From NAMI National
New Announcements
- NAMI Opportunity! - Your Grassroots Feedback Wanted!
- Implementation Grant Opportunity for NAMI States and Affiliates
- SAMHSA Provides a New Online Resource for Ideas and Discussion about Health System Reform
- NAMIWalks - Surging Across America, Raising Community Awareness
Repeated Announcements
- April 24th Children's Conference Call With Dr. Ken Duckworth
- Have You Shared NAMI Today?
- New Issue of Recovery for All
- Special Event: NAMI Convention Film
- NAMIWalks - Accepting Applications for New WALK Sites in 2010
NAMI Education and Program Information
Repeated Announcements
- The 2009 Family-to-Family Hall of Fame
Deadlines and Dates to Remember
From NAMI National
NAMI Opportunity! - Your Grassroots Feedback Wanted!
The NAMI Standards Work Group (SWG), a work group created by the Infrastructure Committee of the NAMI National Board of Directors, has worked diligently and thoughtfully to complete the second Draft NAMI Standards of Excellence - Phase 2 on three themes: Program, Fundraising, and What Constitutes a NAMI Affiliate. The SWG is comprised of grassroots NAMI members just like you, including representatives from urban, suburban, rural and frontier communities; ethnic groups; staff; volunteers; executive directors; and state presidents.
Please read the draft document by going to the NAMI Web site and learn how NAMI is developing common practices and standards so that all three levels of NAMI can continue to grow strong and fulfill our mission in our communities.
We encourage you to express comments and feedback in two ways:
1. By participating in an online survey by clicking here
The survey will be up through the beginning of May.
You are also invited to voice your comments by participating in one of a series of Town Hall calls being offered in four NAMI regions. You can join NAMI members from your area, or join in any call that suits your schedule. On these calls, we'd specifically like to focus on the benefits and challenges of the proposed practices in the Draft Standards of Excellence - Phase 2, and how we might overcome any challenges to help NAMI grow and be strong. We look forward to your comments.
For all calls:
Dial: 1-888-858-6021
Enter participant code: 861117#
April 20 - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time - Southern States
(6 p.m. Central, 5 p.m. Mountain, 4 p.m. Pacific)
April 21 - 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time - Central States
(5 p.m. Central, 4 p.m. Mountain, 3 p.m. Pacific)
April 23 - 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time - Central States
(10 a.m. Central, 9 a.m. Mountain, 8 a.m. Pacific)
April 28 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time - Western States
(2 p.m. Central, 1 p.m. Mountain, 12 p.m. Eastern)
April 30 - 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time - Western States
(7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain, 5 p.m. Eastern)
We look forward to hearing from you!
Implementation Grant Opportunity for NAMI States and Affiliates
NAMI National is offering Implementation Grants to roll out the In Living Color: Depression Treatment in Primary Care education program. NAMI National will select 4 sites who will receive $4,500 to cover the costs associated with implementing and evaluating the course. In addition to funding, grant program sites will receive technical assistance from the Multicultural Action Center, and will participate in initiative updates/training conference calls.
In Living Color: Depression Treatment in Primary Care is a s a three hour education course designed to equip physicians practicing in primary care settings with the knowledge and tools to identify and provide appropriate treatment of depression to medically underserved ethnic and racial groups. The course is facilitated by a team consisting of a consumer, a family member, and a physician. This program was jointly developed, piloted, and evaluated by NAMI and the American Psychiatric Association. For more information about the program and to download the application form click here.
The application deadline is Monday, May 18th. Only complete applications will be considered. Please contact the Multicultural Action Center at macenter@nami.org or 703-312-7883 if you have any questions.
SAMHSA Provides a New Online Resource for Ideas and Discussion about Health System Reform
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has created a new place on its website for posting and exchanging ideas about the issues and opportunities surrounding the future shape of America's health system - especially on how reform may affect mental health, substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
SAMHSA is seeking additional ideas and comments from others on how the health care system can be reformed to better provide essential services in their communities. The new place on the SAMHSA website provides guidance on how to formally submit these comments and ideas to the agency. The site will be continually updated with these newly submitted ideas and information as part of the agency's ongoing effort to foster national discussion about health system reform in the mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment communities. To read the full press release click here.
NAMIWalks - Surging Across America, Raising Community Awareness
The 2009 NAMIWalk season continues this weekend in San Diego where they will be holding their 6th Walk on Saturday, April 18th. They will be walking in Balboa Park and are already more than halfway toward their goal of $150,000.
If you are reading this and are near one of the 80 NAMIWalks being organized for 2009, get connected and join the fun!
In the 6 years since its inception, NAMIWalks for the Mind of America has become the largest national mental health awareness event and one of the fastest growing programs of it kind. More than 250,000 walkers have participated, raising nearly $30 million to fund state and local NAMI advocacy, education and support programs. To find the NAMIWalk nearest you, visit NAMI's website.
April 24th Children's Conference Call With Dr. Ken Duckworth
Save the Date: Friday, April 24th, 2009, from 11:00a.m. to 12:30p.m. E.T.
