new masthead
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
October 2011

National Alliance on Mental Illness, California State Organization 

Welcome Members and Affiliates
We welcome your ideas for topics to cover, your feedback on issues that face consumers, families, and providers across the state. Contact us at [email protected].
NAMI California and Advocacy: An update on our progress

vision

Our roots as an organization are steeped in advocacy. Our founders battled a system that did not provide for the needs of their family members with serious mental illness and they found support in each other through their struggle. We have come a long way since 1978 and have developed sophisticated educational and support programs to help those who come to us for help. In fact, since 1990 our programs have been a concentrated focus of our organization, as they should be, but let us not forget the necessity of our advocacy. If a new NAMI family seeks help in a support group connecting with needed services in the community, they should find a system that listens to the people it serves and provides high quality care. In the face of the new Realignment of 2011, we must evolve and change with the times.

Our state organization has always been on the front lines of advocacy, but outside of state legislation many of the "fronts" have moved within county lines. Advocacy is "Going Local." It is time to develop a local advocacy network that rises to the excellence of our programs. It is so important that we bring a strong focus to our local issues just as we have strived to do at the state level with NAMI California.

MHSA Update: Changes to the Mental Health Services Act

MSHAOC

As many of you are aware, statutory and budgetary changes that were made through

AB 100 legislation earlier this year have heralded significant changes to our state's mental health system and the way we will need to approach oversight, accountability, and advocacy of the MHSA. At the top of the list is state reorganization of mental health administration and what agency or agencies will be charged with oversight and leadership of community mental health. As always, there are also significant funding considerations.

 

A one-time diversion of $862 million from MHSA funds for fiscal year 2011-2012 now funds the state's share of operating two mental health programs previously administered through State General Funds: Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) and Medi-Cal Managed Care. Beginning in fiscal year 2012-2013, these programs will rely on portions of tax revenues set to be realigned to counties.

 

We will begin hosting conference calls and other outreach efforts to find out from you how best to support your advocacy. Thank you for your continued involvement and stay tuned. But don't wait for me to contact you - please contact me any time at [email protected].
NAMI CAN! Update

Breaking schools' rulesUse this information from NAMI National to work for better services for children in your county:

 

New Report: Breaking Schools' Rules

The Council of State Governments' Justice Center's Breaking School Rules reports that, based on a study of nearly 1 million Texas secondary school students over six years, "nearly three-quarters of the students who qualified for special education services during the study period were suspended or expelled at least once. The level of school disciplinary involvement, however, varied significantly according to the specific type of disability. Students coded as having an 'emotional disturbance' were especially likely to be suspended or expelled."

 

Use this report to monitor your local schools in the wake of California's repeal of AB 3632. The repeal shifted the responsibility for students' mental health services from County Mental Health agencies to local school districts.

 

Victory for Children in Katie A. v. Bont� Agreement

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law's recent press release  hails an important settlement reached in the class-action suit, Katie A. v. Bont�. The suit alleged that foster children in California are institutionalized or confined in large group homes because the state has failed to provide necessary mental health services in violation of the required Medicaid Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program.

 

Learn more about the EPSDT program and work with allies to ensure your county is complying with the law and providing good services for children.

Family to Family Update 

circle logo

In September, NAMI California Family Programs Director Lynn Cathy was an exhibitor at the California Psychiatric Association Conference. While staffing the table she had a number of psychiatrists come by to speak with her. All of them were "very supportive" of NAMI and many said they refer their patients' family members to Family to Family Classes. She adds:: 

 

"Many of our affiliates have 12 week classes well underway, and we will have more affiliates offering Basics this fall thanks to a recent training during the summer.  

 

"We have three trainings scheduled this fall. One in Humboldt County, and the other two in Southern California."

 

Here are the details:  

Northern CA

Arcata: October 28-30, 2011    


Southern CA

Lancaster: November 11-13, 2011

Ontario: December 2-4, 200 (Support Group)

 

NAMI California also looks forward to an expansion of the Parents and Teachers as Allies program, as NAMI National is offering a national training this month.

