IN THIS ISSUE CALENDAR

Number 169 Apr-June 2010
Cuts Send Mental Health System into Tailspin
IN THIS ISSUE
SOS Report Cuts Deeply
GAMC Alternative Produced
Health Care Law Details
Criminal Justice Family
Training
Educating Older Adults
African American Outreach
Makes Inroads
NAMI Connection Feature
NAMI Spring Gala
PPD Conference
Crisis Planning for Families
New Vet Connection Group
Contributors
NAMI Support Groups
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With massive cuts being proposed in
mental health grants, case management,
employment, human services, personal
care assistance, education, corrections,
county grants and more, NAMI executive
director Sue Abderholden testified at the
Capitol on the grave concerns NAMI has
about the impact the cuts will have on
Minnesota’s mental health system.
Relaying the shock and anger of the
mental health community, Abderholden
said the unprecedented $34 million
investment the legislature made in 2007
to begin developing the infrastructure
for Minnesota’s mental health system has
been all but eliminated when you add
up the reduction to mental health funding to pay for GAMC, the loss of GAMC
funding for mental health programs, the
Governor’s proposed budget cuts and the
reductions to State Operated Services.
peanuts, that to people living with mental illnesses and their families, the funding means the world. She also shared
stories of several NAMI members in
attendance, whose loved one’s very lives
depend on the services eliminated by the
planned budget cuts.
“When the legislature and governor
came together to enact the Mental Health
Initiative in 2007, which filled many of
the gaping holes in the state’s mental
health care system, the mental health
community felt hope. Unfortunately,
that hope has now turned to despair,”
she said.
Abderholden said cutting funding for
General Assistance, GAMC, MinnesotaCare, CADI waivers, children’s case
management funding, children’s mental health services, and state operated
services will cause costly increases in
the use of hospitals and jails, and lead to
more people becoming homeless.
CALENDAR
Abderholden presented House members
with a bag of peanuts to remind them
that while the dollars cut may seem like
April
MH Conf. for African Americans Apr. 17
NAMIWalks Information Session Apr. 20
May
Children’s MH Awareness Day
May 6
NAMI Spring Gala
May 22
Older Adults MH Week
May 21-27
June
NAMI Connection Training
June 4-6
Open Door Leader Training
June 11-12
PPD Conference
June 22
July
National Minority Mental Health
Awareness Month
August
NAMIWalks Kick-Off Breakfast
Aug. 4
September
NAMIWalks Minnesota
Sept. 25
October
Mental Illness Awareness Week Oct. 3-9
New Health Care Law Means Inclusion for Millions
The national health care reform bill will
bring about historic changes in access
to health care for persons living with a
mental illness. Some highlights of the
changing landscape include:
- Everyone must be insured, increasing
access to 30-40 million more people
- No pre-existing condition exclusions
- Mental health must be treated equally
with physical health (thanks to the parity
law!)
- No lifetime caps on care
Much more on the new legislation will be
sorted through in the next few weeks, but
we already know that it will assist with
some of Minnesota’s funding problems
and may help ease the effects of the
drastic cutbacks the state recently made
in health and human services.
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
U.S. Sen. Al Franken convened a panel of nonprofit
organizations on March 29 to share news of the new
health care law’s impact.
On March 29, NAMI’s executive director
Sue Abderholden was on a Healthcare
Press Event Panel sponsored by Sen.
Al Franken to share how the new law
would impact people. The organizations
invited to participate were NAMI
Minnesota, AARP, Children’s Defense
Fund, Open Cities Health Center, and
the American Diabetes Association.
www.namihelps.org
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State Operated Services Report Cuts Deeply
The Dept. of Human Services released
its long awaited report on State Operated Services (SOS) Transformation
Report in March. It has instead become
a “Devastation Report” on the services to
be eliminated. This came about for two
reasons. First, the Governor unallotted
funds for SOS last year and combined
with the budget shortfall this resulted
in DHS needing to cut $17 million from
its budget. Second, the Transformation
Report was developed with little input
by stakeholders until NAMI and others
objected and DHS consented to regional
meetings on the plan.
With $17 million cuts in services, NAMI
insisted it was disingenuous to call the
SOS plan a “transformation.” When the
Mental Health Initiative passed in 2007,
it was the largest investment of new
dollars into Minnesota’s mental health
system in history – and that was $34
million. It is impossible to cut half of
that money and say it won’t have a negative impact, including the loss of mental
health services and several Community
Behavioral Health Hospitals.
In response to closing the Mankato
Crisis Center, Senator Kathy Sheran
said, “You’re about to repeat the same
error which is to make a decision based
on economics rather than on a logical
course of actions based on where the
population is and where the service
providers are.”
Mental Health First Aid
At hearings on the SOS plan at the Capitol NAMI members were on hand holding signs that said, “Devastation is not
Transformation” to express disapproval
with both the process and the proposal
itself.
Sen. Linda Berglin was especially frustrated by the SOS report since it failed
to address the one issue they had been
legislatively directed to work on: redesigning the Anoka Regional Treatment
Facility.
NAMI believes that while DHS identified
the group whose needs are not being
met – those with complex medical and
behavioral concerns – they came to a
very different conclusion as to how to
address those needs. Most of the SOS
plan focuses on short-term intensive service when what is needed is long-term
housing with intensive supports.
All the mental health groups have
concerns with the report and none are
supporting it at this time. Visit www.
namihelps.org for updates on this issue.
Seclusion and Restraints
Bill Moves Ahead
The U.S. House has passed a bill limiting the use of seclusion and restraints
in schools, a bill that NAMI has been
championing for several years. The
bill now needs to go to the U.S. Senate where it stands a favorable chance.
Following several years of advocacy and
testimony, Minnesota has already passed
its own version of this bill.
2010 Legislative Wrap-Up
NAMI held a Mental Health First Aid training in
Crookston in February. The two-day intensive
training is being offered throughout the state.
