NAMI Connecticut eNewsletter for November 26, 2019

eNews for November 26, 2019

The NAMI CT Office will close at noon on Wednesday, November 27 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will reopen at 9:00 am on Monday, December 2nd.

WNPR-Connecticut Public Radio’s talk show, Where We Live with host Lucy Nalpathanchil recently interviewed our Young Adult Coordinator, Val LePoutre  about the high rates of depression for millennials and the programs NAMI CT offers to help young people struggling with mental health concerns.

LISTEN HERE

PLEASE NOTE: When you visit the page, you will see it titled as “The Roots Of Pro-Democracy Protests In Hong Kong” – this is correct; Val’s piece is at the beginning of the recording.

Announcing our first NAMI SMARTS for Advocacy Training Class in Connecticut!

Never thought of yourself as an advocate? Want to make a positive change in mental health services?

Grassroots advocacy is simple; you don’t have to know about policies or politics. It’s about using your voice to influence policy makers and make a difference.

Turn your passion and your lived experience into a positive voice for mental health with the NAMI Smarts for Advocacy grassroots advocacy training.

To be held 9am-1pm on Saturday, February 22nd, 2020, in Fairfield, CT. And please note that we will be soon be scheduling additional NAMI SMARTS for Advocacy classes in other locations throughout Connecticut, to be held during the Spring of 2020.

For more information, please CLICK HERE

And many thanks to our NAMI Fairfield and NAMI Southwest CT Affiliates for hosting this training class.

Medicare Open Enrollment ENDS December 7th!

Hurry! You only have until December 7th to enroll in Medicare health and drug plans for 2020.

For resources, tools, providers, videos and more, please visit: https://www.medicare.gov/

MAPRx Releases Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Guide.

The annual open enrollment period for Medicare Part D, the program’s prescription drug benefit, runs from October 15 – December 7, 2019. The Medicare Access for Patients Rx coalition, of which NAMI is a member, released its annual guide to help Medicare enrollees navigate the process to find the best combination of benefits for their specific circumstances.

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AccessHealthCT Open Enrollment Began November 1st

Access Health CT (AHCT) is Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace. AHCT offers Connecticut residents and employers a range of quality, affordable health and dental insurance options from several health insurance partners. For coverage that begins on January 1, 2020, AHCT open enrollment runs from November 1st and will continue until December 22, 2019.

If you are ready to enroll click HERE.

Free, in-person help from enrollment specialists and certified brokers is currently available. For a list of locations, click HERE.

To learn more visit: http://learn.accesshealthct.com.

Announcing a NEW NAMI CAN (Child & Adolescent Network) Family Support Group in Westport!!!

Location: The Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Vestry Room)
75 Church Ln, Westport, CT 06880
BEGINS w/1st MEETING: Wednesday, November 20th, 2019
3rd Wednesdays of the month 10:00–11:30 a.m.
More information: Mary at 203-536-9486 or Evan at 203-273-7226

A NAMI CAN (Child & Adolescent Network) provides support for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents, under age 18, with behavioral, emotional and mental health concerns.

The support 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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Young Adult SMART Recovery Group:

Explore new ways of coping with the thinking and the hassles that can lead to addictive behaviors.

NAMI Connecticut will be launching a SMART Recovery Support group for young people on Mondays from 5:30-7 at Community Health Center, 1 Shaws Cove in New London, starting Monday, October 28th.

Join our network of young people dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals struggling with addiction.

We are a friendly, non-judgmental community that provides a safe place for support and guidance by learning new skills/outlets to cope in times of distress. If you have an issue, let’s work through it together.

The SMART approach is secular and science-based, using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and non-confrontational motivational methods. SMART Recovery is an alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other twelve-step programs.

Please CLICK HERE for a full-color flyer suitable for printing/posting/sharing.

Family & Friends SMART Recovery Group:

Learn how to better cope with your loved one’s situation and regain YOUR peace of mind.

We will explore a wide range of topics: *Change and Motivation, * Positive Communication, *Healthy Boundaries, *Safety and Support, *Coping with Lapses, *Disable the Enabling, *Trust and Forgiveness – and much more.

NAMI Connecticut will be launching a SMART Recovery Family & Friends Meetings on Tuesdays: 6:00PM-7:30PM at All Souls Church, Emerson Room – 19 Jay Street in New London, starting Tuesday, October 29th.

Please CLICK HERE for a full-color flyer suitable for printing/posting/sharing.

This SMART Recovery group is sponsored by the Connecticut Recovery Oriented Support System for Youth (CROSS) grant via NAMI Connecticut. These groups are facilitated by trained family members with lived experience. Our methods are based on the tools of SMART Recovery and CRAFT Therapy (Community Reinforcement & Family Training)

Announcing 2 NEW NAMI Family Support Groups, in MANCHESTER and STRATFORD!!!

NAMI Family Support Groups, offered by NAMI Connecticut across the State, are free, confidential and safe groups of families helping other families who live with mental health challenges. In NAMI Family Support Groups, families join a caring group of individuals helping one another by utilizing their collective lived experiences and learned wisdom. Family members can achieve a renewed sense of hope for their loved one living with mental health challenges.

NAMI Family Support Group – MANCHESTER
Location: Adelbrook Learning Center
42 Prospect Street, Manchester, CT 06040
BEGINS w/1ST MEETING: October 1, 2019
1st Tuesday of the month 6:30–8:00 p.m.
More information: Call Cathy: (860) 913-7840, or click HERE

NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP – STRATFORD
Location: Birdseye Municipal Complex
468 Birdseye Street, Stratford, CT 06615
BEGINS w/1ST MEETING: October 22nd 2019
4th Tuesday of the month 7:00–8:30 p.m.
More information: Call Andy: (203) 767-5715, or click HERE

NEW! NAMI VETERAN Family & Friends Support Group!

For family members, caregivers or friends of veterans or active service members of the armed forces dealing with behavioral health issues.

It will be held on the fourth Monday of the month.

Starting on October 28th. From 6:30 to 8:00 PM at Saint Agnes Church in Milford.

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