the families advocate

THE FAMILIES ADVOCATE
NEWSLETTER
OF NAMI ALAMEDA COUNTY
A Program of the Mental Health Association of Alameda County
Family Leadership
Training Program
The Family Education and Resource Center (FERC),
provides outreach, education and support to family/
caregivers of people with mental illness. It also facilitates input and feedback to Alameda County Behavioral
Health Care Services decision makers at all levels about
the important roles family/caregivers play in supporting
their loved ones and about the experiences and needs of
family/caregivers. FERC works closely with County and
contract agencies to promote a family/caregiver
perspective and a more family/caregiver
and consumer
driven system of care.
FERC has designed a new training program for
"families" (people who have the lived experience of
providing care for a loved one with a serious mental
health challenge) on advocacy, leadership skills and
promoting the family voice and perspective within the
mental health system. Approximately 10 family members will receive the extensive training and upon completion, begin participating (as available) in steering, quality
review and planning committees, program/organization
boards and policy advocacy on behalf of the family
members' perspective. For more information, go to
www.askferc.org
or call 510-746-1700.
**Keeping up with state budget cuts**
If you are trying to keep track of the large cuts in the state
budget and to be clear about the potential impacts of these,
there are several good sources of information on the internet.
These include: NAMI California (www.namicalifornia.org),
Mental Health Association in California (www.mhac.org) and
the California Disability Community Action Network
(www.cdcan.us) - this latter site provides very detailed and up
to the minute information.
VOL. 33, NO.4 April, 2011
Estate Planning
is April meeting topic
Our April 14th speaker will be Baron L. Miller, who
has been an attorney in private practice in San Francisco
continuously sincei 973. He has been writing and lecturing on the subject of estate planning for families of
people with mental illness for many years and he is a
recognized expert in this field oflaw. He will talk about
Special Needs Trusts which can offer families a way to
provide for some of the needs of their loved one after the
family caregiver is gone.
Mr. Miller has an adult child who has suffered from
schizophrenia since 1989. He is a long time NAMI
member and advocate for families of the mentally ill, and
he has made frequent presentations on the subject of
mental illness to schools, community and professional
groups and governmental bodies.
There will be time for questions, bring yours!
*2011 NAMI Walk*
Help us reach our goal of raising $40,000 this year by
supporting NAMI Alameda County in the 7th Annual
NAMIW alk to be held in Golden Gate Park on Saturday,
May 21 st. You can be the captain of your own team,join
one of our teams, walk on your own or sponsor one of our
walkers.
Online, you can visit www.namiwalksfbay.orgto
sign
up as a walker, or to make a fast and secure donation to
sponsor an Alameda County walker. If you prefer not to
use the internet, you may call the MHA office at 510835-5010 to request aNAMIWalkwalkerregistration
or
donation form.
NAMI EDUCATIONAL MEETING
Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 7:30
pm
"Estate Planning for Families of People with Mental Illness"
SPEAKER -BaronL. Miller, Esq., Miller & Miller, San Francisco
Meeting will be held in Conference Room C at Eden Hospital,
20103 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley. Call 510-835-5010 for more information or directions.
The Mental Health Association is affiliated with the California and National Mental Health Associations.
NAMI Alameda County is affiliated with NAMI California and NAMI National.
~
Nonprofit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Oakland, Calif.
PERMIT No. 1977
Mental Health Association
of Alameda County
THE FAMILIES ADVOCATE
954 60th Street, Suite 10
Oakland, CA 94608
(510) 835-5010
ADDRESS SERVICES
REQUESTED
FAMIL Y SUPPORT
Groups sponsored byNAMI Alameda COUlltvAFRICANAMERICANFAMILYSUPPORTGROUP.
Fourth Tuesday, 5:30-7:30 pm, Mental Health Association, 954 60th St. #10, Oakland. Call Steve Bischoff
at 51O-835-50IOformore info.
SOUTH COUNTY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP. 2nd
& 4th Tuesday, NEW TIME - 6:30 pm, 31600
Alvarado Blvd., Union City,attheHollyCenter.
Support
for the caregivers - we find hope with friends and family
who understand. Call Patty Espeseth to let us know you're
coming,510-535-5115x Ill.
Family support groups sponsored by ot"ersNAMI - EAST BAY. Second Wednesday, 7 pm at the
Albany Methodist Church, 980 StannageA ve. at MarinA ve.
inAlbany. Enter StannageA ve. door &come upstairs. Also,
support group for families of children, adolescents & teens
with mental illness meets at 7 pm on the third Tuesday at
Albany Methodist Church; call 510-524-1250 for more
info.
CHINESE-LANGUAGEFAMILYSUPPORTGROUPS.