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Students on Mental Health
NAMI and other organizations will hold
a Legislative Wrap-up meeting after the
2010 session ends to sort through the
many funding and policy changes that
have happened this year and set first
directions for next year. The meeting will
be held in May or June – watch the website or legislative alerts for further details.
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
Students from South High School in Minneapolis
testified at the Capitol about the value of educating
students about mental illness. Sen. Torres Ray (third
from left) is the author of this NAMI bill.
Hennepin County School
Mental Health Initiative
A Hennepin County school mental
health initiative was recognized in April
with a local government innovation
award from the Humphrey Institute’s
Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center.
The program is a partnership effort with
13 public school districts, 10 private
nonprofit agencies, and the Hennepin
County Human Service and Public
Health Dept., with funds from the state.
“In Hennepin County we want young
people who are struggling with behavioral and emotional issues to be able to
get the diagnosis, care and treatment
that they need, the sooner and easier
the better,” remarked Hennepin County
Commissioner Gail Dorfman about the
program.
“So we’re bringing mental health services
to the places children know and where
they go most often to school and the results are already showing in better school
attendance, improved school behaviors,
and improved wellbeing for the children
and their families.”
The program has focused on several key
componnents: improved access to services, increased effectiveness of mental
health treatments, a better outcomes reporting system, collaborative financing,
and development of a long-term sustainability strategy.
www.namihelps.org
United Advocacy Effort Produces GAMC Alternative
After public outcry and a contentious
battle at the legislature, General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC), a program
for the poorest of the poor, axed by Gov.
Pawlenty last year and set to end on
April 1, was saved in a much reduced
form.
with counties, and coordinate health
care services with homeless prevention,
supportive housing, and rent subsidy
programs. They are also supposed to
work with county veteran service officers
to seek other programs for veterans.
One huge problem with this new law is
NAMI and countless other organizations
threw their support behind the program,
which serves 35,000 people per month,
over 70 percent of whom have a mental
illness, chemical dependency or both.
What they got was “the best bill we
could get that the Governor would sign,”
said Sen. Linda Berglin.
Mental Health Rally
GAMC as we know it will go away. The
alternative version scales back GAMC
from $400 million to $132 million.
Starting in June, people won’t be able to
simply go to a doctor or a crisis home
and have GAMC cover their care. Instead, coordinated care delivery systems
will be established meaning that the state
will contract with certain hospitals that
agree to provide this care.
They are also supposed to coordinate
that Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) and Crisis Homes currently
serve many people on GAMC. They will
now have no way of getting reimbursed
for these services unless one of those
hospitals contracts with them. Some
IRTS in the metro area have told NAMI
that so far no hospitals have expressed
an interest in contracting with them. If
this option is not available for those who
are uninsured or are on GAMC, it could
result in people staying in hospitals longer or being discharged to the street.
Some of the funds to pay for the alternative GAMC program will be taken
directly from mental health services:
$7.2 million from county mental health
grants, $513,000 from delaying the ACT
teams for youth, and $400,000 from the
Mental Health Specialty Care grants.
Over 500 advocates attended a mental health rally
and Day at the Capitol on Feb. 16. Legislators,
family members and individuals living with a mental
illness spoke passionately about their concerns for
mental health services and GAMC.
Passage of the federal health care coverage bill will have a huge impact on the
GAMC issue because it allows people
who are poor to be on Medicaid, or
Medical Assistance as we call it in Minnesota, but it is not clear how soon this
will be implemented.
What the New Health Care Law Means for Mental Health
All health care plans offered under the
exchanges must not only cover mental
health services, but they must be covered in the same way as other health care
conditions as laid out in the Wellstone
Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. It also prohibits the
exclusion of pre-existing conditions.
Expands Medicaid to childless adults
under 133 percent of poverty, which
includes the majority of people currently
on GAMC.
Provides 5-year grants to establish
national centers of excellence for the
treatment of depressive disorders. Additionally there is funding to support
education and research of Postpartum
Depression.
Extends dependent coverage to unmarried adult children until the individual is
26 years of age. This is one of the largest
uninsured and at-risk groups for mental
illness.
Requires coverage of preventive health
services - evidence-based items or
services that have a rating of ‘A’ or ‘B’.
This includes depression screenings for
adults, children and adolescents.
Provides funding for school-based health
centers. Grant funds would be used for
facility construction, expansion, and
equipment and for center operating
costs, which NAMI hopes will include
school-based mental health centers.
and behavioral health education and
training grants to higher education
institutions to support recruitment and
education of students in social work, interdisciplinary psychology training, and
internships or field placement programs
in child and adolescent mental health.
State licensed mental health organizations may also get grants to train paraprofessional child and adolescent mental
health workers.
Provides grants for primary and specialty
care co-located in community-based
mental health settings. These projects
would provide coordinated care to
individuals with mental illnesses and
co-occurring primary care conditions or
chronic diseases.
Authorizes (but does not require) mental
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
www.namihelps.org
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NAMI’s Criminal Justice Project Developing Training for Families
evaluation and reporting, provide mental health training for criminal justice
project partners, and prepare a statewide
report on criminal justice responses to
individuals with mental illnesses. The
report will highlight practices that work
and recommend ways for counties to
implement best and promising practices
to reduce the disproportionate contact of
people with serious mental illnesses with
the criminal justice system.
NAMI’S Criminal Justice project is putting a focus group of families together in
order to develop a training to help them
better understand the criminal justice
system. The training will be based on information from NAMI’s “Advocating for
People with Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System” booklet published in
November 2009.
In addition, NAMI has hired Cassandra
Dutrieuille as a part-time criminal justice
project manager. She has a master’s in
Health and Human Service Administration and a graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her work experience includes Rule 79 Mental Health
Case Manager, Parent Assesor, Probation Officer and Social Worker. She
will work with criminal justice project
Cassandra Dutrieuille is NAMI’s Criminal Justice
Project manager.
director Anna McLafferty on developing
NAMI’s family training projects, and on
Northern Pines Mental Health Center’s
JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) Program.
