nami weekly news and calendar
March 11, 2014
2014
NAMI California Annual Conference
"Growing Minds in Changing Times" 
August 1st & 2nd
Marriot Newport Beach
Now Taking Early Bird Discount Registrations

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THIS WEEK
NAMI Can!
Tell Congress "Don't Cut SSDI to Pay for Unemployment Insurance!"
NAMI Celebrates Victory in Preserving Medicare Part D Access to Psychiatric Medications
The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church
NAMI Survey on Recovery Education Course
NAMI CA Programs News
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Awareness Day
NAMI Can!

Hot Off the Press: Follow the NAMI California Blog for the Latest Advocacy News

Want to know what the NAMI California Advocacy team is up to? What's happening at the Capitol? How you can be more involved? Take a look at the NAMI California Blog posts on our website here: Advocacy Blog.  

 

Find out about our newest effort, the Capitol Coalition, upcoming legislative conference calls and all the things we do to support your work in the community. It's an easy read, full of news and notes, and the place to find out about what we do and how you can become a part!

 

Two NAMI California Regional Meetings: Contra Costa County March 20 and El Dorado County April 28

NAMI California has finalized our Regional Meeting schedule for 2013-2014.

 

We will be holding a Foothill Area Regional Meeting in El Dorado County on MONDAY, APRIL 28, from 9:30am to 3:00pm at Faith Episcopal Church, 2200 Country Club Dr., Cameron Park, CA 95682. The following affiliates and County Mental Health providers are invited: El Dorado, Sacramento, Amador, Calaveras, Placer, Tuolumne, and Nevada Counties.

 

We will be holding a Bay Area Regional Meeting in Contra Costa County on THURSDAY, MARCH 20, from 9:30am to 3:00pm at Hillcrest Congregational Church, 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA. The following affiliates and County Mental Health providers are invited: Contra Costa, Alameda, Sonoma, Solano, Berkeley City, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco Counties.

 

Please consider attending the Regional Meeting nearest you, and explore with your county mental health department as to whether they might participate as well.

 

To RSVP or for more information contact David Czarnecki at [email protected] or by phone at 916-567-0163.

 

Disability Rights California (DRC) Releases New Mental Health Resources

DRC has released four new publications to help consumers understand that health insurance must provide equal coverage for physical and mental health conditions.

The following reports have been posted:

  • Ensure Your Health Insurance Provides Equal Coverage For Mental Health Benefits
  • Ensure Your Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Provides Equal Coverage For Mental Health And Substance Use Disorder Benefits
  • Final Regulations Implementing Federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
  •  Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, Mental Health And Substance Use Disorder Benefits And Your Right To Equal Coverage

These, and other resources, can be found HERE.  


Contact: Margaret Jakobson-Johnson at [email protected].

 

OSHPD Releases 5 Year Plan

On January 17, 2014 the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) received approval from the California Mental Health Planning Council to move forward with the MHSA WET Five-Year Plan 2014-2019.

 

A copy of the final WET Five-Year Plan 2014-2019 can be found HERE.

 

OSHPD is now moving forward with the critical implementation phase of the MHSA WET Five-Year Plan 2014-2019 and will continue engaging stakeholders in the implementation of activities as outlined in the WET Five-Year Plan. We will also continue holding our Advisory Committee meetings which are open to members of the public. We hope to have your continued engagement in our future efforts as we move forward.

 

If you have any questions please email: [email protected] 

 

How Will California's Penal System Respond to The 'Perfect Storm'?

California's system of incarceration is in the midst of sweeping changes. Recent shifts in state and federal law, motivated and bolstered by Supreme Court decisions, have created a perfect storm for institutional change. But as with any storm, it can be difficult to predict what can be done to prepare and what will be left when the clouds clear.

 

What caused this perfect storm in California? In 2011, the Supreme Court found in Brown v. Plata that California's prisons could not meet the mental and physical health needs of the inmates because of prison overcrowding. To avoid violating the VIII Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, the Court mandated that California prisons decrease their over-crowded prison populations to 137.5 percent of their design capacity within two years. Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 109 ('Realignment') to facilitate this transition.

 

Read the full article HERE.

 

-- Caliph Assagai

Legislation and Public Policy Director

NAMI California Advocacy Survey 

[email protected] 

 

--David Czarnecki
Advocacy Coordinator
[email protected]
  

Tell Congress "Don't Cut SSDI to Pay for Unemployment Insurance!"


As early as today, the U.S. Senate may resume consideration of legislation to extend federal emergency unemployment compensation benefits - a vital program that Congress must support.

  

Unfortunately, some in Congress continue to push for cuts to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to help pay for the proposed extension.  

During consideration of the extension in January, various Senators introduced multiple amendments to cut or eliminate SSDI for workers with disabilities who receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) after losing a job. Thanks to strong advocacy by people with disabilities and their allies, these proposals failed to advance - but may reemerge as the Senate resumes its consideration of emergency unemployment compensation extension over the next few days.

 

SSDI and UI are separate programs, but some people qualify for both because they have a significant disability, receive SSDI, and try to work -- but lose their job through no fault of their own. By law, SSDI beneficiaries are encouraged to work if they can, and many do work part-time. Benefit cuts would erode the economic security of workers with disabilities and their families, and would treat people with significant disabilities who receive SSDI differently from all other American workers.

 

Our nation's Social Security system should not become a piggybank.

Social Security is paid for by workers and their employers. Any changes to Social Security must be considered as part of careful deliberations about how to strengthen Social Security.

