Weekly News & Events

November 18, 2016

School-Based Mental Health Services for Children in Early Education 
 
Project Information and Invitation to Participate:
The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) is launching its "School-Based Mental Health Services for Children in Early Education" project by hosting the first subcommittee workgroup meeting to identify and discuss the individual and school-based challenges to identifying and treating young children with mental health needs.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016
12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Greater Sacramento Urban League
3725 Marysville Blvd.
Sacramento, California    

Download more information  here.
Please RSVP for the subcommittee workgroup meeting by December 01 .
Project contacts: Kai LeMasson (Kai.LeMasson@mhsoac.ca.gov)
Fred Molitor (Fred.Molitor@mhsoac.ca.gov
Nominations for NAMI California Board of Directors
 
NAMI California is accepting nominations for our Board of Directors. We are seeking qualified candidates who have experience as an individual or family member living with mental illness, knowledge of mental health policy, insight into nonprofit organizational structure, and/or legal, financial or fundraising experience. Board candidates must share a commitment to help all those affected by mental illness and a passion for NAMI California's mission. Please complete and return this form by  November 30, 2016

ProgramNewsProgram News
 Family/Peer Support Specialist Webinar Training Program
 
The Family/Peer Support Specialist Webinar Training program is devoted to giving peers and family members an opportunity to learn about educational skills such as the Recovery Model, Communication Skills, and Trauma Informed Care. All webinar training sessions are guided by trained presenters and provide opportunities for live participant interaction. The goal of this program is to provide individuals with lived experience as a peer or family member Behavioral Health educational training, one-on-one career counseling, and support to volunteer or work in the Behavioral Health Field. 

Interested in taking part in this program?

Apply Today!
NAMI California is currently recruiting for the Third Cohort starting in January 2017.
To take part in the program, a person should fit one of the following criteria (or both):
  • Individuals with lived experience
  • Family Member and/or Loved One with lived experience
Training Details:
Orientation Date (s): TBD (December 2016)
Location:  Webinar Training 
Time: 6:00PM-8:00PM 

Time Commitment, Expectations & Support for Participants:
  • Participants will need to attend 2 weekly webinar sessions (Monday and Wednesday) that are each 2.5 hours long.
  • Training program consists of 70 hours training that include 19 webinar sessions and assignments.
  • Send completed Interest Form to Community Engagement Coordinator, Zuleima Flores.
  • A designated Program Coordinator will offer support to participants.
  • Career counseling and support will be provided.
Questions?
Contact Community Engagement Coordinator, Zuleima Flores ( Zuleima@namica.org)

Click here to download and complete an interest form. 
Update on NAMI CA Peer and Family Trainings

NAMI CA would like to thank all affiliates for their patience this fiscal year with the training schedule for family and peer program trainings. NAMI CA is in process of negotiating bridge funding with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), while we await the Request for Proposal for the next 3 years of funding to be released. The bridge funding, while at a significant reduction of the previous contract amounts, will allow NAMI CA to coordinate some trainings. We anticipate these trainings taking place in the first quarter of 2017, and will provide more information on requesting trainings in the coming weeks. 

Thank you again for your patience and understanding. 
Whitney High School NCHS Club Presented with Outstanding Youth Advocate Award

NAMI California presented the Outstanding Youth Advocate Award to the Whitney High School NAMI on Campus (NCHS) Club last month. This award was presented for excellence in serving as an advocate that has both provided support and further advocacy for youth experiencing serious mental illness.
Whitney High School's NCHS Club has exceeded expectations for activity level and local impact. The club organized a week of activities for Mental Health Awareness week in February, and shared important information on mental illness each morning in a school-wide broadcast. Students wore lime green and posted to social media frequently, using the Each Mind Matters hashtags.
This club has very successfully planned and implemented an awareness campaign, and become advocates for mental health and stigma reduction.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
The California Department of Education (CDE) continues to provide FREE Youth Mental Health First Aid Training's (YMHFA)  under the grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through the "Now is the Time" Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education State Educational Agency (NITT-AWARE-SEA).  This grant funding has allowed the CDE to deliver YMHFA Trainings throughout the state to increase skills of school staff, parents, community partners, law enforcement, and other youth-serving adults by learning to recognize the signs of emotional distress and connect students to appropriate help. CDE continues to make this opportunity available to all public and private LEAs in the state through July 2019.