In this role, Dutrieuille will do project
NAMIWalks Raises Goals for 2010
NAMIWalks will be held Sept. 25, 2010
in Minnehaha Park. Grab your sneakers
and colorful team T-shirts and join the
largest anti-stigma event in Minnesota.
People of all backgrounds come together
each year in growing numbers to raise
awareness about mental illness and to
break down the stigma surrounding it.
NAMI’s goal this year is to have 200
teams, 3,000 walkers, and to raise
$300,000! Proceeds from NAMIWalks
goes to support NAMI Minnesota’s
programs that include: support groups
for individuals, families and veterans;
educational classes for children and
adults, advocacy for better services and
treatment, public awareness campaigns,
resource materials on mental illnesses,
and NAMI Affiliates.
NAMIWalks Informational Meeting
Learn about the 2010 goals for the walk,
how to participate, how to register, how
to build a team and how to volunteer for
the walk. Join us on April 20 from 5:30
to 6:30 p.m. at NAMI Minnesota, 800
Transfer Rd., Suite 31. To sign up, contact Carol at 651-645-2948 ext. 115.
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Educating Older Adults
about Mental Illness
Older Adults’ Mental Health Week is
May 21-27, 2010. Help NAMI Minnesota spread the message that mental illness
is not a normal part of aging. Experiencing sadness, grief, response to loss and
temporary “blue” moods are normal.
Persistent depression that significantly
interferes with the skills of daily living
and relationships is not.
Public awareness increases our community’s understanding of mental illness
and reduces the stigma that keeps many
older adults from seeking help. NAMI
Minnesota has received a grant from the
NAMIWalks Kick-Off Breakfast
Extendicare Foundation to:
August 4, 7:30-9 a.m. at location TBA.
- identify gaps and resources in mental
health services for seniors in Minnesota,
Join the NAMIWalks Committee
Do you have event planning skills or just - promote awareness of mental illness to
healthcare professionals working with
a lot of energy to burn? We need help
seniors,
promoting the walk, securing sponsor- develop and distribute education
ships from businesses, and obtaining
in-kind food donations and media cover- awareness materials, and
age. For information, contact Michelle at - identify and promote evidence and
research based practices.
651-645-2948 ext. 104.
Small Businesses and Mental Health
Organizations
Become a $250 - $500 sponsor of
NAMIWalks and become a part of the
largest anti-stigma walk in Minnesota!
For information, contact Michelle at
[email protected].
To register your team for NAMIWalks
Go to www.namihelps.org and click on
the NAMIWalks logo.
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
Kay King, NAMI’s program director for
older adults, says a large and enthusiastic advisory group has already begun
meeting to help with planning how to
best address these goals. King is a former
executive director of a retirement community and a family educator for NAMI
Minnesota. If you would like a presentation, training or resources on older
adults living with mental illnesses, please
contact her at 651-645-2948, ext.113.
www.namihelps.org
African American Outreach Making Important Inroads
A good sign is that more African Americans are calling NAMI and asking for information. Little Smith said groups from
Hennepin County, faith and community
organizations, and North High School
have asked specifically for NAMI’s programming. “We are currently in discussion with the two African American
men’s groups and one Somali group to
do future programming,” she added.
NAMI’s African American outreach
director, Matthea Little Smith, says
NAMI’s work with mental health providers and community organizations is
resulting in more emphasis on addressing disparities. She has also been reaching out to faith communities, schools,
and is on the NAMI National Diversity
and Inclusion group that makes recommendations to the National Board on
developing Standards of Excellence in
the area of culture and disparities that
can be shared with all of the NAMI state
and local affiliates around the country.
Matthea Little Smith meets with Darryl Streeter, one
of her many new recruits to NAMI’s cause. Streeter
runs a support group, is a Family-to-Family teacher
and spoke at the Capitol rally on Feb. 16.
Little Smith said, “While the information
we provide is welcome, the community
is reluctant to embrace the subject of
mental illness. We believe that the more
we get the information to the community with culturally sensitive education
materials and support, the more we can
lessen the stigma in the African American community.”
Even so, NAMI Minnesota has made
great progress towards its goals. As a
result of recent outreach efforts in the
African American community, attendance at NAMI programming is 17%
African Americans. While NAMI’s goal
was two support groups for people living
with an illness, there are now four support groups in Minneapolis.
“We are excited about what we have
done, but we realize there is much more
for us to do in the African American
community,” Little Smith said.
Plan for National Minority Mental Health Month
In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives designated July as Bebe MooreCampbell National Minority Mental
Health Awareness Month. Campbell was
a leading African American journalist
and novelist, and a national spokesperson for individuals and families affected
by mental illness. She died in 2006.
“Unfortunately, disparities in mental
health care still prevent people in the African American community from getting
the treatment they need. The outcomes
of poorer access and poorer quality of
care come at a high cost to our community,” said Matthea Little Smith, NAMI
Minnesota’s African American Outreach
Director. “Our goal is to educate people
about mental illnesses, treatment and
research, eliminate stigma and prevent
economic burden. All people deserve access to quality mental health services.”
“All people deserve access to
quality mental health services.”
Mental illness affects one in four American families and people in diverse communities are no exception. The U.S.
Surgeon General reports that minorities:
* Are less likely to receive a diagnosis
and treatment for their mental illness,
* Have less access to and availability of
mental health services,
* Often receive a poorer quality of mental health care,
* Are underrepresented in mental health
research.
NAMI Minnesota will partner with local
African American community and faith
based organizations throughout July. For
information, call Matthea Little Smith,
651-645-2948 x108.
