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April 2, 2012

NAMI CAN!
Action Needed: Sign the Parity Petition

 

Did you miss this call to action from our National organization?  It's not too late and you are not too far from Florida to get involved. In fact, copy and paste this message into an email and send it to your family and friends wherever they live in this country.

 

Urgent action is needed. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida recently terminated mental health and addiction service providers and is seeking new contracts at substantially reduced rates through its affiliate New Directions Behavioral Health. This could affect patient access to care. NAMI is joining with coalition partners to push a strong message to other insurers throughout the country, to Congress, and to the Obama Administration that the termination of mental health and addiction service providers violated the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and should not be permitted in Florida or anywhere else in the country.

 

Whether or not you live in Florida, please sign this petition: www.ipetitions.com/petition/mental-health-parity Send the link to everyone you know who wants parity in treatment for mental health and substance use patients at.This site also provides more detailed information about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida's actions.

 

Strong participation on the part of NAMI members and other advocates is important to ensuring quality care for mental health and addiction recovery patients.

 

Thanks! Together we are stronger.

 

Bettie Reinhardt, NAMI CAN! Coordinator

[email protected]  

MHSA Community Forum, April 4, Chico 

A Community Forum will be held April 4, 2012, to discuss the impact of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), in Butte and neighboring counties. The Community Forum is sponsored by the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), and facilitated by two MHSOAC committees, the Client and Family Leadership Committee and the Cultural and Linguistic Competence Committee.

 

The Community Forum will be held from 2:30 to 6:00 PM.

 

            Location: Chico Masonic Family Center

            1110 West East Avenue

            Chico, California 95926

            Phone: (530) 342-7143 (Directions only)

                            

Specifically, the MHSOAC is interested in hearing from stakeholders about how MHSA services and supports that were funded as a result of Proposition 63 have made a difference for them, their families or their community. MHSOAC Committee members and staff will facilitate a semi-structured discussion with attending stakeholders designed to elicit feedback and diverse views.  

 

Information and stories gleaned through this discussion will be summarized annually and used to provide feedback to the MHSOAC about how persons have experienced the MHSA in local communities throughout California. This information will be considered by the MHSOAC in shaping future policy direction.

 

Interpreters will be made available upon request. Please contact the MHSOAC at [email protected] or (916) 445-8696 for these requests and provide at least 7 days notice to help ensure availability. Late requests will be honored if possible.

 

Because space is limited we would appreciate an RSVP if you are planning on attending or attending with a group of participants. Please RSVP to [email protected] or (916) 445-8696.

County of Orange Health Care Agency Mental Health Campus Ribbon Cutting

Please join the Health Care Agency and Supervisor Bill Campbell for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the new Mental Health Campus. Reception and tour immediately following.

Thursday, April 19, 2012, 1:30 p.m.

401 S. Tustin * Orange, CA 92866

The two-acre facility will be the first of its kind in the state of California. Three buildings totaling nearly 25,000 square feet will include a consumer-run Wellness Center and Peer Support Center, an Education Training Center, and a Crisis Residential Program.

Please RSVP by April 12th
(714) 667-5614 or [email protected]

A New Mental Health Consumer Voice Arises

The Birth of California Association of Mental Health Peer Run Organizations (CAMHPRO)

On March 20, 2012, Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State to establish a consumer run organization with the specific purpose "to promote the work and mission of peer run organizations devoted to advocacy and empowerment for mental health consumers." Directors of consumer run organizations and statewide consumer leaders have actively worked together for the last six months to develop this new mental health consumer voice in California.

CAMHPRO's founding organizational members include Mental Health Consumer Concerns of Contra Costa County, Project Return Peer Support Network of Los Angeles County, Peers Envisioning and Engaging Recovery Services (PEERS) of Alameda County, and the Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHASF). Individual founders include Linford Gayle, Director of the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs, San Mateo County and former Chair of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

CAMHPRO has enlisted Sally Zinman, a pioneer in the national and California mental health consumer movement, to serve as Interim Executive Director in its formative year of growth.

"In the last thirty-five years, consumer run programs have grown from informal mutual peer support groups to SAMHSA designated best-practices," stated Khatera Aslami, Executive Director of PEERS, "It is time for these organizations to work together within a formal structure to promote strong organizations and empowered individuals."

For more information, contact Sally Zinman at [email protected] or 510-644-1916 or
Eduardo Vega, Executive Director of MHASF at [email protected] or 415-421-2926.

CAYEN Steering Committee Applications Now Open

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is looking for motivated, passionate, and dedicated Transition Age Youth (TAY) ages 16-25 to join our dynamic Steering Committee and create real change at the state level!

 

This is a fantastic opportunity for TAY working in the mental health field as TAY Peer Mentors/Advocate, and other young people interested in mental health programs, systems, and policy.

 

The Steering Committee functions as CAYEN's board, and consists of 20 TAY from across the state.  As a Steering Committee member they will gain valuable skills while making a real difference in California Mental Health policy.  

 

Visit CA-YEN.ORG to apply before April 23rd. 

Electronic Health Record Demonstration Series

You are invited to attend an Electronic Health Record demonstration by OfficeAlly. 

 

The demonstration is for Solo/Small group physicians, primary care physicians, practitioners and specialists in Orange County to learn more about OfficeAlly's Electronic Health Record.

