NAMI Connecticut eNewsletter for October 16, 2019

eNews for October 16, 2019

Lisa B. Winjum brings more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit organization leadership, strategic communications, public policy advocacy, and fundraising to her role as the Executive Director of NAMI Connecticut.

Lisa most recently served as the Vice President, External Affairs at the Joyful Heart Foundation, a national organization with a mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever. In this position she spearheaded communications and external affairs activities, digital fundraising, the education and awareness program portfolio, and was a member of the leadership team guiding the organization’s growth, program priorities, and operations. During her tenure Lisa oversaw initiatives to establish Joyful Heart as a thought leader and voice for change, increase the organization’s brand recognition, refine its messaging, and strategically leverage Joyful Heart’s unique expertise and celebrity advocates, including its Founder & President, Mariska Hargitay.

Prior to joining Joyful Heart in 2014, Lisa was the Vice President, Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) and the PPHP Action Fund. This position capped off more than 9-years in progressively responsible roles leading advocacy, government relations, political affairs, communications, and marketing at the organizations.

Lisa has extensive experience working around the issue of sexual assault. She was the Director, Public Policy and Advocacy for the Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services from 20002 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2013 she served on the Board of Directors of the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, completing a 2-year term as its President in 2013.

Lisa received a JD, with honors, from Quinnipiac University School of Law and holds a B.A. in English and Communication Arts from the College of New Rochelle.

Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15th!

From October 15 to December 7, you can enroll in Medicare health and drug plans for 2020.

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

Ensuring Care For Your Loved One With A Mental Health Condition

To be held Thursday, October 17, 7:30 pm

Tully Health Center Auditorium, 32 Strawberry Hill Court, Stamford

When a child or other loved one lives with serious mental illness, families face critical decisions about oversight and financial security for immediate and long-term needs. How can you guarantee that your loved one receives the oversight and benefits necessary?

Attorneys Jim Funnell and Amy Orlando will provide vital information about creating a financial safety net for your loved one.

Questions? Contact namisouthwestct@gmail.com or 203-400-NAMI (6264)

Cultivating Resilience is the theme for The Connection’s annual conference, to be held on October 21, 2019, from 8:00 am – 3:30 pm at Wesleyan University in Middletown. Tonier Cain, former team leader for the National Center for Trauma Informed Care, and Dr. John Woodall, Founder and Director of the Unity Project, will be the keynote speakers. Attendees will also have a choice of workshops that dig deeper into the science and practice of building resilience. The conference is designed for case managers, social workers, clinicians, and other service providers.

For more information, or to register, please visit:

https://www.theconnectioninc.org/cultivating-resilience-conference-2019/

Presented by NAMI Shoreline President Divinna Schmitt

To be held Monday October 28, 6-8 pm, in New Haven

Divinna Schmitt M Ed, CPS Certified, has worked in education, theater, and radio, but now focuses her time on teaching classes in Collaborative Problem Solving® to parents, grandparents, caregivers, educators, and clinicians. CPS was life-changing for Divinna’s family after years of struggling with her child’s behavioral difficulties. She is excited to spread the word about this nonpunitive, relationship-based approach to communication with anyone.

* A light supper will be provided * Free and open to the public * Free parking is available *

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The Collaborative Problem Solving® approach is an evidence-based method to managing challenging behavior that promotes the understanding that challenging kids lack the skill – not the will – to behave; specifically, skills related to problem-solving, flexibility, and frustration tolerance.

• Develop new understanding of challenging behavior & learn new ways to help your child
• Learn the Collaborative Problem Solving approach & effective ways to reduce conflict
• Rethink conventional approaches to behavioral difficulties and strengthen relationships
• Gain support from other parents

Classes begin in November, in Clinton

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To be held Wednesday, November 20th, 7:00-8:30pm, in Norwich

Stuart Hawkins has been a financial advisor for 28 years, with a focus and passion for Special Needs Planning. In his workshop he will provide a greater understanding of the various government benefits available to your loved one. He will discuss in detail how to qualify, maximize, and preserve benefits such as Supple-mental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disa-bility (SSDI), Medicaid, Medicare, and the ABLE Act.

Brought to you by NAMI Southeastern CT Affiliate.

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Connecticut Suicide Prevention Survey 2019

The Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB) is currently developing the CT Suicide Prevention Plan for 2025, a document that will help guide our collective efforts to prevent suicide over the next 5 years.