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
At the Myths and Stigma workshops
that Little Smith developed and teaches,
88% reported they “felt more confident
that recovery is possible.” She also offers
workshops on Cultural Competency
for mental health professionals and
Children’s Challenging Behaviors for the
African American community.
One of the next steps in this outreach
effort is to distribute a survey to the African American community. NAMI will
partner with the Stairstep Foundation
to distribute the survey to five churches,
reaching more than two hundred people.
The survey will be used to develop
further trainings and directions for programs and outreach.
Find A Class Near You
Attend a free NAMI class near you. For
more information, go to namihelps.org
or call 1-888-NAMI-Helps.
Hope for Recovery
• Willmar, Apr. 17 • Faribault, Apr. 24
• Minneapolis, May 1
• Anoka, May 15 • Detroit Lakes, May 15
• St. Paul, June 12 • Wadena, June 12
• Marshall Area, May 1 • Bemidji, June 26
KidShop
• Minneapolis, Apr. 17
Children’s Challenging Behaviors
• Marshall Area, April 17 • Wadena, May 1
What Works, What Helps
• Monticello, May 20
Mental Health First Aid
• Wayzata, May 22-23
www.namihelps.org
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NAMI Connection Unites People in Recovery
By Louise Newsom
The NAMI Connection group that I
co-facilitate meets at Cambridge Medical Center. They have been extremely
receptive to us and even provide a coffee
cart each week for us! Our group began
last spring on April 2, 2009. Initial
membership was about 3-5 members
and now we consistently have 10 or
more. Many of them come with a copy
of the flyer that we have posted in various places.
We meet just a short distance from the
inpatient mental health unit. One of the
secretaries on the unit has copied our
flyer and has it available on the unit so
patients may discreetly pick one up and
take it with them. The local paper also
periodically runs our information.
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“It is wonderful to have a NAMI
Connection group provide a
place for weekly sharing. ”
and sharing what they are comfortable
sharing.
My understanding of the goal of NAMI
Connection support groups is to have a
group “within driving distance” of every
person experiencing mental illness in the
continental U.S. I believe NAMI Connection support groups have already
expanded into 45 states. The fact that
Minnesota will soon be responsible for
its own training of the trainers is a phenomenal step toward reaching that goal.
I am very excited at being part of this
history-making step.
Enthusiasm runs high in our group and
most weeks, after the meeting, a number of the participants go out to Perkins
to continue the social component. We
did have a social event last fall at one of
the members’ houses and are looking
forward to another event being planned
for this spring.
(Louise Newsom is one of four NAMI Minnesota Connection support group leaders
who will be attending a train the Connection
trainers training being held this April in St.
Louis.)
I enjoy leading the group because I can
actually see participants relax after being
given the opportunity to vent in a safe
place. It is wonderful to have a NAMI
Connection group provide a place for
weekly sharing. Resources in our area
are scarce and I think this group fills a
need. It has been said repeatedly how
nice it is to find people who “get it” and
are able to get the support they need.
The NAMI Connection support group
is a peer-based, mutual support group
for people living with a mental illness.
The groups provide a place that offers
respect, understanding, encouragement
and hope.
Personally, this group provides me the
opportunity to give back to this community. Also, I am able to take the focus off
of myself and help others. It certainly
puts my concerns in a whole different
perspective. We are all in this together.
As a group leader I get more from the
group than I give. Each time we get
together I learn new things. I thank
each person every week for coming
Family Support Leaders
NAMI Connection
Facilitator Trainings
NAMI Minnesota is looking for volunteers to become NAMI Connection
facilitators. Interested people should be
people living with a mental illness who
are living well in recovery. They should
be able to make a weekly commitment
to facilitate the 90-minute group for a
minimum of one year.
Two trainings are scheduled for 2010:
June 4-6 (apply by April 15); and Nov.
12-14 (apply by Oct. 1). If you are
interested in this training, contact Laura
Winterstein at 651-645-2948 x110.
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
NAMI trained seven new Family-to-Family support
group facilitators in March.
Mental Health Conference
for African Americans
The 5th Annual Mental Health Awareness Conference - Mental Health and Self
Image of the African American People
- will take place Saturday, April 17, from
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Olivet
Baptist Church, 451 Central Avenue in
St. Paul. Speakers include mental health
professionals, family and adolescent
counselors and youth workers. Family
participation is strongly encouraged.
This conference seeks to create an environment where youth, their parents,
other family members and caring adults
can come together for open and honest
dialogue about the joys and challenges of
family life. They will discuss how mentally and emotionally healthy individuals help to build healthy families and
healthy communities.
This event is free, but please pre-register
to ensure adequate space, resource material and lunch for all conference participants. Please contact Loretta Bush,
Health Initiative Coordinator, Mt Olivet
Baptist Church, 651-227-4444 or Juliet
Mitchell, Health Initiative Coordinator,
Camphor Memorial United Methodist
Church, 651-224-0341. Other partners
include NAMI Minnesota, Mt. Olivet,
and the Stairstep Foundation.
www.namihelps.org
Speakers Available for
Mental Health Month
In Our Own Voice speakers are available
to speak about their experiences living
with mental illnesses. Consider hosting
a 60 or 90-minute presentation during
May is Mental Health Month. Speakers
are available in the Duluth, Brainerd and
Twin Cities areas. Contact Laura Winterstein at [email protected] or 651645-2948 x110 for more information or
to set up a presentation.
Focus Group for Siblings
and Adult Children
Family Teachers Trained
Fifteen new NAMI teachers were trained in January.
expanding the program to new areas of the state.
