Dear NAMI CA Members:

We are very pleased to share that SB 11 & SB 29 by Senator Beall passed out of the Assembly Public  Safety Committee on Wednesday, with 7 Assemblymembers voting for the bills and none voting against! These are the bills that would require law enforcement throughout the state to have additional training regarding mental illness, appropriate de-escalation techniques, and community resources.

We are also excited that SB 614 by Senator Beall passed out of the Assembly Health Committee on Wednesday with 18 Assemblymembers voting for the bill and none voting against! This bill creates a statewide program to certify peers and family members as providers within the mental health care delivery system, and would allow peer and family support programs, such as NAMI's, to expand. Watch the video of the hearing by clicking here, beginning at 2:07:14: 

Thank you all for your tremendous advocacy in advancing these bills. Your stories, letters and phone calls made all the difference.

The bills will continue through the final stages of the legislative process when the Legislature reconvenes in August. We will keep you apprised of when to make phone calls and send letters!

Please show your appreciation to Senator Beall and Senator Leno by sending a thank you note using our online form here: http://goo.gl/forms/wFojklSwv4

MHSOAC Commission Meeting: July 23rd

The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission will meet via phone on Thursday, July 23rd at 9AM. Call-in Number: 866-817-6550; Code: 3190377.

MHSOAC Community Forum in Riverside County

The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission is coming to Riverside County to hear from consumers, family members and advocates. This is an important opportunity to share with the Commission which programs are working in the County and what else should be done.

The Forum will be held on August 13th from 3-6:30PM at the Embassy Suites Temecula Valley Wine Country Hotel: 29345 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591.

NAMI CAN Call: Wednesday, 7/22 at 5PM

Our monthly NAMI CAN call will be held on Wednesday, 7/22 at 5PM. Please RSVP to [email protected].

Please join us in congratulating Steve Pitman of NAMI Orange County and Dorothy Hendrickson, also of NAMI Orange County and NAMI California First Vice President on their election to the NAMI National Board of Directors.

We congratulate Dorothy and Steve on their appointment to the Board of Directors of NAMI National as well as the other elected candidates and nominees. 

We at NAMI California seek lives of dignity and respect for families and individuals living with mental illness, which includes the reduction of stigma in our diverse state.  We know that California is leading the way in providing appropriate mental health services and awareness, but we still have a long way to go. We are confident that Steve and Dorothy will continue to move this message forward at the National level.

New class announcements coming soon, 

please stay tuned!