Weekly News & Events
April 20, 2016

Conference News

2016 NAMI California Annual Conference

Learn what's new in mental health at the  2016 NAMI California Annual Conference  August 26 & 27 in Burlingame! We have an exciting lineup of sessions focusing on advocacy, criminal justice, consumer and family engagement, transitional age youth, diverse communities, and strengthening NAMI - plus inspirational talks and practical workshops. This year's keynote speakers will be Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, and Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert , a leading schizophrenia researcher. We're also excited to welcome back guest speaker Major Sam Cochran, a national leader in the field of crisis intervention. 

Don't delay -- register now to take advantage of early bird pricing!

May Is Mental Health Month!

May is Mental Health Month! Find your own unique way to support Mental Health Month and bring awareness to your communities about this important topic. Here are some helpful tips and resources:
 
Advocacy activity tip sheet and May is Mental Health Month resolution:  NAMI California has provided a handy tip sheet for how to engage in local advocacy activities in support of May is Mental Health Month, and has developed model resolution language for local public officials to go on the record in support of mental health and a stigma-free community. Scroll down for more info.
 
Each Mind Matters May Is Mental Health Month resources and toolkit:  Each Mind Matters has put together a toolkit to help plan May is Mental Health Month events in your community. Click here for more info. 
 
NAMI 2016 May Is Mental Health Month webpage:  NAMI has launched a webpage with a place to pledge your support to be stigma-free, plus resources and information on how to show your support for May is Mental Health Month. Click here  for more info.
 
Whatever you choose to do for Mental Health Month please share your photos, stories and quotes with us!
Advocacy Activities For Mental Health Month

NAMI California affiliates advocate in local communities all year, but May is an important month to remind local policymakers about issues that matter to us and to ask them to help raise awareness and reduce stigma. Here are some activities you can do and some tools NAMI California has created to help:

Pass a resolution with your Board of Supervisors and/or City Council recognizing May as Mental Health Month
  • Download this model resolution and take to your Board of Supervisors or City Council and ask that they pass it to proclaim the importance of mental health awareness and stigma reduction and to recognize the month of May
  • Promote the resolution through media, social media, and community events
Meet with your federal representative about mental health reform
  • Share the work of your affiliate with him/her and discuss the importance of mental health reform
  • Background information is available from NAMI National: http://www.nami.org/mentalhealthreform
Meet with your state legislators about NAMI California's 2016 policy priorities
  • NAMI California's 2016 policy priorities include: peer and family specialist certification, housing, and crisis services
  • Contact Marcel Harris at [email protected]  for talking points and assistance with arranging your meeting
Whichever activity you pick, here are some tips:
  • Take pictures! We love to share what you do with the world. Send your pictures to [email protected].
  • Share materials about your affiliate's programs with your local policymakers.
  • Sign up for NAMI California's advocacy network to share your ideas and results with other affiliate leaders. Email [email protected] to join the network. 
NAMI California Youth Advocacy Day
May 17, 2016
 
As part of the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization, NAMI California is dedicated to providing opportunities for young people to become advocates in their own communities in the fight against stigma related to mental illness. We encourage all of California's youth to get involved this May, become an advocate and help spread awareness of mental illness!

2016 Youth Capitol Day

NAMI California is partnering with the California Psychological Association and coordinating an exciting day of Capitol visits for youth. We invite youth ages 14-25 to the State Capitol to take part in an afternoon of learning about advocacy, meeting with other young advocates across California, and sitting down with local legislators.

Attendees will experience advocacy firsthand. We provide training on how to present the issues you wish to discuss with your legislator and learn from one another during a debrief with other attendees on their experiences. Affiliates are invited to attend with youth from their communities!

2016 Youth Capitol Day
Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Time: 12pm-4pm
Location: Downtown Sacramento - We will meet for lunch and a speaking program at a nearby restaurant,then walk to the Capitol for legislative visits
Cost: Travel reimbursement available; please submit request with the attached form.
Details: All high school students must attend with a chaperone; all school policies must be followed regarding parental permission, travel, etc.
Instructions: Please download the registration form at the link below and submit to NAMI California no later than April 25, 2016. Attendees must attend the Youth Advocacy Webinar.

