NAMI Connecticut eNewsletter for August 6, 2019

eNews for August 6, 2019

Dear NAMI Connecticut and Affiliate Members,

As we search for a new Executive Director, we want your ideas about what the future NAMI- CT should do and be.

Please join us for 1 of 2 listening sessions at our NEW offices, located at 1030 New Britain Avenue in West Hartford!

Tuesday, August 13th, 5:30 – 7:00 PM *OR* Wed., August 21st, 5:30 – 7:00 PM

A light dinner will be served, and you will also have an opportunity to tour our new offices!

Please RSVP by August 9th to: Admin@namict.org

Thank you!

NAMI Connecticut is seeking a committed, qualified individual to serve as Executive Director

The Executive Director is a leader who ensures the delivery of high-quality services, provides effective advocacy on behalf of individuals with mental illness and their families, and strengthens the agency’s position as a collaborator and partner in the community. The responsibilities include financial, program, and personnel management, as well as grant management, development, fundraising and public relations. The Executive Director is accountable to the Board of Directors. The qualified candidate will hold an advanced degree and at least five (5) years of senior management experience or a bachelor’s degree with additional years of experience.

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The 2019 Connecticut Legislative Session ended on June 5th, and we had a MAJOR win this year: The Mental Health Parity bill was passed unanimously! We also enjoyed passage of bills related to the Minimum Wage, Paid Family Leave, Criminal Justice (Prosecutorial Reform), Tobacco 21, as well as the reversal of last years cuts to the CT HUSKY program. To read a summary of the session prepared by our lobbyists at Gallo & Robinson, please click HERE.

Also, please be aware that the NAMI Connecticut’s Public Policy Committee (PPC) consists of members from around the state who meet monthly to influence the organization’s legislative agenda and act as advocacy liaisons in their communities. Our goal is to support members to engage in advocacy activities at the legislature, in the community, and from their homes. Our next scheduled NAMI PPC meeting is September 12th, at the new NAMI Connecticut Office in West Hartford, and we would love for you to join us! Details to follow…

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An intensive learning opportunity for families of individuals with disabilities age 14 and older

5 Sessions beginning in August, at UCEDD in Farmington, CT.

This training is FREE, but advance registration is required.

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The Young Adults Statewide Survey is a brief (5 minutes or less) behavioral health survey targeting Connecticut’s young adults across lifestyles and demographics.

DMHAS and CPES are seeking ALL CT young adults, including those who:

• attend college or technical school
• are working in trade programs or employed
• are unenrolled, unemployed, or out in the community
• are living at home
• are homeless or in institutional settings
• are in treatment or recovery

Respondents can enter a weekly drawing for a $100 gift card.

Link to Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YASS2019

Please email your comments to: PAIMI@samhsa.hhs.gov

And thank you to the folks at CABHN for the graphic!

NAMI Southwest will offer a *NEW* NAMI CAN (Child & Adolescent Network) Support Group in OLD GREENWICH! 1ST MEETING is Wednesday, August 7th, 2019.

Raising a child with mental health challenges can be stressful, exhausting, and lonely. NAMI CAN (Child & Adolescent Network) provides support for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents, under age 21, with behavioral, emotional and mental health concerns.

The group is FREE, confidential, safe and led by trained volunteer facilitators with lived experience. Parents and caregivers may speak freely and be understood without embarrassment or the fear of being judged or treated differently.

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FALL 2019 FAMILY-to-FAMILY CLASSES TO BE HELD IN GUILFORD, HAMDEN, MANCHESTER, RIDGEFIELD, STAMFORD, & WEST HARTFORD, and MORE COMING SOON!

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 12-session education program for family, partners, friends and significant others of adults living with mental illness. The course is designed to help all family members understand and support their loved one living with mental illness, while maintaining their own well-being. The course includes information on illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other mental health conditions.

Thousands of families describe the program as life-changing.

The program is taught by trained teachers who are also family members and know what it is like to have a loved one living with mental illness.

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NAMI Basics is a free, six-session program designed for parents and other family caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties

NAMI Basics helps parents and other family caregivers of children to understand the illnesses that are causing those behavioral difficulties, and the critical role families play in the treatment of those illnesses.

The program is taught by trained teachers who are also the parents or family caregivers of individuals who experienced emotional or behavioral difficulties prior to age 13.

NAMI Basics – RIDGEFIELD
Start Date: Tuesday, September 24th, 6:30pm

…and more coming soon!!!

For All NAMI Basics Classes – Register Online

NAMI Homefront Classes in Milford! – TWO FALL CLASSES!

What is the NAMI Homefront Education Program?

NAMI Homefront is a free, six-session education program for family, friends and significant others of Military Service Members and Veterans with behavioral and mental health conditions. It focuses on the unique needs of military and veteran communities, such as post-deployment and post-discharge transitions.

The course is designed to help family members understand and support their loved one while maintaining their own well-being. The trained teachers of this course are also family members who have experience with military culture and know what it is like to have a loved one living with mental health challenges.

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Class Starting Wednesday, Oct. 9th

Class Starting Saturday, Oct. 12th