of Strategic Communications Colby Kelly at ckelly@fredfriendly.org.

Individual and Family Input on DSM-5 Needed

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is used by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to classify and diagnose mental disorders in children and adults. The DSM has historically had a very significant impact on the treatment of mental illness and on the payment of mental health treatment and related services. A committee created by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has been working on revising the DSM to reflect current scientific understanding about mental disorders. Earlier this week, the APA posted the draft of the revised DSM, known as the DSM-5. The draft DSM-5 can be found by clicking here.

We want to hear from you.

For the next two months, the APA is seeking input from individuals, family members, clinicians and others about the proposed changes contained in the DSM-5. The deadline for submitting these comments is April 20, 2010. We will be providing you with more information, including NAMI's reactions to the proposed changes, in the coming days and weeks.

Meanwhile, we encourage you to visit the DSM-5 Web site, familiarize yourself and your members with the proposed changes and submit comments as appropriate. We also very much want to hear your reactions and comments. Post your feedback on the NAMI Web site and engage in the discussion on DSM-5.

Hearts & Minds: New Program Launch

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, NAMI launched its new Hearts & Minds initiative taking aim at risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity for major illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes-which contribute to shorter life spans for people living with serious mental illness. The program includes a dedicated Web site and new tools for state and local presentations. The Hearts & Minds Facilitator's Guide, which comes with the Hearts & Minds DVD, as well as a booklet entitled Hearts & Minds: A Roadmap to Wellness for Individuals Living with Mental Illness, are available for purchase in the NAMI store.

Convention Poster Applications Due by Feb. 28

The NAMI 2010 Convention Committee invites you to submit an application to present a poster at our 2010 National Convention, scheduled for June 30-July 3 in Washington, D.C. Posters presentations display information on a bulletin board rather than orally in a workshop setting. Applications to present a poster must be received by the NAMI convention department no later than Feb. 28, and applicants will be notified or its acceptance or denial by March 5. For more information on how to put together a poster presentation and an application form, go to the NAMI Web site and click on the button "submit poster proposal."

NAMI 2010 Election Announcements

Visit the voting section of the NAMI Web site for more election information!

Board Nominations: Nominations are being accepted for candidates for election to the NAMI Board of Directors at this year's Annual Convention. Five (5) candidates will be elected to serve for the standard three-year term and one (1) candidate will be elected to fill the balance of a vacancy term for one year.

Board nominees must be NAMI members and members of the NAMI Affiliate or NAMI State Organization making the nomination. Nominations may be made only by Affiliates and State Organizations that have submitted their membership and paid dues at least 90 days prior to the Convention. Each Affiliate and State Organization may nominate no more than one candidate. Nominations must be received by NAMI no later than April 3, 2010 (90 days prior to the NAMI annual meeting).

Nominations must be made on the letterhead of the nominating NAMI Affiliate or State Organization, including evidence authorization by the board of the Affiliate or State Organization to make the nomination, and be signed by the chief officer of the Affiliate or State Organization. (If the chief officer is the nominee, then another proper officer must sign.) Nominations via e-mail may be submitted via e-mail if electronically signed. Bylaws amendment proposals and resolutions. For consideration at the 2010 NAMI Annual Convention, proposed Bylaws amendments and proposed resolutions must be sent to the NAMI office at the above address by return-receipt mail and received no later than April 3, 2010. Proposed amendments to the NAMI Bylaws must be submitted in amendment form.

All nominations, amendment proposals and resolutions must be submitted to:

NAMI Elections 2010
Attn: Lynn Borton
3803 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100
Arlington, VA 2203

After April 15, NAMI's Voting page will also include:

• Candidate information (personal statement, letter of nomination, and answers to questions of importance to NAMI)
• Bylaws proposals
• Proposed resolutions

To ensure compliance with NAMI's Bylaws, 75 percent of the Board must be "persons who have or have had mental illness, or parents or other relatives thereof," including domestic or civil partners. Candidates will be asked to make a statement to this effect. The current NAMI Board has one member who does not identify as having lived experience. No more than four (4) members who do not have a lived experience with mental illness themselves or as a relative may serve on the board at any time. Questions about the election process may be directed to us via e-mail.

Sharing Hope Grant Applications Due Monday, March 1!

NAMI is seeking applications from NAMI affiliates and/or chartered state organizations to expand and further evaluate Sharing Hope: Understanding Mental Health, an outreach and education initiative targeting African American congregations. The main goal of this initiative is to help NAMI affiliates and chartered state organizations successfully reach out and meaningfully engage African Americans in NAMI (education programs, support groups, etc.).

NAMI will award grants to five NAMI affiliates and/or chartered state organizations in good standing. Each of the selected sites will receive a Sharing Hope implementation grant in the amount of $3,000 in order to cover the costs associated with the initiative (staff time, materials, etc.), will receive technical assistance from the Multicultural Action Center and will be able to participate in program updates and training conference calls.

See the Sharing Hope section of the NAMI Web site for more information. Click here to download the grant informational and application packet. Applications are due March 1.

Keep Them Coming! Media Stories Wanted

NAMI's top priority for 2010 is to save state mental health services. Many thanks to the people who have sent copies of news stories about budget cuts in their states. Please keep them coming! Help NAMI track what is happening nationwide; they are invaluable in support our advocacy efforts. If you see a news story about mental health budget cuts in your state, please send a Web site link to christinea@nami.org. Please also tell us about any personal experiences that you or your family currently are having as a result of state budget cuts.

Advocate Reader Survey

An online survey for the NAMI Advocate and e-Advocate has just launched and will run through March 31. NAMI would appreciate your invaluable input, comments and suggestions. Results of the survey will be published in the April issue of the e-Advocate. Take the survey today.