Call your Senators and let them know:

  • Don't cut Social Security to pay for extending Unemployment Insurance! Both programs are important, but Social Security must not become a piggybank.
  • Social Security disability beneficiaries who try to work should not be treated differently from other American workers. Unemployment Insurance should be there for them in their time of need. It's fair and it's right.
  • Cuts to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) could hurt the financial security of people with significant disabilities and their families. 
All Senate Offices can be reached by calling 202-224-3121.

 

Thank you for your advocacy! 

 

Click here to view additional background on SSDI and UI.

NAMI Celebrates Victory in Preserving Medicare Part D Access to Psychiatric Medications


The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has issued the following statement by NAMI Executive Director Mary Gilibertiin response to the announcement by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) that it will not move forward to "finalize" proposed rule changes under Medicare Part D that would have restricted access to antidepressant and antipsychotic medications

"Less than one full working day since the official comment period on the proposed rule ended and one day before the House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill to block the proposed changes, HHS's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated that it has heard the concerns of people living with mental illness and others over the elimination of three protected drug classifications under Medicare Part D.

 

"In a letter to members of Congress, CMS has recognized 'the complexities of these issues and stakeholder input' and declared that it 'does not plan to finalize the proposal at this time.' The agency has promised not to advance 'some or all of the changes' in the future without first receiving additional stakeholder 'input.'

 

"For now, for people living with mental illness the crisis has been averted. The threat of restricted access has essentially been stopped-although we will continue to support the pending legislation currently scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, March 11, if House leaders decide to complete that process.

 

"We thank CMS for responding to the concerns of individuals and families affected by mental illness and both thank and congratulate the thousands of individuals who responded to NAMI's call by submitting official comments or signing NAMI's online petition in opposition to the proposed rule. NAMI will of course continue working to protect access to necessary medications in all health care programs, whether today or in the future."

The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church


On Friday, March 28, 2014, Pastor Rick and Kay Warren of Saddleback Church, Bishop Kevin Vann of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, NAMI Orange County, and other faith and community leaders will participate in a one day event entitled, The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church.

 

This special event is designed to encourage individuals living with mental illness, educate family members, and equip church leaders to provide effective and compassionate care to those who face the challenges of mental illness.

 

Date/Time:
Friday, March 28, 2014,

 from 8:30am-9:00pm 


Location
:

Saddleback Church Worship Center

1 Saddleback Pkwy, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Price:
$20.00 (lunch included)

 

Registration:http://www.saddleback.com/lakeforest/events/eventdetails.aspx?id=76010  

 

Questions:Please contact the Saddleback Church Membership Team at 1-949-609-8278 or [email protected] 

 

Over six hundred people have registered as of last weekend, and seating is limited. NAMI California hopes to see many of you on March 28th.

Your Voice Matters! NAMI Survey on Recovery Education Course


As views of mental health and recovery continue to evolve, NAMI's intention is to integrate the most current and relevant understanding of recovery into its education and support programs.

 

We would like to hear from you! This is your chance to tell us what you think an ideal recovery education course for individuals living with mental health challenges should look like. 

 

Please take a few moments to fill out our detailed survey. Your voice matters and will help us shape the future of education and support at NAMI. 

 

Link to the survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/recoveryeducation

NAMI CA Programs News


Save the Date


Please save the date for the Directing Change Award Ceremony at the Crest Theater in Sacramento, CA. Come support this year's winners by attending the event on May 13th, 2014. More details to follow. We would love to see you there!

 

The Directing Change video contest is a statewide competition where high school and UC students create 60-second public service announcements to spread awareness about ending the silence on mental illness and suicide prevention.

 

The winning team will win $500 and will be recognized for their cinematic achievement at the award ceremony in Sacramento. The contest is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students.

 
Family Programs Trainings:

 

Family Support Group and Basics Trainings: FULL 

April 11-13, 2014 - Encino, CA                                       

 

Family to Family Training

May 30-June 1, 2014 Elk Grove, CA

 

NAMI Family Program news is also posted Facebook. Latest entry - New NAMIStore coming soon!

 

The NAMI Family Programs Blog is now active - same address: http://NAMIfamily.blogspot.com

 

Peer and Stigma Reduction Programs Training:  

In Our Own Voice Anti-Stigma Arts Network

March 8-9, 2014 - San Diego

 

Connection

March 15-16, 2014 - Ontario

 

Peer-to-Peer

May 9-11, 2014 - Ventura

 

Peer-to-Peer

May 16-18, 2014 - Sacramento

 

Provider Education Trainings - To be announced

 

Send inquiries to:  

Family Programs

[email protected] 


IOOV, Peer to Peer and Connection

[email protected] 

 

Parents and Teachers as Allies, Ending the Silence, NAMI on Campus, Provider Education
[email protected]

 

Directing Change

[email protected]  

 

Programs Director

[email protected] 

 

NAMI California Office:  916-567-0163

Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Awareness Day, May 13, 2014


Save the Date!

 

Join Each Mind Matters on the South Lawn of the California Capitol Building, May 13, 2014. You may also join the Solidarity March and attend the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Resource Fair!

  

Take the pledge against stigma and discrimination and listen to stories of hope and courage. More information to come as the event approaches.

  

For information, email [email protected], visit the EachMindMatters.org website, or telephone, 916-389-2625.

 

View and print the flier here.

Contact Us

1851 Heritage Lane, Ste 150
Sacramento, CA 95815
Phone: 916-567-0163
Fax: 916-567-1757
Email: [email protected]