* Please Note that the April Children's Conference Call has been moved to the fourth Friday of this month. The Children's Conference Call with Dr. Duckworth will resume its usual schedule of the third Friday of every month in May.
Topic: Borderline Personality Disorder and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy across the Lifespan.
We are very pleased to have special guest Dr. Marsha Linehan, Professor of Psychology and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics, on the April Children's Conference Call with Dr. Duckworth to discuss Borderline Personality Disorder and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy across the lifespan. Dr. Linehan is involved in research projects regarding developing new treatments and evaluating their efficacy. Her primary research focus is on the application of behavioral models to suicidal behaviors, drug abuse, and borderline personality disorder.
The April Children's Conference Call will also serve as the April Adult's Conference Call so participants on the call will include those interested in adult mental health issues as well as those focused on child and adolescent mental health. Dr. Linehan will discuss both age groups in her presentation. Friday Children's Conference Calls with Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI's Medical Director and a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, usually take place on the third Friday of every month (with the exception of this month). The calls are toll free and are scheduled from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. E.T.
To access the toll-free call, please dial 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918#. We hope that you will join us!
Have You Shared NAMI Today?
NAMI.org visitors are sharing articles and resources with their family and peers across the top social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace.
How it works:
There is a link called "Share This" atop each page on NAMI.org. Once clicked, visitors can share the page across 39 different social networks. When you link to NAMI from your blog or Facebook page, it can be viewed by hundred or even thousands of people. Any one of them could also share NAMI with their network - and so on.
This is really easy way to spread the NAMI mission, support others and help make NAMI a household name and we encourage everyone to start clicking.
NAMI Tweets
Want to get the latest from NAMI? Now you can "follow" NAMI on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
Twitter enables NAMI to send brief updates, or "tweets", to followers on anything, ranging from a TV special piece on mental illness, an urgent call to action, or the latest mental health headlines.
You can even sign up to have tweets sent to your mobile phone, so you'll never miss an urgent message from NAMI.
Follow NAMI on Twitter today. The registration process for Twitter is fast, free, and easy.
Twitter: It's NAMI on the go!
What's In a Widget?
NAMI has released a Web-based application, or "widget", to promote NAMI's partnership with the TV series House. With just a couple of clicks, NAMI.org users can embed the ad on Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites.
The widget works much like the "Share This" feature: it allows NAMI user to spread the word and raise funds for NAMI. Just the first 100 users to embed the widget resulted in more than 20,000 views of the ad.
NAMI.org will be releasing more of these features in the near future, so come back soon and keep sharing!
Share This
Follow NAMI on Twitter
House Widget
New Issue of Recovery for All
The NAMI Multicultural Action Center has released the latest issue of the Center's e-newsletter, Recovery for All. This first issue of the year features articles on cultural competence scoring for NAMI's Grading the States 2009 report, the NAMI American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Listening Session, as well as the upcoming 2009 NAMI Convention, new resources from the NAMI Multicultural Action Center, and a list of upcoming events. Access this issue as well as previous issues of Recovery for All and subscription information on NAMI website.
Special Event: NAMI Convention Film
NAMI's 30th anniversary convention in San Francisco on Sunday. July 5 with a screening of the PBS documentary, "When Medicine Got It Wrong," about NAMI's dramatic grassroots origins and founding as a national organization. The film premieres publicly in the fall. In the 1970s, families rebelled against medical theories that blamed schizophrenia on bad parenting and changed forever how mental illness is viewed. Their activism continues today.
Besides honoring NAMI's founders, the screening will launch a campaign to publicize the fall broadcast. Come celebrate NAMI's heritage and help make NAMI a household word. This is one convention event you don't want to miss. Register now for the convention. Special hotel and airline rates are available. See other events on the convention program.
NAMIWalks - Accepting Applications for New WALK Sites in 2010
NAMIWalks is now accepting applications for affiliate and state organizations that wish to join the 80 current franchised WALK sites participating in the program.
For the new WALK application click here.
Applications will be accepted now through July 1, 2009.
Apply now and join the fun!
In the 6 years since its inception, NAMIWalks for the Mind of America has become the largest national mental health awareness event and one of the fastest growing programs of it kind. More than 250,000 walkers have participated, raising nearly $30 million to fund state and local NAMI advocacy, education and support programs. To find the NAMIWalk nearest you, visit NAMI website.
NAMI Education and Program Information
The 2009 Family-to-Family Hall of Fame
It is time to nominate Family-to-Family teachers who have taught 10 or more classes and also teachers who have taught 20+ classes. Teachers in attendance at the NAMI Convention in San Francisco will be honored at the Education reception. All teachers will receive a Family-to-Family Hall of Fame certificate.
The nomination must come to us from the state Family-to-Family program director or executive director. We are also taking nominations for Family-to-Family trainers who have led 10 or more Family-to-Family teacher training sessions. The deadline to receive nominations is May 30.
Send nominations to Lynne@nami.org including mailing address, phone number, and an e-mail address if available.
Deadlines and Dates to Remember
May 18 - The In Living Color: Depression Treatment in Primary Care Education Program Application Deadline
May 30 - Family-to-Family Hall of Fame Application Deadline
July 1 - New WALK Sites in 2010 Applications Deadline