Transcript ADVOCACY FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

NAMI WAKE COUNTY
ORIENTATION
CONTACT: ANN AKLAND
([email protected]
AKLAND 919 266 0766
OUTLINE
Three Levels of NAMI
 NAMI Wake Mission, History, Legal Structure,
Philosophy
 Programs: Support, Education, Advocacy
 Community Awareness & Outreach
 Board Structure and Function
 Volunteer Opportunities
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WHAT IS NAMI?
naminc.org
nami.org
nami-wake.org
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Largest grassroots mental health organization in US
NAMI has National, State & local organizations
1,100 local affiliates—34 in North Carolina
NAMI Wake is largest NAMI Affiliate in NC
• National Office
• maintains a strong presence on Capitol Hill in
Washington, DC, by educating legislators and
policymakers.
• NAMI has developed unique education programs,
F2F, Peer to Peer, BASICs
• NAMI developed and supports NAMIWalks
• Information Helpline: (800) 950-NAMI
NAMI NC
Advocates at the state level within the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches for goals and objectives of NAMI NC Board
• Monitor the budgets and activities of state agencies; and
• support affiliate growth and development by working with new and small local
affiliates
• Publishes a quarterly state-wide newsletter
• Organizes NAMIWalks.
• Statewide coordination for Education Programs, Membership, NAMI on
Campus, Consumer Council
• NAMI NC HELPLINE: 800- 451-9682 ( NC only)
Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm.
How we are ALIKE
• We are grassroots, membership organizations
• One dues payment provides membership to all 3
levels.
• Some education programs are developed by
NAMI national; NAMI NC arranges & tracks
training sessions and reports to national;
Volunteers in NAMI affiliates organize & teach
classes
• We are aligned in our overall mission
How we are Different
• Each is a separate 501 (c)(3), tax exempt corporation
• We compete for donations and program funding
• While we are aligned in our overall mission, we form
our own public policy positions which sometimes differ.
• NAMI Wake offers its own support and education
programs in addition to those developed by NAMI
• NAMI and NAMI NC have salaried staff & Executive
Directors
• NAMI Wake accomplishes our goals through
approximately 140 active volunteers.
MISSION
The mission of NAMI Wake County
is to provide
support, education, and advocacy
for persons with mental illness and their
families and friends.
HISTORY
Founded 1987 as “Friends and Families in
Alliance for the Mentally Ill” (FFAMI)
 Original agent was Mary Virginia Welles, mother
of a daughter with mental illness.
 In Nov., 1989, the name was changed to Wake
County Alliance for the Mentally Ill (WC AMI).
 In 1998, the name of the organization was
changed to NAMI Wake County to reflect the
naming and identity standards of NAMI.
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LEGAL STRUCTURE
Tax exempt, nonprofit corporation 501(c)(3)
status under the IRS
 Membership organization
 Affiliate of NAMI and NAMI NC—each
organization a separate 501(c)(3) corporation
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NAMI WAKE – GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION
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Many volunteers in the community united to give their
time and support to one another and the local affiliate
in advocacy initiatives as well as other mission-related
activities.
The “lived experience” is critical to developing and
implementing informed public mental health policy
and programs.
Majority of board members have lived directly or
indirectly with mental illness
This philosophy is at the soul of NAMI Wake County
and must be preserved.
VOLUNTEERS ARE KEY TO SUCCESS
Passion from volunteers with “lived experience”
lead our education programs, support groups,
and advocacy efforts.
 Organizational leadership and logistics are
provided by volunteers
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WHAT MAKES NAMI WAKE UNIQUE?
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Only organization primarily serving Wake County that
advocates for issues impacting people with mental illness
and their families.
Volunteers serve on county and state committees related to
mental health and actively advocate with elected officials for
funding, policies and legislation
Only organization in Wake County offering family education
programs and support groups for different diagnoses.
Only independent advocacy group (not receiving state dollars)
publishing reports on mental health issues.
Have approximately 500 dues paying members more than
3,000 households in our data base.
RECOGNIZED BY PRESS
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Press calls NAMI Wake leaders for comments
on stories related to mental health
 N&O
 TV
Stations
 Winston Salem Journal
 Associated Press
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Letters to the Editor & Point of View Articles
WHAT NAMI WAKE OFFERS
All NAMI
Wake
programs
for families
and
consumers
are FREE.
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Education Programs
 Family to Family
 BASICS
 Peer to Peer
 Family Connections for BPD
Support Groups - Ongoing
 MH Consumers
 Family & Other Caregivers
Monthly Education Meetings
Volunteer Opportunities
In Our Own Voice: A one-and-a-half hour
interactive, multimedia presentation by
consumers that offers hope and provides insight
into the recovery now possible for people with
mental illness.