#NAMICAYouthVoices

Share your local advocacy efforts! If you can't make it to Sacramento for Youth Capitol Day, you can still show  your support. Post to Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #NAMICAYouthVoices  and share what you are doing in your local community to end stigma and have your voice be heard. All posters  will be entered into a raffle to win a deluxe Each Mind Matters prize package (sweatshirt, t-shirt, and more)!

Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 (to be eligible for the prize, you must post on the 17th; however, the hashtag can be used all month long in May)
Instructions: Please download the tip sheet at the link below for ideas on how you can participate in Youth AdvocacyDay locally. Post to your social media account using #NAMICAYouthVoices to share what you are doing!

Youth Advocacy Webinar

Join NAMI CA and the California Psychological Association for a one-hour webinar at 5 pm May 3 or 4 pm May 4 where we will share what it means to be an advocate, the ins and outs of legislation, and why this matters in relation to mental health and mental illness. Please email Erik Villalobos at [email protected] to register for the webinar.


Advocacy News
Next NAMI CAN! Call April 27

The next NAMI CAN! call is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27 from 5-6 pm. The NAMI California Advocacy Network (NAMI CAN!) was created to facilitate the active involvement of NAMI members all over the state in education and advocacy around issues impacting individuals living with mental illness. During these calls, we hear from affiliates about local advocacy efforts, share legislative updates and short advocacy trainings. This month's call will feature Andrew Sperling, Director of Legislative Advocacy from NAMI. To register, please email Marcel Harris at  [email protected] .

Advocacy Training & Regional Meeting In Alameda County
 
Save the Date: The next NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Training and Regional Meeting will be held Saturday, June 11 in San Leandro. NAMI Smarts for Advocacy is a hands-on advocacy training program that helps people living with mental illness, friends and family transform their passion and lived experience into skillful grassroots advocacy. To RSVP, please contact Marcel Harris at  [email protected].
 
NAMI Smarts Training and Regional Meeting
Saturday, June 11
9:30 am - 3 pm
John George Psychiatric Hospital
Clinical Education Room, GL7
2060 Fairmont Drive 
San Leandro, CA 94578

MHSOAC Meeting April 28
 
The next Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 28, in Calaveras County.  Participants can attend the meeting in person or call in using the number and participant code. MHSOAC is currently looking for panelists to share their experiences with the Issue Resolution Process. 

MHSOAC Meeting
Topic: Issue Resolution Process
Thursday, April 28
9:30 am - 3:30 pm 
Calaveras County Health & Human Services Agency
Sequoia Community Meeting Room
509 E. St. Charles St.
San Andreas, CA  95249
Call-In Number: 866-817-6550
Participant Code: 3190377

 
Program News
Upcoming Training Opportunities

Below is the schedule for NAMI California Education and Support Group Programs.  Trainings are announced in this weekly report and the Upcoming Trainings page on our  website.

No Family or Peer Program trainings are available at this time. Please check back next week.

*Important Note:   NAMI affiliates interested in holding their own trainings with grant assistance should contact [email protected]  for details on how to apply for a grant. Grants are available for both May and June. Please contact us today for details!  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 State Coordinator Erik Villalobos at [email protected] t o receive an application via email. Prospective teachers/facilitators should return their applications in a timely manner as these workshops fill quickly.

Need to Report NAMI Class or Training Data? Click on this link: www.nami.org/programdata
 
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 Offering Mini Grants 
For National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

NAMI is excited to offer $350 mini grants to NAMI state organizations and affiliates interested in hosting community awareness events or celebrations during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July. All awarded sites will have the opportunity to be featured on NAMI's social media channels (blog, Facebook, Twitter, website, etc.).

Grants are open to any NAMI state organization or NAMI affiliate. To be eligible, click on the link below to download the application (only typed applications will be considered) and submit it to [email protected]  by Monday, April 25.

NAMI is developing a series of marketing and outreach resources for National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Visit   www.nami.org/nmmham to get ideas of the types of events to organize and  materials made available last year.

If you have any questions, please contact Maria Jose Carrasco at [email protected].

NMMHAM Mini Grant Application
Donate to NAMI California

donate
Let's Get Social!
What can we do better?
If you have something you'd like to see in the newsletter or want to send us a compliment, send us an email at  [email protected]

Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.