Weekly News & Events
November 17, 2015

 
NAMI CAN!
NAMI  California Advocacy News   

NAMI Smarts for Advocacy:
Telling Your Story in Monterey County

NAMI California, Monterey County behavioral health representatives and community-based organizations came together last week in Monterey County to share ideas for becoming stronger advocates for mental health.  

B ettie Reinhardt, NAMI CAN! Coordinator, led a training on story sharing to help participants gain confidence in telling their stories. Kiran Savage-Sangwan, NAMI California Director of Legislation and Advocacy, gave a review of 2015 legislation for mental health policy.  Participants also learned tips on  tactics and encouraging members to get involved in advocacy. 

Attendees came away from the meeting equipped with the tools to influence legislation and continue to advocate for mental health services.
 
Program News & Updates  

Webinar on VA Services & Homefront Update

The next  technical assistance webinar for State Program Directors and Coordinators will be  Thursday, Nov. 19 at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time. Learn about the services and supports offered by the VA and how NAMI programs can be marketed to members of the military, veterans and their families. Updates on the NAMI Homefront program will also be shared.

We ask that you join the meeting 10 minutes early if this is your first time using Adobe Connect. Adobe Connect requires both a computer and a telephone line.

For instructions on using Adobe Connect, click here
To join the meeting, click here

Agenda
  1. Welcome
  2. Announcements from NAMI - NAMI Staff
  3. VA services for individuals and families - Susan McCutcheon
  4. NAMI Homefront updates and marketing strategies - Suzanne Robinson
  5. Q&A
Guest Presenter: Susan McCutcheon, RN, EdD, National Mental Health Director, Family Services, Women's MH and Military Sexual Trauma, Mental Health Services, Department of Veterans Affairs

Moderator: Suzanne Robinson, Senior Program Manager for NAMI Family-to-Family & NAMI Homefront

Please email [email protected]  if you have any questions.

-The NAMI Education Team

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Below is the schedule for NAMI California Education and Support Group Programs for this fiscal year.  Trainings are announced in this Weekly Report, the NAMI California newsletter and the namica.org   website.

Applications are now being received for the following Family Program Education Trainings:
  • February: Family Support Group - Northern California
  • March: Family to Family - Ventura
  • April: Basics and Family to Family - Ontario
Applications are now being received for the following Peer Program Trainings*:
  • March: Peer to Peer - Ventura
  • Connection trainings: as announced (see below)
*Important Note:   There will be additional trainings offered for all the programs above. These workshops will be hosted by affiliates and sponsored by NAMI California in the form of small grants. Interested affiliates should contact [email protected] for details on how to apply for a grant. Trainings will be announced in your region as they become available.
 
NAMI support group trainings are for NAMI members to become facilitators of a support group. The education trainings are for members desiring to become teachers or mentors of an education program. Upon graduation, the affiliate makes arrangements with the graduate to teach the class.
 
Qualifications for training: Interested parties should be NAMI members in good standing and ideally have graduated from the same education program they intend to teach. A participant also needs to be recommended by their local NAMI chapter. Additional qualifications will apply. Please ask your NAMI affiliate to contact Family and Peer Programs Supervisor, Lynn Cathy at [email protected]   or Erik Villalobos, Family and Peer Program Coordinator at  [email protected] to receive an application via email. Prospective teachers/facilitators should return their applications in a timely manner as these workshops fill quickly.
 
Send inquiries to:
NAMI California Office:  (916) 567-0163 

How to Access NAMI Signature Program Extranets, the Education Help Desk and Report Program Data
 
NAMI News



Call for Proposals for 2016 NAMI National Convention

Interested in an opportunity to share resources, tools and strategies with NAMI
National Convention attendees? Then consider submitting a workshop proposal application for the convention, which will be held in Denver from July 6-9, 2016.  The application a nd complete details  are posted at www.nami.org/convention . 
  • The deadline for for submission is Wednesday, December 2.
  • As part of the application process, you will want to be very clear in your goals for the workshop and be able to explain fully how your presentation will be helpful to attendees after they return home.
  • You'll be asked to provide an outline of how your session will flow from beginning to end. Including what tools and/or tactics participants will take back home with them to help themselves, their family members, or their community.
  • The strongest proposals are those presentations that provide real tools and guidance on how attendees can take action and become more involved once they are back home.
  • Important note: Workshop presenters cover their own travel and hotel costs. However, workshop presenters are eligible for a reduced convention registration fee.
Questions? Contact Alex Gant, NAMI National Convention Manager, at [email protected]

 
Affiliate News

NAMI Stanislaus Seeking Volunteer Coordinator

NAMI Stanislaus is looking for a volunteer coordinator to help expand programs in Modesto and outlying county areas. The position involves writing job descriptions, recruiting, interviewing, providing assignments and supervising volunteers. Volunteer jobs may include managing brochures (restocking and inventory); organizing the library of books, DVDs & videos; delivering flyers to outreach locations; calling members to remind them of meetings and special events; and helping with fundraising events.

Requirements: Must have strong interpersonal skills. Basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills required. Knowledge of office procedures and technology. Knowledge of mental health services in Stanislaus County. Appropriate college coursework in the field of human services, psychology, counseling or other related field is helpful.

For more information, please contact NAMI Stanislaus Executive Director Lynn Padlo at (209) 404-6015.

 
Conference News  

Conference Highlights Still Available

Did you miss this year's NAMI California conference -- or are you interested in seeing a session again? Download the PowerPoint presentations and/or buy CDs or MP3s below:


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