Peer to Peer: A course for
consumers containing individual
relapse prevention planning, a
debriefing/storytelling week, and an
advance directive for psychiatric care.
FAMILY TO FAMILY (F2F)
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The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 12week course for family caregivers of individuals (primarily
adults) with severe mental illnesses.
The course is taught by trained family members
All instruction and course materials are free to class
participants
Over 115,000 family members have graduated from this
national program
Location & Time: Vary by class
Contact: Andrea Chase, NAMI Wake F2F Coordinator @
[email protected]
FAMILY TO FAMILY (F2F)
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What does the course include?
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Current information about schizophrenia, major depression,
bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality
disorder, and co-occurring brain disorders and addictive
disorders
Up-to-date information about medications, side effects, and strategies
for medication adherence
Current research related to the biology of brain disorders
and the evidence-based, most effective treatments to
promote recovery
FAMILY TO FAMILY (F2F)
• Gaining empathy by understanding the
subjective, lived experience of a person with
mental illness
• Learning in special workshops for problem
solving, listening, and communication techniques
• Acquiring strategies for handling crises and
relapse
• Focusing on care for the caregiver: coping with
worry, stress, and emotional overload
• Guidance on locating appropriate supports and
services within the community
• Information on advocacy initiatives designed to
improve and expand services
FAMILY CONNECTIONS FOR BORDERLINE
PERSONALITY DISORDER (BPD)
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Family Connections Class taught in NC.
Family CONNECTIONS is a research-based, manualized course
for family members with a relative with borderline personality
disorder (BPD) or symptoms of the disorder.
The program seeks to provide the most current information and
research on BPD
Teaches coping skills based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy
(DBT) and to develop a support network.
Modeled after NAMI’s Family-to-Family program, the National
Education Alliance for BPD developed Family Connections
classes which are led by family members
Contact: Ann or Gerry Akland, [email protected]; [email protected]
FAMILY CONNECTIONS FOR BPD
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The effort of Family Connections is coordinated by the National Education
Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEA-BPD); with preliminary
research supported by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Course Content - Topics Addressed Include:
 Education on BPD Emotion Regulation Skills
 Research on BPD Effective Communication Skills
 Family Perspectives and Experiences Validation Skills
 Relationship Mindfulness Skills Problem Management Skills
 This class is taught by family members who are not mental health
professionals, and it is not a therapy group.
 Data from NIMH research documents that family members experience a
decrease in depression,
NAMI BASICS
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NAMI Basics is an education program for parents and other caregivers of
children and adolescents living with mental illnesses. The NAMI Basics
course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers
of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the
age of 13 years.
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The course consists of six classes, each lasting for 2 ½ hours. Classes may
be offered weekly for six consecutive weeks, or may be offered twice per
week for three weeks to accommodate the hectic schedules of parents. All
instruction materials are FREE to participants.
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Location & Time vary by class
Contact: Shea Cleveland, NAMI Wake Basics Coordinator @
[email protected]
NAMI BASICS
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Introduction to the stages of emotional reactions of the family
to the mental illness; including crisis, shock, denial, grief and
acceptance.
Insights into understanding of the lived experience of the child
living with the mental illness, including learning to separate the
child you love from the illness that alters their behavior and
abilities
Examples of strategies that have been found helpful in
handling challenging behaviors in children and adolescents
Information about the systems that are major players in the
lives of children and adolescents with mental illness – the
school system and the mental health system
NAMI BASICS
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Current information about Attention Deficit Disorder, Major
Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional
Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder, Childhood Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse
Disorders
Current research related to the biology of mental illness and
the evidence-based, most effective treatment strategies
available, including medications used to treat mental illness in
children and adolescents
Specific workshops to learn problem solving, listening and
communication skills
NAMI BASICS
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Exposure to personal record keeping systems that have proven
to be effective for parents/caregivers in their interactions with
the school and healthcare systems
Information on planning for crisis management and relapse
Information on locating appropriate supports and services
within the community to build a community of support for the
parent/caregiver
Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and
expand services, with an emphasis on personal advocates for
the parent/caregiver and child on an individual level
Contact: Cynthia Daniels-Hall, [email protected]
CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM PROGRAM
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Initiated by NAMI Wake & Wake County Human Services
Partnership between Alliance Behavioral Health, all law
enforcement agencies in Wake County, and NAMI Wake
Jail diversion program involving one week training program
related to mental health services, deescalation and policies to
allow transfer of custody to officer at WCHS Crisis Facility rather
than taking person to Wake County Jail.
