What’s “New at NAMI NH” Newsletter
October 2007
News to distribute and share with your groups and classes
Please share these updates with your support group and classes.
Upcoming Events-
F2f Teacher Training- Nov. 2-4
October 28th last day to sign up!
Legislative Forum Training-
The most effective way to educate legislators is through their own local constituents - YOU. Through these forums we can educate our legislators on the need for continued accessibility to adequate mental health services and establish local NAMI NH contacts as resources for families around mental health issues.Our goal is to hold a forum in each of the 10 mental health center regions from Jan.-March 2008. This will make a huge impact!
NAMI NH will train you and others from your community to organize and facilitate a legislative forum. We will provide you with key information to share with your local legislator and help you with the planning. Forums will be small (10-15 people) and easy to manage. Materials and funding will be provided.
Training- Saturday November 10th , 9-12:30 at New Hampshire Hospital in Concord. Contact Annette at acarbonneau@naminh.org or 225-5359 x 25 to register!!
Affiliate News-
In October, the Nashua Affiliate celebrated 30 years with a very special and moving presentation by Chief Justice Broderick. This celebration was attended by local professionals, press and long and short term members and supporters of NAMI Nashua.
Manchester Affiliate held their Annual Meeting at the Puritan Restaurant in Manchester with wonderful food and a presentation on the Frameworks Youth Suicide Prevention project.
The Portsmouth Bi-Polar group presented speaker Dahna Nute and “Recovering from Hospitalization”
The Nashua Parent support group invited Steve Press, the Children’s director at Community Council to speak to parents on understanding normal vs atypical behavior in children.
The Seacoast Affiliate held an “Ask the Doctor” presentation with Dr. Kates
The Littleton group was visited by the Littleton Police Chief who spoke about the benefits of the NAMI NH police training and how he and his officers are working with local organizations to prevent people with mental illness from going to jail instead of getting treatment.
Whats New?
NAMI NH is awarded the Family Mutual Support Grant through the Bureau of Behavorial Health!!!!
What does that mean?
- Funding for Family to Family and Parents meeting the Challenge Funding for In our own voice and the new family speakers program “Life Interrupted”.
- Funding for additional Information and Referral resources.
- New Paper work!!!
This is incredibly exciting and what we have all worked so hard for, but we must all pay the small price of doing some additional paperwork. The reporting on calls and emails you get from families or professionals in your community is essential to show the need for family support. We will be connecting with you to ask you to fill out a more detailed form for calls you take. We know your time is so limited but without your help we cannot prove the work you do.
Help for families and youth transitioning to Adulthood-
Technical Assistance and Training Services for Transitional Planning Grant.
This project will provide youth with SED, their families and the professionals that support them with the strategies and tools needed to help transition into the adult world after high school. The project includes trainings for youth, parents and professionals, a Transition Conference and a Youth Leadership program.
For more information contact Claudia Ferber at 225-5359 or cferber@naminh.org
Affiliate input for marketing NAMI NH-
Do providers refer families to NAMI NH support groups?
Do providers know about NAMI NH support and education for families?
How can we reach more families in need of education and support?
How can we provide the outreach to families that we do know need support?
These are just some of the questions that we hope to answer as part of our Membership Grant project. Affiliate members and teachers offered great insight to these questions at the Fall Affiliate/Teacher meeting. A follow up meeting was held Oct. 17th to continue formulating plans that will help engage and support families in need. The next step is developing the marketing piece to distribute to providers and to reach out to families. A meeting will be held to once again get this valuable input from all of you- Stay tuned ……
Thanks,
Annette
If you would prefer not to receive this email newsletter, please email me to be removed from the distribution list. Please contact me with questions, needs, and news of your groups and classes at acarbonneau@naminh.org or 1-800-242-6264 ext 25.