Increasing the Lifespan
An initiative to improve the average lifespan of Minnesotans with schizophrenia
Are you a young adult sibling or the
adult child of a parent who has a mental and bipolar disorder by ten years within
health diagnosis? If so, we want to hear the next ten years has been started. The
from you! NAMI Minnesota has received first step to accomplishing this goal is
requests for a support group specifically to educate persons living with a serious mental illness, their families, mental
geared to issues faced by siblings and
health professionals and primary care
adult children who grew up being the
physicians about the importance of an“typical” kid. We would like to know
how to best serve you and to do that we nual health care screenings.
invite you to participate in one of two
The initiative follows a national effort
focus groups.
prompted by research showing that persons with these illnesses, on average, die
The focus groups will be held at the
NAMI Minnesota office on Monday, May 25 years earlier than the general public.
10, from 6-7:30 p.m. and one on Satur- The leading causes of these premature
day, May 15, from 10-11:30 a.m. If you deaths are heart disease, diabetes and
cancer. HealthPartners, Regions Hoshave questions, need more information
or are ready to sign up, please call Mary pital, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, the
MN Departments of Human Services
Jean Babcock at 651-645-2948 ext.107.
and Health, Medica Behaviorial Health,
NAMI Minnesota, Tasks Unlimited, and
Smoking Cessation Study
the Adult Mental Health Policy Division
and State Operated Services are teamAre you interested in quitting smoking?
ing up to encourage education about the
The University of Minnesota, Ambulaneed for health screenings.
tory Research Center is seeking smokers
who smoke more than 10 cigarettes/day,
with schizophrenia or schizoaffective
Membership Volunteers Sought
disorder, in good health for a research
study evaluating varenicline (Chantix).
Volunteers are needed for NAMI’s membership renewal drive. NAMI Minnesota
The Ambulatory Research Center is lomembers who have let their membership
cated at Riverside Professional Building
lapse receive a friendly reminder call to
606 24th Avenue South, and provides
send in their dues. If you are interested
a safe, confidential atmosphere for help
in helping with this once a month effort,
quitting smoking. For more informacontact Laura Winterstein at 651-645tion, please call 612-627-4840.
2948 x110 or [email protected].
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
Crisis Planning Booklet and
Workshops for Families
NAMI has published a new booklet
called “Mental Health Crisis Planning for
Families” to help parents of children or
adolescents. The booklet helps parents:
learn what can cause a crisis, the warning signs of a crisis, the strategies to help
de-escalate a crisis, resources that may be
available, and how to create a crisis plan.
Information on communication and
advocacy skills for families is included
along with a sample crisis plan. You can
contact the NAMI office for a copy or
download it at www.namihelps.org.
NAMI also presented 12 workshops
in the metro area this winter on mental health crisis planning for families
through a grant from the MetrCCS team,
which works to provide access to crisis
services in the metro area. The workshops were developed after NAMI staffers met with all of the crisis teams in the
7-county area to get their input.
NAMI Minnesota Affiliates
NAMI Anoka County: Timothy Janka 612-669-5111
NAMI Austin Area: 1-888-NAMI-Helps
NAMI Carver County: Karen Hoernemann 952-955-2244
NAMI Dakota County: Connie Johnson at 952-432-9278
NAMI Duluth Area: 1-888-NAMI-Helps
NAMI Forensic Network/MN: Joe Zwack 651-484-8218
NAMI Goodhue County: 1-888-NAMI-Helps
NAMI Grand Rapids Area - 1-888-NAMI-Helps
NAMI Hennepin County - 1-888-NAMI-Helps
NAMI Iron Range: Dan Kotnik 218-741-3900
NAMI Mankato: Julie Soper 507-317-3595
NAMI Meeker County: Marilyn Anderson 320-693-0468
NAMI North Central Region:1-888-NAMI-Helps
NAMI Northwoods Beltrami: 1-888-NAMI-Helps
NAMI Ramsey County: 1-888-NAMI-Helps
NAMI St. Cloud Area: 320-654-1259
NAMI Scott County: Janet Williams 952-890-1669
NAMI Southeast MN: 507-287-1692
NAMI Southwestern MN: Mary Cook 507-376-3634
NAMI Tri-County: Pat McCarthy 507-835-7036
NAMI Washington County: Bob Rafferty 651-439-3800
NAMI Western MN: George Barr 320-325-4211
NAMI West Central MN: Maureen King 218-385-3689
NAMI Winona: Helen Newell 507-494-0905
www.namihelps.org
9
Vet Connection
Program Director Hired
GRANTS KEEP NAMI GROWING
BENEFACTOR ($500-$999)
• McNeely Foundation (500) – General
operating (in honor of Rachel Ach &
Team H)
ADVOCATE ($1,000-$4,999)
• Burdick-Craddick Family Foundation
(2,500) – General operating
• Brown Family Foundation Inc. (1,000)
– General operating
• Elizabeth C. Quinlan Foundation
(2,000) – General operating
• Thomson Reuters (3,000) – Juvenile
Justice booklet
VISIONARY ($5,000-$9,999)
• Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen
Foundation (5,000) – General operating
• Hugh J. Andersen Foundation (6,000)
– General operating
• Haggerty Foundation (5,000) – General operating
• Minneapolis Jewish Foundation
(8,900) – Intensive needs of children
• NAMI National (5,000) – NAMI Connection program
IRIS CIRCLE ($10,000+)
• Evert Foundation (10,000) – Veteran’s
support program and Family-to-Family
• Sundance Family Foundation (23,000)
– Children’s Challenging Behaviors
Volunteer Family Education
Program Coordinator Sought
Do you love making lists, being organized, and keeping track of things? Are
you interested in bringing family education to Minnesota? NAMI Minnesota is
looking for a volunteer to help out in the
NAMI Minnesota office 6 hours a week
as the family education program coordinator. If you are interested in learning
more about this position, contact Laura
Winterstein at 651-645-2948 x110.
In Memory of
MARILYN ALPERS
From
Nancy Brandt
PAULA ROUSSEAU
From
Pat & Al Rousseau
In Sympathy
JoAnn Zwack, one of the founders of
NAMI Minnesota’s Forensic Network,
passed away on March 28. She was a
tireless advocate for changing the criminal justice system, and a former NAMI
board member. She also advocated
for her son Kyle, who has been in the
criminal justice system for many years.