NAMI Contact: Tom Hadley, [email protected], 787-5999
MONTHLY EDUCATION MEETINGS
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NAMI Wake Free Monthly Education Meeting
 4th Monday of each Month, Highland United Methodist
Church, 1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh, Conference Room, 7-8:30
pm
 Topics vary – Examples of recent speakers
Dr. Michael Zarzar, Bipolar Disorder
Dr. Terry Clapacs, Depression
Dr. Shane Rau, UNC, Schizophrenia
Dr. Zachery Rosenthal, Duke, Borderline Personality
Disorder
Contact: Ann Akland, aakland@nami-org; 919 266 0766
NEWSLETTER
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The Iris – Published Monthly
 Meeting
Announcements
 Support Group & Education Classes Calendar
 Volunteer Opportunities
 Special Events
 Fundraising events
 Contributed articles
 NAMI Wake’s “editorials”
 Contact: Ann Akland; [email protected]
919-266-0766
COMMUNITY AWARENESS OUTREACH
Serve on public sector boards and committees
 Attend health fairs
 Speak to civic groups, communities of faith and
other organizations.
 Annual Celebration of Courage Event
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Contact: Ann Akland
[email protected]
919 266 0766
NAMI Wake Information/Support
Line:919-848-4490
NAMI CONNECTION RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUPS
NAMI Connection is a weekly
recovery support group for
people living with mental
illness in which people learn
from each others’
experiences, share coping
strategies, and offer each
other encouragement and
understanding.
Time: First 3 Mondays of each Month, 7- 8:30p
Location: Highland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC
Time: Second, Third and Fourth Thursdays of each Month, 6:30 -7:30p
Garner United Methodist Church, 201 Methodist Drive, Garner, NC,
Contact: Heather Scott, [email protected]
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS
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Trained volunteer facilitators
Uses the NAMI Support Group model which offers a set of key structures and group
processes for facilitators to use to encourage full group participation in support group
meetings.
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Christ the King Lutheran Church, Room 101, 600 Walnut St, Cary, NC, 2nd & 4th Thursdays,
7-8:30pm. Contact Judith Dehavilland, [email protected] for more information.
HIghland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC., Rooms 202 & 204, 78:30 p.m. on the first three Mondays of each month. For more information contact Gordon
Gogola ([email protected]), phone (919) 601-3996.
Wake Forest United Methodist Church, 905 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC, 7 - 8:30pm, 2nd
and 4th Tuesdays of each month. For more information contact Gordon Gogola
([email protected]), phone (919) 601-3996.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN
Support meeting for parents and caregivers
 Under the age of 18 who have a behavioral
health diagnosis.
 Meetings are for sharing and supporting one
another especially in reference to the
education system.
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Group currently not available due to lack of trained facilitator.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS
Initiative with WCHS
 Groups primarily for people with mild to
moderate depression but individuals with any
diagnosis are welcome
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St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 1005 Wilbon Road, Fuquay Varina, NC
First & Third Thursday of each month: 7- 8:30 pm
Wake County Human Services,.220 Swinburne St., Raleigh, NC, Every
Friday: 2 - 3 pm, Rm 1151
FAMILY MEMBERS OF PEOPLE WITH
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
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For Graduates of the Family Connections for BPD Class or by
permission of facilitator
 3rd Sunday of each month First Step Services, 211 E. Six Forks Rd.,
Suite 117, Raleigh, NC, Contact Melonia Carroll,
[email protected].
IN OUR OWN VOICE (IOOV)
In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique public
education program developed by NAMI, in
which two trained consumer speakers share
compelling personal stories about living with
mental illness and achieving recovery.
 Program administered by NAMI NC
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Contact: Jennifer Rothman, NAMI NC, [email protected]
Attachment: NAMI Wake IOOV Reimbursement Policy
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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Consumer Affairs Committee
Advocacy Committee
Program Committee
Development Committee
Criminal Justice Committee
Data entry
Phone calls
Newsletter mail out
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Support Group
Facilitators
Education Program
Teachers
CIT Logistics
Health Fairs
Speakers
CELEBRATION OF COURAGE
Nineth Annual NAMI Wake County
Celebration of Courage
Celebrate the Hope, Recovery. amd Courage
of People with Mental illness
Recreation of Van
Gogh's Painting
"Irises"
Vincent showed signs of mental disturbance
and after a fight with a fellow painter,
Gauguin, cut off part of his own ear. He spent
time [1889-90] in an asylum but continued to
produce great works of art. He shot himself at
the scene of his last painting 'Cornfields with
Flight of Birds' in 1890.
Van Gogh referred to his mental illness as “an
illness “like any other.” Share his message!