We encourage the following staff to participate: 
  • Classroom Teachers
  • Specialists
  • Administrators
  • Paraprofessionals
  • School Nurses
  • Health Clerks
  • Coaches
  • Yard Supervisors
  • School Secretaries
  • Bus Drivers
  • Campus Monitors
  • Cafeteria Staff
  • Instructional Aids
  • Janitorial Staff
  • Parent Volunteers
  • Parents
  • Community Organizations
  • Law Enforcement Partners
  • Youth Employers, etc.
Please see  flyer for additional information. For questions, please contact Monica Nepomuceno, Education Programs Consultant at CDE, at mnepomuceno@cde.ca.gov
Reporting NAMI Education Program Data

Reporting the data collected from classes, support groups and trainings to the NAMI Data Collection Site is extremely important. Reporting helps NAMI California provide more data to obtain funding so that we can provide trainings for NAMI's Signature Programs. We understand that navigating the reporting site can be challenging, but we are here to help if any assistance is needed with navigating the Data Collection Site. 
If you have any questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact NAMI California at (916) 567-0163.

Need to Report NAMI Class or Training Data?  
Please follow this link: www.nami.org/programdata
NAMI Provider Education 4-Hr Seminar


If you missed the NEW Provider Education 4-hr seminar on Tuesday, November 1st please contact NAMI California to receive the link and materials needed.
 
In order to be eligible for this new format, you must be 1) a trained Provider Education teacher and 2) have taught at least 1 PE course. You will need to be able to provide the date that you were trained as a PE teacher and the date of one of your courses.
 
If you have any questions or would like to request the webinar link and materials, please contact Erik Villalobos, Education Coordinator at erik@namica.org
NAMI on Campus Interest Form Survey


NAMI California is preparing our 2017 training schedule for the NAMI on Campus High School program. Please complete the following survey to let us know if your affiliate is interested in bringing a NCHS training to your community. 
 
 
Please note: We will be compiling a list of affiliates and will determine training locations based on readiness, school district support, student interest, and schedules.
 
NAMI on Campus High School Clubs are student-led clubs that raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma on their campuses and in their community through fun activities and education. Students will gain leadership experience, participate in NAMI, promote mental health and wellness, learn to plan exciting activities/events and much more. A critical component of the program is having strong school district support and engagement.
 
The program operates in the following way:
 
1. NAMI CA conducts a full-day training for student club leaders, their advisors and affiliates (The training day is required before clubs may form.)
 
2. The student clubs then officially launch their clubs on their high school campuses, with support from their local affiliates.
 
3. NAMI CA collects data from advisors, provides technical assistance and support to the affiliates, schools and clubs.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Erik Villalobos, Education Coordinator at erik@namica.org
 
If you feel that there is a high interest for this program in your area please contact Erik Villalobos, Education Coordinator at erik@namica.org .   
AdvocacyNewsAdvocacy News
SPACE STILL AVAILABLE, SIGN UP NOW! 

 
The next NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Training and Regional Meeting will be held on Friday, December 2nd in Fresno. 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.

Whenever we hold these meetings we also reach out to local Behavioral Health staff to learn how members can be more involved with the MHSA public planning process. Attendees will receive information on NAMI California's legislative priorities as well as have the opportunity to learn how to contact local policymakers and tools to conduct a successful meeting.  
 
NAMI Smarts Training and Regional Meeting
Friday, December 2nd, 2016
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
California State University-Fresno (Room TBD) 
5241 N Maple Ave, Fresno, CA 93740

To RSVP, please contact Marcel Harris at marcel@namica.org.
 
  Send Program Inquiries To:
  NAMI California Office:  (916) 567-0163 
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