JoAnn and her husband, Joe, a former
NAMI board president who survives her,
were recognized in 2006 with a national
award for their advocacy work. NAMI
sends its sympathies to her family and
friends.
10
Molly Black is the new director of the
NAMI Vet Connection program. She
was in the army reserves and is a sergeant (E-5) and was a squad leader in
Iraq. She has a BA in criminal justice
from Hamline University and is working
on a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. She also volunteers at the VA.
Molly is energetic and enthusiastic about
helping the Vet Connection program
succeed.
MICKI STENGLEIN
From
Teri & Bonnie Lewis
CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT
From
Living History Farms Race
LESLIE DAVIS
From
John Davis
Kathy Kelley
Emily Walgrave
Susan Trammell
Elizabeth Walby
Amy Mino
Jennifer Oberpriller
DOROTHY CASE
From
Deborah & Tim Gillis
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
PAUL TRAIN
From
Daniel & Sue Hanson
Lee & Lynne Saunders
Carol Bender
Sharman Davis Barrett
Mary Bode
Lyle & Georgia Bishop
Elaine & Leon Oman
Sue Abderholden &
Lee Keller
Nancy Overland
Sandra Overland
Sharla Scullen
Colleen Pollock
Dean Larson
Steve Susens
ADRIAN KELLER
From
Sheldon & Margery
Torgerson
Sue Abderholden &
Lee Keller
Tim & Marilyn Leister
Shelley White
Steve Susens
Molly Black is the new director of NAMI’s Vet
Connection Program.
Vet Connection Group
Meets in Woodbury
Talk to someone who understands...
someone who’s been there. NAMI Vet
Connection is a program that gives veterans the opportunity to talk with other
veterans and share their experiences, as
well as the successes and hardships of
the reintegration process.
The NAMI Vet Connection group
started on March 31, and will meet every
Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at Trinity
Presbyterian Church, 2125 Tower Drive,
in Woodbury. For more information call
Molly Black at 651-645-2948 ext: 112.
NAMI’s Vet Connection program is
sponsored with grants from the Disabled Veteran’s of America and the Evert
Foundation.
Research Dinner
NAMI held its 8th Annual Research Dinner on Feb.
9, in Minneapolis. More than 180 people attended
to hear five leading mental illness researchers share
their findings. Dr. Mark Frye (above), from Mayo
Mood Clinic and Research Program, spoke on
Bipolar Disorder research.
www.namihelps.org
NEW & RENEWING
MEMBERS
(Contributions: Dec. 16,
2009 to Mar. 24, 2010)
Individual & Family ($3$49)
Marva Abel
Sandi Abel
Benny Anderson
Elaine Anderson
Gary Anderson
John & Judith Anderson
Martha Anderson
Roxanne Anderson
Rich & Carol Andresen
Tammy Anfinson
Bruce Ario
Gerald & June Jean Audette
Ganesh Babulal
Mary Baker
Brandy Baker-Muhich
Bob Barnes
George & Alys Barr
Deb & John Bednark
Dawn & Gerald Beedle
Coni Bell
Cynthia Egan Bejadrn
Dan & Sharon Benson
Cheron Berg
Marilyn Berg
Tammy Bertram
Mark Biggins
Irene Boe
Julie Bram
Lee & Laurie Brandt
Andrea & Roger Braun
John & Bridget Brose
Dollie Bryant
Peggy Butler
Carol Byrnes
Anne Cade
Vennessyl Campbell
Keith & Nannette Carlson
Emery Carlsten
Colette Carner
Mary & Robert D. Carter, Jr.
Steven & Kathy Chesney
Gerald & Yvonne Childs
Joni Christianson
Mary Clem
Kym Craven
Scott Craven
Debbie & Thomas
Crittenden
Shirley Crittenden
Phyllis Dahl
Lisa Delong
Mary Delong
Sarah Delong
Todd Dobesh
Katherine Dodge & Steve
Downing
Holly Dowds
LaVerne Dreis
Duncan Family
Mel & Georgie Duncan
Pam Durand
Rachel Ann EmmanuelFitzgerald
Sidney Evans
Jean Fagerstrom
Grace Falk
Jerome & Arvilla Felten
Diane Fisher
Jessica Flynn
Tiffany Fredrick
John & Joyce Frees
Doug & Jane Frost
Phyllis Galbraith
Susan Galvin
Vernon Gaskell
Steve & Shelley
Germundson
Darla Goodall
Tonya Gott
Arlene Green
Mindy & Roger Greiling
John & Becky Gronquist
Mike & Jill Gruver
Jack Haggerty
Teresa Hakanson
Lois & Fred Halberg
Leonard Hall
Peg Hansen
Sharon Hanson
Michael Hays
Jeanne Heikkila
Glenn Heil
Kathleen Hein
Greg Heins
Jennifer Helling
Bob Hendrickson
Jim & Norma Hingeley
Patti Holm
Anne Holzinger
Susan Houdek
Cecilia Houston
Joyce Ilola
Jay & Jessica Isaacson
Jennifer Janacek
Rebecca Jensen
Peggy Jewett
Karen M. Johnson
Rosemary & Harry Johnson
Wanda Johnson
