By Ann George and Julie Savastio
NAMI CCNS' Annual Meeting was held Monday, January 28 at Rush North Shore Hospital, with a record number of people in attendance. Attendees heard Co-Presidents Ann George and Julie Savastio detail all our accomplishments this past year and our plans for the coming year. Afterward, Dr. Maxim Chasanov gave a presentation of the family's role and responsibilities when caring for a loved one with mental illness.
NAMI CCNS continues to implement the strategic plan developed in December 2003. The key priorities were:
We are reviewing strategic planning needs and plan to undergo a more formal Board Development and Strategic Planning process. Consultants have been interviewed and we are ready to contract with the best candidate pending board approval.
We are improving outreach to those wishing to volunteer. In 2008 we will create more volunteer opportunities, especially in the area of fundraising. We need volunteers to attend teacher trainings in all our psychoeducation programs. Call the office if you wish to volunteer to become a teacher, support group leader, or simply answer phone calls or stuff envelopes. Barb and Candice will put you to work!
Newsline, our bi-monthly newsletter was better than ever this past year; "Medication Updates" is a valuable resource about new meds, possible side effects, class action lawsuits, and other important information around medication. Researched articles on local housing, diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder in children, and sexual dysfunction and meds, by editor Linda Logan were well-received. Sally Mann's legislative updates continue to keep readers abreast of crucial legislative concerns.
Newsline is mailed to approximately 600 readers in northern Cook County, including mental health providers, and schools. We receive accolades from professionals and gained new professional memberships as a result of our newsletter. Thanks to webmaster Tom Maier, our newsletter can now be accessed online, and forwarded to friends and family. Our office staff is now able to mail newsletters at the Bulk Rate, allowing us to save several hundred dollars with each mailing.
Thanks to Webmaster Tom Maier, we have quite a website. The NAMI CCNS web site's traffic has more than doubled to over 20,000 hits per month. It also offers a vast array of photographic records of many CCNS events, so take a peek when you get a chance. Tom linked our site to national's for easy online membership; created a web calendar for posting and viewing events; and instituted an electronic e-mail version of Newsline.
Our Public Education Programs at Rush North Shore Hospital have enjoyed record turn outs thanks to the efforts of Vice President Sandra Shovers. These free programs are given every other second Monday and address such critical topics as "Government Aid for the Mentally Ill: What You Need to Know," "Overcoming Obstacles to Finding Employment," "Strategies fro Convincing your Loved One to Adhere to Medication," "How To Avoid and Manage Crisis Situations."
Family to Family program coordinator Joyce Schladweiler and her teaching team of Ann George, Sandra Shovers, Tina Nelson, Joan DeCleene, Julie Savastion and Diane Thurnblad are offering F2F three times per year. This group of dedicated teachers are to be commended for their time and effort helping family members learn to cope effectively, and giving hope where too often there was none. Tina Nelson and Julie Savastio, our newest teachers, completed their training on Sunday and began their first class on Tuesday this past summer, in our first ever classes in the summer.
Visions for Tomorrow will be replaced by the newest NAMI Signature Course, NAMI Basics. This past year Visions teachers Agnes Byrne and Carol Milgram taught a class with an unusually high number of fathers at Kenilworth Union Church, and Helene Rhodes and Mary Mays taught at New Trier Northfield in the fall. NAMI CCNS has graduated more than 80 parents of children and adolescents over the past six years, and in doing so made a significant difference in the lives of children and their families. We are honored to be selected by NAMI National to pilot the NAMI Basics program, due to the success of the Visions program throughout Illinois. Barb Maier, our Executive Director, was the statewide coordinator for Visions from its inception. Newly trained teachers Judy Graff, Helene Rhodes and Barb Maier will begin teaching the first Basics class Wednesday, March 12.
TheProvider Education Program is arguably one of the most important trainings mental health providers can receive. PEP program coordinator and Executive Director Barb Maier continues to work hard to find agencies who will host this 10-week course, CEU's provided. The PEP team, John Neri, Adrienne Nelson, Diana Semmelhack, Diane Thurnblad and Barb Maier presented to nearly 100 Thresholds staff a "taste of PEP" at Thresholds' Staff Development Day and received outstanding evaluations. Barb is working hard to put together a class this summer to a consortium of providers. This award winning course presents the family and consumer's lived experiences and teaches professionals how and why it is absolutely essential that family members be included in the treatment plan. If you know of any agency, clinic, or service provider who may like to hear about PEP, please contact Barb at the NAMI CCNS office.
In Our Own Voice is a NAMI signature education program that trains consumers to speak to a community audience about their experiences with brain disorders, treatment and recovery. It is a stunning 60 minute presentation including two personal stories, and a DVD and is presented in the following format:
The NAMI CCNS team of Candice Savastio and Jenny George is stellar.
We offer four support groups year-round, and a Response Line for those in need of resources and support. (This is not a crisis line.) Our support groups and Response Line are vital to the well-being of families and consumers in our community. Thanks to our new office and staff, calls have steadily been increasing. The ability to answer requests for assistance immediately has been a significant factor in increase of membership, and attendance at meetings, programs and classes.
NAMI CCNS offers the following support and social groups:
Judy Graff, responded to people who call our Response Line for help with housing. Our mission is to facilitate and advocate for appropriate housing and support services for our membership and community at large. This is monumental because housing is inadequate, and, "one size" does not fit all. We have barely scratched the surface according to Judy. This coming year Judy will be joined by new Board Member Teddie Cheopelas; we anticipate they will be an outstanding team.
Among many other accomplishments and activities:
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