  

For applications, please contact your affiliate. For more information, email NAMI California Family Programs Director: [email protected]  

Affiliate Updates

Fifth Annual NAMI Walk a Success in Kern County

Kern Walk 2011They put on their running shoes to walk for a cause and to break the stigma of mental illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness held their fifth annual walk Saturday in Kern County.

For some the walk is a family tradition.

"I have mild bi-polar disorder and (my daughter) Ashley has bi-polar disorder," walker Mickie Nommensen said. And for others it was their first time participating in the NAMI walk.

"I'm pretty jazzed," walker Janie Byrun said. "I want to know more about it and I want to help out," Byrun continued.

But for everyone there was one goal in mind; to break the stigma of mental illness. Ashley Nommensen has been living with bi-polar disorder since she was 13-years-old.

"There's a lot of time that I can't explain my mood swings when they happen. It hurts cause I used to be the child who ran around and did everything and was good in school," Nommensen said. NAMI has changed her life. She said if it wasn't for the organization she wouldn't know how to handle her mental illness.

"They teach us coping skills. How to cope with our mental illness, how to talk to people with mental illness and how to be an advocate for stigma," Nomennsen said.

It's something several people in Kern County can relate too. That's why they walked to raise awareness.

"All of the monies raised for this walk stay in Kern County. All of the dollars help fund all of the projects that we offer," NAMI president, Patrice Maniaci said.

"If anyone in your family suffers from mental illness don't stay in the closet. Don't keep it a secret. There is so much help out there and so much information. Get help," Mickie Nommensen said.

Over $30 thousand were raised at this year's NAMI walk. Those dollars will be used to help those with mental illness.

Click here to watch the walk video.

Contact Information
[email protected]
or call NAMI California
(916) 567-0163
In This Issue
NAMI California and Advocacy
MSHA Update
NAMI CAN! Update
Family to Family Update
NAMI Walk a Success in Kern County

join
paypal

Proud Sponsor of NAMI California:

Janssen logo

facebook
twitter
NAMI California's Tree of Tribute
Fiscal Year 2011-12
tree of tribute
Each year many donors elect to give a gift in celebration of an event, in honor of a special individual or in memory of a loved one.

The Tree of Tribute formalizes this tradition by providing a lasting acknowledgement
for individuals who are remembered, individuals who are honored or have an enduring record of a significant celebration. 
 
Gifts in Celebration, in Honor or in Memory

Gifts of $500 or more will be eligible for an engraved leaf on the Tree of Tribute or an engraved stone at the base of the tree.

$500 - Bronze leaf
$1,000 - Silver leaf
$2,000 - Gold leaf
$3,000 -- Small stone
$5,000 - Large stone

Major Donors  donors

NAM
I California thanks the following for their very generous contributions of $500 or more.

Humanitarian: $5,000-$15,000 Kelly Foundation, Sacramento, CA
Janssen Pharma
, New Brunswick, NJ
AstraZeneca, Wilmington, DE
Patron:  $2,500 - $4,999 
Benefactor:  $1,000 - $2,499
The Knudtson Family Donor Advised Fund
, CA

Ralph E. Nelson, Visalia, CA

Attias Family Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
Frances Tibbits, Pacific Palisades, CA

Pfizer Inc., New York, NY

David M. Knapp Special Needs Trust, San Diego, CA   

Shareholder: $750-$999

Sponsor:  $500-$749
Joseph Kotzin,, Los Angeles,CA

Patricia Goldring, PhD, Sherman Oaks, CA

Kessel, Young, & Logan, Charitable Account, Long Beach, CA

 

NAMI California Annual Conference Donors

Janssen Pharma, $5,000

AstraZeneca, $5,000  

  _______________________

All donations,
large and small,
are greatly appreciated by
NAMI California and help
us achieve our mission
at the state level.
_______________________
2011 advocacy

This educational newsletter is supported, in part, by an educational grant from Lilly USA, LLC.  For further information concerning Lilly grant funding visit www.lillygrantoffice.com.