Dominic Kanaventi
Janet Kehne
LaVerne Kennedy
Heather Kerfeld
JoAnn Klingenberg
Dawn Klingman
Terry Kmit
Bryan Koll
Timothy Krampitz
Karen Kroeze
Elizabeth Kruta
Pat Koppa
James & Connie LaFave
Leslie Laub
Darlene Leafgren
Pat Lindgren
Geraldine Lindonan
Andy Lisak & Sara
Dorfman
Diane Loudon
Kathryn Lund-Reed
Bill & Peggy Marshall
David & Brigid Martin
Elisabeth McAlister
Roseann Mathiason
Tom & Vicki McCloskey
Virginia Anne McDermott
Gail McNally
Wendy McQuay
Greg Metzger
Tami Milbourn
Rick & Linda Millenacker
Cheryl Miller
Monte Mitchell
Gaylon Moody
Sandy & Larry Moorhouse
Mary Jean Mulherin
Carolyn Murray
Nichole Murray
Joan Myrom
Phyllis & Frances Nelson
Charles Newman & Nursel
Gabe
Theresa Opatril
Richard & Mary Ann Papke
Mary Patterson
Jodi Pendroy
Darlene Peterson
Gina Peterson
Jeanie Peterson
Sue & Clark Peterson
Doug Pudvah
Donna Qualy
Bonnie Rathke
Mary Jo Rawson
Kari Rengo
Glenn Robeck
Vince & Julie Rohr
Bev & Fred Rosenberg
Edy Rossing
Joe & Arlene Rukavina
Dorothy Ruppert
C.J. Ryan
Elaine Saccoman
Rick & Rita Schmidt
Mary Schmitz
Ed & Kathy Schoenecker
Kathleen Seltz
Sherri Severin
Sarah Shankle
Sue & Steve Shields
Jennifer Shumaker
Carol Simon
Lisa Sinclair
Matthea Smith
Judy Soderberg
Nancy Spika
Peggy Staat
Laura Duvall Steinke
Claire & Sandy Stolee
Sheila Sullivan
Alice Swan
Neil & Lois Swanson
Michael Sweet
Elizabeth Teefy & Tracy
McClun
Michael & Phyllis Tierney
Lee & Shirley Tomlinson
Eileen Troseth
Marcia Ulland
Ellie Vollmer
Darren Welter
Denise Wendt
Donna Wiemann
Sandy Williams
Tawanna Williams
Lawrence & DeAnne
Willman
Margaret Yzaguirre
Dick Zetah
Rebecca Zschernitz
Valeria Zwak
Supporter ($50-$74)
Joe & Catherine Amato
Kathy Austin
Sidney & Mavis Boushek
Paul Childers
Jennifer DeCubellis
Orrin & Marianne Hager
James & Lynn Freeman
Dave Hartford
Janet Havens
Lowell Hill
Dennis Hughes
Jerome Junquist
Sandra Larson
Lawrence Loomis
Deborah Matthias-Anderson
Taunja Meers
Carol & Dan Newman
Pauline Nixon
Gladys Olson
Cathy Plantenberg
Dave & Judy Nass
Nancy Silesky
Sue Singer
Organization/Professional
($50+)
La Familia Guidance
Center
Inc.,
Southbridge Office
Ramsey County Children’s
MH Collaborative
Patron ($100-$249)
Anonymous
Marita Ener
Mark Hawkinson
Pat Koppa
Sally Larson
Kevin & Cathy Mahal
Kris Palfe
Daniel Parnell
Pamela & Bob Searles
Sponsor ($250-$499)
John & Penne Simon
DONORS
Friend ($1-$99)
Sandra Accola
Lisa Albers
Jeff & Jody Alberts
John & Judith Anderson
Bruce Ario
George Baboila & Margaret
Ryan
Sandy Bauer
Tim & Linda Baumgartner
William Bond
Harry & Linda Bonney
Nancy Brandt
Sylvia Bratrud
Jean Brookins
Peter Bruce
Mike & Sheryl Burkhardt
Thomas B. Carlson
Dan Casar
Brenda Caya
Patricia & Douglas Condon
Scott Craven
Mary Delong
Neil Doughty
Cheryl Eckwright
Carl Egli
John & Grace Falk
Jean Findorff
Patrick Foley
Jode Freyholtz
Carole Gaskell
Sandra Germundson
Teddy & Jim Gesell
Dorothy Goldie
Sheila Graham
Thomas & Susan Grande
Gladys Hedeen
Glenn Heil
Millie Holling
Kevin & Kristina Homstad
Susan & Steven Hulbert
Alan Ingram
Cynthia Jedd
Bonnie Johnson
Elizabeth J. Johnson
Robert & Corrine Jones
Diane Kammerer
Matthew & Angela Greiling
Keane
Coco Keim
Daniel Kelliher & Pamela
Hoopes
Judy & Kevin Kenney
Verna Kruse
Joseph & Linda Engelbert
Lane
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
Dorothy Leathers
Jennifer Lenzen
Anne Leverone
Timothy & Therese Liffrig
Janet Liliemark
Gloria Livingston
Robert & Sandra Luhman
Bonnie Lutzi
Kateri Mancini & Mike
Gallagher
Lowell & Marcia Mattson
Lou Ann Mayhew
Daniel & Cynthia McCabe
Sandra McDonald
Addi Moonier
Ruth Mueller
Kathleen Muench
James Nalepka
Jan Nelson
Tammy Nelson
Judy & Earl Nolting
Katie O’Brien
Delvert Oftedahl
Cathleen O’Leary
Debra Ost & Steven Olsen
Lloyd Paulson
Michael R. Peterson
Richard & Patricia Peterson
Corinne Peterson
Sharon & Lawrence
Peterson
Donna Poland
Virginia Potter
Mary & Steve Rider
Patrick & Dana Rondeau
Malcolm & Mary Ryerse
William & Becky Scheig
Sandy Schrupp
Brent & Patricia Seppanen
Dan Seward
Ellen Speltz
Paul & Pat Sperry
Kathleen Thompson
Donald & Joanne Varey
John & Mona Velebir
Sharon & Joseph Walbran
Ann White
Jim & Mary White
Jerry & Vonnie Winters