 

Thursday, April 5, 2012

6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

 

Orange County Medical Association

17322 Murphy Ave

Irvine, CA 92614

 

Please RSVP by registering at

CMH Offers Small Counties Webinar Series on Wellness Centers and Peer Driven Programs

Please join CMH for a series of webinars outlining best practices, models and strategies for developing and implementing wellness centers and peer-driven programs in small counties on April 27 and May 18. The first two seminars in the series have been completed. 

 

Webinar 3: Employees with Lived Experience within County Systems

(Facilitator and presenter - Anne MacRae; additional presentations by invited speakers):
Models of employment, Supervision versus mentoring, Employment evaluations

Date: Friday, April 27

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

 

Webinar 4: Sustainability and Funding Streams

(Facilitator: Anne MacRae)

Funding and Sustainability, Outcome measures, Closure and Action Plan: Where do we go from here?

Date: Friday, May 18

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

 

Reserve your Webinar seats now.

 

Click here to register for the entire series. 


or register for individual sessions:   

 

Webinar #3, April 27:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/662991592

 

Webinar #4, May 18:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/371038289

 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

 

For more information, contact:

Shoshana Zatz

Associate II

California Institute for Mental Health

2125 19th Street, 2nd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95818

(916) 556-3480, ext. 141 (office)

(530) 219-0862 (cell)

 

[email protected]   

www.cimh.org 

Understanding the California Health Benefit Exchange
We will soon witness the greatest transformation of the health care system in our nation's history. California is on the frontlines and the first state in the country to create a program to implement the federal Affordable Care Act. The California Health Benefit Exchange will be an online marketplace for eligible individuals to purchase coverage, a universe also comprised of small businesses that is estimated to be more than eight million by 2016, according to University of California, Berkeley.

This informative seminar will include discussions about the sources of health insurance in the state, the rising costs of health care, the Exchange's vision, mission and values, and issues and obstacles facing the execution of health care reform in the state. CEU credits available.

Guest Speaker: Kim Belsh�
Senior Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute of California
California Health Benefit Exchange Board Member


Details:
Sacramento
Tuesday, April 3, 2012

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
CSAC Conference Center
1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Riverside
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.  
Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
The Bourns Boardroom
3985 University Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501

RSVP Required
Please RSVP to Maria Eligon at (916) 658-0144 or email:
[email protected]
Switch Now to Electronic Federal Benefit Payments

Everyone who receives Social Security/Supplemental Security Income or other federal benefit payments by paper check is required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to switch to an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013. This move will save taxpayers $1 billion over the next 10 years, while ensuring all federal benefit recipients receive their money in the safest, most reliable way possible.  

 

There is less than one year left to ensure people switch to one of the two Treasury-recommended electronic payment options: direct deposit to a checking or savings account or the Direct Express� Debit MasterCard� card.

 

It's fast, easy and free for people to make the switch online at www.GoDirect.org or by calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Solution Center at (800) 333-1795. For direct deposit, people can also sign up at their bank or credit union.

18th Annual Meeting of the Minds

Conference
"A Spectrum of Solutions"
Presented by Mental Health Association of Orange County with Orange County Health Care Agency, Behavioral Health Services Prevention and Intervention Division Orange Police Department

 

Thursday, May 3, 2012

8 AM - 4:00 PM

 

Anaheim Marriott Hotel/New Location
700 W. Convention Way

Anaheim, CA 92802

 

Objectives: To bring together the full spectrum of the "mental health community" of Orange County,

to raise awareness, learn skills, increase cultural sensitivity, network, reduce stigma,

share information and resources, strengthen existing relationships, develop new alliances,

improve patient care, and quality of life for persons impacted by mental illness

 

Who Should Attend: Mental health professionals, community agency staff, consumers and families, school personnel, religious leaders, volunteers, community advocates, private practitioners,

law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, public health providers, elected officials, and all!

 

Features:

Showcase of community resources

Networking luncheon

Keynote Presentation

22 workshops to update your knowledge and skills

CE Hours approved for workshops designated **

P.O.S.T. (pending approval)  

 

Click here for full information packet and schedule. 

 

For More Information: (714) 547-7559

NAMI California's 2012 Annual Conference: Applications for Workshops

NAMI California's 2012 Annual Conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California on Friday August 17th & Saturday August 18th. We are now accepting applications for workshops. This year's theme is "All of Us Together: Advocacy in Action".

 

All applications must be submitted with this attached form.

 

Please include a brief biographical sketch of each presenter, along with the title and proposed objective for your workshop. The may be up to a total of four presenters per workshop. You are responsible for your own LCD projectors; TVs and VCRs may be rented at the hotel.

 

Completed forms must be received by April 6th, 2012.

Fax or email them to:

 

NAMI California

Attn: Nikki Townsend

[email protected] 

(916) 567-0163 office   (916) 567-1757 fax

 

Save the Date!   

2012 NAMI CA Annual Statewide Conference

When: Friday, August 17th & Saturday, August 18th

Where: Marriot Hotel, Irvine, CA

More information to come!

 

Hope to see you there!

Join Our Mailing List!

Contact Information

Weekly Report

NAMI California
1851 Heritage Lane, Ste 150
Sacramento, CA 95815 

Phone: 916-567-0163 Fax: 916-567-1757
 

www.namicalifornia.org


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