We would like to learn from you about the suicide prevention, intervention and response efforts that you have been involved with in the state over the past 5 years, as well as your perspectives on efforts going forward.

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Announcing the Yale COPE Project!

People everywhere have experiences like hearing voices and seeing things other people don’t. Sometimes, these are part of mental illness. Often, however, they occur in healthy individuals. There are usually a few differences between the experiences of people who seek psychiatric care and people who don’t. One difference is the ability to influence their perceptual experiences. For example, many people say they can schedule times for when their voices (whether they consider them Guides, spirits, voices, aspects, etc.) can talk to them.

Yale has made the first tool to study these experiences. It will help to design new treatments to help people gain influence over their voice-hearing and other perceptual experiences. But they need your help!

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The State of Connecticut is planning a family support conference focused on substance use and we would like to receive Connecticut families/parents input. UCONN Health has developed a short online survey to receive families/parents ideas. If you are parent or family member with lived experience of a youth or young adult with substance use please take a moment to take the survey. In addition, please share the survey link to other parents and/or family support groups statewide. This information will be used to help support planning and coordination of the conference.

The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.

To access the survey, please click HERE

Announcing the Yale Mood Disorders Research Program!

The Yale School of Medicine has recently launched several different Research Studies around Bipolar Disorder. They are looking for people age 16-79 years, with Bipolar Disorder, as well as Healthy Participants without major psychiatric disorder; and without current substance use disorder, or major medical or neurological problems.

Compensation is available!

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Have you experienced stressful life events?

You may be eligible for a study conducted by Researchers at the University of Connecticut.

Participation involves a 70-90 minute visit to our office in Storrs or Hartford to complete:
• Surveys
• Blood pressure and heart rate measurements
• Task
• Physical measurements

For your time, you will receive:
• $25 Amazon giftcard or cash
• Free blood pressure screening

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Volunteers NEEDED! For these following events we need multiple people to staff a table, hand out literature, and talk about all the great things that NAMI Connecticut and our local affiliates provide our state and our communities:

• "Community Connections Fair" – Tuesday, October 22, 10am-2pm, at the VA CT Errera Community Care Center, in West Haven.
• "Need Help Fair" – Friday, Oct 25th, from 10 am to 2 pm at NYA at Fairfield Hills

For more information, and to volunteer for the above event(s), please contact the NAMI Connecticut office at (860) 882-0236, or admin@namict.org.

Announcing NAMI Connection Support Group Facilitator Training!

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups are led by trained facilitators who are in recovery and therefore understand its challenges. Connection groups offer a non-judgmental and safe place for people ages 18 and over, regardless of diagnosis.

To be held Saturday and Sunday, November 16th and 17th, in Hamden.

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ANNOUNCING 2 NEW NAMI CAN SUPPORT GROUPS!

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.

OLD GREENWICH:

Meets on the first Wednesday of each month, 10:00–11:30 AM, at the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich.

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STAMFORD (This is a “Spanish-Friendly” Support Group):

Meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:30–8:00 PM at Beyond Limits, in Stamford.

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Calling all Yale Students!

NAMI on Campus Yale will be launching their first NAMI Connecticut Young Adult Connection group starting September 12!

Linsly-Chittenden Hall (LC) – Room 209
63 High Street, New Haven
Bi-weekly Groups on Thursdays from 8PM-9:30PM

Please note: This group is open for Yale Students only (at this time). For more information, please call/text: (631) 729-0004.

The NAMI Young Adult Connection Community is a peer-run initiative through NAMI Connecticut. All of our groups focus on managing mental wellness through thought-provoking activities, recovery skill building, goal planning, socialization, and supportive discussion.

We promote all pathways to recovery and healthy living, and we know you can achieve your goals however small or big they may be. Ultimately, we are a network of young people striving for success in some of our toughest times.

The NAMI YACC Group at Yale is Sponsored By: NAMI Elm City Affiliate

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

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 Bridgeport (NEW)
Start Date: Tuesday , October 22 nd , 2019
Time: 9:30 AM 12:00 PM
Location: Dunbar Family Resource Center
445 Union Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06607

NAMI Basics WESTPORT
Start Date: Tuesday, October 15th, 2019
Time: 9:00 – 11:45 AM
Location: Westport Library, Room 212
20 Jesup Rd, Westport, CT 06880

…and more coming soon!!!

For All NAMI Basics Classes – Register Online

NAMI Homefront Class in Milford!

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.

Read More:

Class Starting Wednesday, Oct. 16th