Hugo & Agnes Wolf
John & Anne Zbikowski
Brian Zellman
John & Elaine Zimmer
Michelle Zurek
Associate ($100-$199)
Jim Abderholden & Linda
Lambert
Sue Abderholden & Lee
Keller
Floyd & Sue Anderson
Glenn & Jennifer Andis
Linda & Bill Armstrong
Thomas & Sue Bailey
Jan Ballman
Joan Wiggen Baker
Barb & Rick Burrock
James Chastek
John & Catherine Cich
Doug & Sarah Crowther
Sally & John Cunningham
John Cushing Jr. & Martha
Joy
Lawrence & Joy Davis
Aaron Desmond
Jonathan Eisenberg
Jim & Joy Erickson
Barbara Flanigan
James & Julie Ann Gerlitz
Roy & Kay Gunther
Kathy & Zol Heyman
Bob & Patty Holycross
David & Louise Jones
Fred LaFleur
Steve Larson
Tonja Orr
Curt N. Peterson
Ron & Nancy Reed
James Riley
Barbara Roy
Charlotte Ryan
Stanley Sledz
Anne Smith
Scott & Sarah Sponheim
Grace Tanjerd Schmitt
Bob & Lois Treuchel
Karen Ubel
Gerald & Dorothea
Weisman
John Zakelj & Bonnie
Watkins
Sponsor
($200-$499)
Josie & William Axness
Steve Bauman & Margaret
Fitzpatrick
Christine Bray
Dean Clark
Charles Godfrey
Irving & Carol Gottesman
John & Pam Hallman
Mark & Jinger Menge
Warren & Beverly Nordley
Beth Silverwater & Norman
Greenberg
Robert & Donna Swanson
Mark Wawro
Benefactor
($500-$999)
Julie Brunner
Kathryn Dunmire
Dennis & Karen Jackson
Kathryn Kmit
Kathleen H. Rhodes
Al & Pat Rousseau
Ed & Kathy Schoenecker
Mary & Herman Schulte
Robert & Carolyn
Thompson
Advocate
($1,000-$4,999)
Kathleen Armstrong
Michael & Sara Meyer
Visionary
($5,000-$9,999)
Anoka Regional Auxiliary
Treatment Center
Martha Anderson
F. Alexandra Klas
In Kind Donations
Laura Flynn, 25 “Swallow
the Ocean” books
www.namihelps.org
11
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
NAMI SUPPORT GROUPS
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS
Brainerd
7:00 p.m., 2nd Thursday,
Rich: 218-792-5881
Brooklyn Center
7:00 p.m., 1st Thursday,
Bob: 763-533-1729
Cloquet
6:00 p.m., 3rd Friday, NAMI:
Kevin or Carol: 218-384-9956
Deephaven
6:30-8:00 p.m., 1st & 3rd Mon.
Peggy: 952-935-8585
Eagan
7:00 p.m., 4th Monday,
Connie: 952-432-9278.
Forensic Network
Joe: 651-484-8218
Forest Lake
7:00 - 8:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday,
Kathy or Dave: 651-464-5422.
Golden Valley
7:00 p.m., 3rd Tuesday,
Vicki: 612-529-1144
12
Grand Rapids
5:30-6:30 p.m., 3rd Tuesday,
Susan: 218-245-2077 or
Ruth Ann: 218-326-1847
Minneapolis
6:30-7:45 p.m., 1st & 3rd Fri.
Lee: 952-894-9109
Minneapolis Partners/Spouse
6:30-8:30 p.m., 1st Friday,
Susan: 612-308-1883
Owatonna
7:00 p.m., 1st Monday,
Pat: 507-835-7036
Roseville
6:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed.
Anna Mae: 651-730-8434.
Rochester
7:00 p.m., 2nd and 4th
Wednesday, and 6:00 p.m.,
1st & 3rd Monday,
Call: 507-287-1692
Stillwater/Mahtomedi
7:00 p.m., 3rd Thursday,
Deanna: 651-439-8494
Winona
7:00-9:00 p.m., 2nd Monday,
Helen: 507-494-0905
PARENT RESOURCE GROUPS
Anoka County (Andover)
Danella: 763-772-2274
Apple Valley/Lakeville
Suzette: 651-645-2948 x102
Burnsville
Suzette: 651-645-2948 x102
Elk River
Sue: 763-633-0894
Faribault
Amy: 507-332-2571
Forest Lake
Kerry: 651-257-4633
Inver Grove Heights
Suzette: 651-645-2948 x102
West St. Paul
Suzette: 651-645-2948 x102
OPEN DOOR ANXIETY
SUPPORT GROUPS
St. Paul
1st & 3rd Thurs., 6:30-8:00
p.m., NAMI: 651-645-2948
St. Louis Park
2nd & 4th Monday, 6:30 p.m.,
Judy: 612-377-2467
NAMI CONNECTION
GROUPS
Brainerd
Lori: 218-831-4248
Cambridge
David: 763-691-1825
Crystal
Calynn: 763-560-1394
Duluth
Sharyl: 218-879-4978
Eagan
Cristina: 651-283-4821
Grand Rapids
Al: 218-244-7142
Little Falls
Karrie: 320-632-5622
Mankato
Julie: 507-317-3595
Minneapolis North
Matthea: 651-645-2948
Minneapolis South
Matthea: 651-645-2948
Minneapolis Uptown
Tonda: 952-220-0725
New York Mills
Maureen: 218-385-3689
Pine River
Annett: 218-838-5221
Roseville
Will: 651-578-3364
Winona
Richard: 507-454-5472
NAMI-CARE GROUPS
Golden Valley
NAMI: 651-645-2948
Minneapolis
Call: 651-645-2948
Red Wing
Charlene: 651-388-3802
Rochester
Contact: 507-287-1692
Zumbrota
Gayla: 507-824-2448
VET CONNECTION GROUPS
Woodbury
Molly: 651-645-2948 ext. 106
If you are interested in forming
a Vet Connection support
group, contact Molly Black at
[email protected] or 1-888-NAMIHelps ext. 106