Family Support for Healthy Minds- Mandarin & Cantonese
speaking famil ies meet one Saturday each month from 10
am to noon. Meetings are held at 523 8th St. in Oakland.
Call 510-522-0924 for more info.
BERKELEYBIPOLARSUPPORTGROUP.EveryThursday, 7-9 pm & Saturday II-I pm.,HerrickHospital- Level
A. Open to both families and to persons being treated for
bipolar disorder. For more info call Janna Wertzat51 0-6532959 or Mayona Endahl at 510-420-0868.
BERKELEY FAMILIESSUPPORTGROUP. First&
third Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 pm at 2636 M.L.K. Jr. Way. For
parents, spouses and partners. Call Marcella Sabin 510-9817668 for more info.
GROUPS
IN ALAMEDA
FAlTH-BASEDSUPPORTGROUP-NewName"Hope for HurtingFamilies & Friends"-NewTime&
Location - 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 7-9 pm, Crosswinds
Church, 6444 Sierra Ct., Rm. 104, Dublin. For more
info contact Pat Ackerman at 925-846-4894 or
[email protected]
FAMILYCAREGIVERSOFOLDERADULTS
WITHMENTALILLNESS. - ForthThursday, 1-2:30
pm, North Oakland Senior Center. For more info call
Roberta Tracy at51 0-60 I-I 074 or MonicaNowakowski
@[email protected]
THEDEPRESSIONANDSADNESSSUPPORT
GROUP - A program of the Life Reaching Across to
Life Organization. Every Monday, 7:30-9 pm, 3833
Peralta Blvd., Suite D, Fremont. Formore info call J.
"Scotty" Scott at 5 I0-745-9500 or Rev. Barbara Meyers
at51O-796-5722.
DBSACASTROVALLEY. Every Friday, 7: 15-8:45
pm, Eden Hospital, Conference Room A, 20 I03 Lake
Chabot Rd. For more info email dbsa.
[email protected],
website
www.
dbsall iance.org/castrovalley or call AI Pereira, chapter
facil itator, at 925-462 -6415.
KAISER FAMILY EDUCATION & SUPPORT
GROUP. 6weekseries; Wednesdays,5:30-7pm, 3900
Broadway in Oakland. Call Cathy Farrell at51O-7526714 to pre-register. Not a drop-in group. Individual must be Kaiser member to attend this group
VILLAFAIRMONTSUPPORTGROUP
Every
Wednesday, 6 pm, meets in the Conference Room, for
families who have or had a relative in either of the
Villa Fairmont programs. Call Maisie Ketron/Ann
Elliott at 510-352-9690 for more info.
Our websites: www.mhaac.org
COUNTY
DBSA TRI-VAlLEY,PLE4SANTON. EveryWednesday, 7; 15-8:45 pm, St. Clare's Episcopal Church, Classroom I, 3350 Hopyard Rd. For more info email
[email protected],websitewww.dbsalliance.orgl
tri- valleybipolar or call AI Pereira, chapter facilitator, at
925-462-6415.
NAMITRI-V ALLEY FAMILYICAREGlVERSUPPORTGROUPS.
Second Monday, 7: 15-9 pm, Livermore Publ ic Library,
1188S.LivermoreAve.
Fourth Monday, 7: 15-9 pm, Pathways To Wellness,
5674 Stoneridge Dr., Ste. 114, Pleasanton. For more info
call Marsha McInnis at 925-980-5331 or email marsha
@nami-trivalley.orgorwebsitewww.nami-trivalley.org
FAMILYICAREGIVERIPROVIDER
SUPPORT
GROUP - Every Tuesday, 6-7 pm at Fairmont Hospital.
15400 Foothill Blvd., Building C, San Leandro. Call
Maurice Fried at 510-895-4369.
NAMITRI-VALLEYPARENTRESOURCE&SUPPORTGROUP- Firstand third Tuesday, 7-9 pm, Pathways
To Well ness, 5674 Stoneridge Dr., Ste. 114, Pleasanton.
Call Suzi Glorioso at 925-443-1797
or email
[email protected].
*NEW* FAMILYICAREGIVERSUPPORTGROUP
First & third Thursday, 5:30-6:30 pm, John George Psychiatric Pavilion, 2060 Fairmont Dr., San Leandro, Court
House Room. Call Beverly Bergmanat51 0-835-0 188 for
more info.
FAMILY/CAREGIVER ADVOCATE
MHAAC office hours: Man, Tues, Wed, Thurs
from 11:30-4 & Fri 9-5, call 510-835-0188.
John George Pavilion hours: Man, Tues, Wed
& Thurs 5-7:30 pm, call 510-835-0188.
& www.nami-alamedacounty.org