Join NAMI Asian American and Pacific Islander Leaders Group

NAMI is offering members of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities an opportunity to take on a national leadership role by taking part in the NAMI Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Leaders Group.

NAMI's multicultural leaders groups bring together experienced individuals from across the country and from all areas of the organization to provide input and recommendations to NAMI and develop strategic plans to transform NAMI into a truly diverse organization. Formed in 2005, the members of the AAPI Group work together with the Multicultural Action Center to ensure that NAMI continues to address the various needs of this community in a culturally appropriate manner. Furthermore, great networking opportunities are provided through regular conference calls and in-person meetings when possible.

Examples of the NAMI AAPI leaders group's work includes an extensive review of mental health information available to the Asian American population as well as translation and development of NAMI materials targeting this community including our series of Chinese-language fact sheets.

Help this group grow! If you are interested in joining the NAMI AAPI Leaders Group please contact us at MACenter@nami.org. Please pass this message along to anyone you know that might be interested.

Convention e-Newsletter Is Now Available

Click here to read about the exciting program plans for NAMI's 2010 National Convention in Washington, D.C.

NAMI 2010 National Convention Is Open for Business

Registration for NAMI's 2010 National Convention is open. Although June 2010 might seem like far off, it's never too early to make plans to attend this very special event.

The 2010 National Convention will be held June 30-July 3 at the completely renovated Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. It's scheduled to end the day before Independence Day so you can join your NAMI family and tens of thousands of Americans in the incredible Fourth of July celebration in our Nation's Capitol, or get home in time to enjoy the celebration in your own home town.

For more information, a preliminary convention schedule, hotel reservation information and a convention registration form, go to the NAMI Web site.

And remember--you'll save big bucks the earlier you register.

Register Now for the April Education and Support Train-the-Trainers

We are pleased to announce that registration is now underway for the April 22-25, 2010, Train-the-Trainers in St. Louis for the following programs:

• Family-to-Family, De Familia a Familia, Basics, In Our Own Voice, Peer-to-Peer and Family Support Group

March 8 is the absolute deadline for registration. After that date, we cannot accept any late registrations. A letter of support by either your state program director, executive director or board president is required with the application.

Send an e-mail to 2010trainthetrainer@nami.org to receive the application.

NAMI Connection Training of Trainers

The NAMI National Education, Training and Peer Support Center is pleased to announce its fourth Training of Trainers for NAMI Connection State Trainers. This event will be held at the St. Louis Airport Hilton Hotel from Thursday April 22 at 5:00 p.m.-Sunday, April 25 at 12:00 p.m.

Individuals attending this training will be certified as state NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group State Trainers. Participants selected by the state to attend this training need to be certified NAMI Connection facilitators who have been facilitating a Connection group for no less than five months by April 22, 2010. The next training of state trainers will occur in October 2010.

Costs for transportation, training materials, meals and lodging (shared rooms) are covered by the NAMI Connection program for the initial three state trainers selected by each state. Once a state has three trainers' expenses covered by National, the state is responsible for covering the cost of additional trainers. The training fee for Connection state trainers is $350, which does not cover transportation.

Train the Trainer registrations are only accepted from NAMI state offices. State registrations are due by March 8, 2010. For more information contact Anna Goodwin, Connection training manager agoodwin@nami.org.

Publicizing Family-to-Family Classes in 2010

NAMI National wants to publicize your Winter/Spring 2010 F2F classes. You may post your class information by accessing the Family-to-Family Intranet and clicking on the link Add/Edit a Class. Please make sure your state Family-to-Family program director knows about your classes. You may also contact Marshall Epstein at marshall@nami.org or (703) 516-7975 to have him enter your class information. He will also provide advice about the intranet.

New Resource for F2F/VHA Outreach

We are pleased to announce that a new NAMI education programs brochure has been created for you to use in the outreach to families of Veterans and can be given to participants attending the class at the VHA facility. In addition to providing a bulk supply of the brochures to each of the 49 F2F program states and the VHA MOU site facilities, we are also able to provide the brochure to other local NAMIs working with a VHA facility to set up a F2F class or holding ongoing classes. If you wish to be included on the brochure distribution list, you must send to Lynne@nami.org the following information: name of NAMI; name of the VHA facility; status of your effort to start/maintain a F2F class; contact name and mailing address to send brochures.

New Education, Training and Peer Support Center e-Newsletter

The Education, Training and Peer Support Center has issued its third departmental electronic newsletter, highlighting this year's Education Leadership Academy.

The newsletter will provide an update on the NAMI signature programs: Family-to-Family; De Familia a Familia; Basics; Connection; Peer-to-Peer; In Our Own Voice; Provider Education Course and Family Support Group Facilitator Skills Training Program.

Enjoy!

Deadlines and Dates to Remember

• February 28: NAMI Convention Poster Applications Due
• March 1: Grant Application Deadline for evaluate Sharing Hope: Understanding Mental Health
• March 8: State registrations due for NAMI Connection Training of Trainers and NAMI Education Training of Trainers
• March 10: Conference Call on HUD Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program
• March 31: Advocate survey closes
• April 3: NAMI Board of Directors Nominations, Bylaws Amendment Proposals and Resolutions due
• April 15: Early Registration Deadline for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Conference
• April 20: The deadline for submitting DSM-5 Comments
• April 22-25: Training of Trainers for NAMI Connection State Trainers and NAMI Education Training of Trainers in St. Louis
• June 1-3: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Conference in San Antonio
• June 30 - July 3, 2010 - NAMI 2010 National Convention in Washington, D.C.