Making the Connection: Engaging with Consumers, Families and Advocates
Laura Usher, NAMI CIT Program Manager M. Kim Ward Colonel, Community Resources Bureau BalAmore County Police Dept. CSG FY2012 Grantee & NaAonal Training and Technical Assistance Event March 1, 2013
Agenda • Why make the connecAon? • What challenges are you facing? • Strategies for reaching out
Why Make the Connection: Recovery
What Families Have to Offer “Families and advocates can be the single most important source of relevant informaAon regarding a client living with serious mental illness.” -‐-‐ Stephen Bush, Chief Public Defender, Shelby County, TN
What Families Have to Offer Prisoners who engage with their family during and aWer incarceraAon are: • Less likely to recidivate • More likely to find housing and employment
What Advocacy Organizations Have to Offer “There is no limit to how far NAMI and CIT can go in improving the quality of life for those families and individuals living with mental illness. ” – Sgt. Johnny K. Jines, Jackson (TN) Police Department
What Advocacy Organizations Have to Offer • A place to refer families and individuals needing educaAon and support • PromoAon of your program • Honoring professionals • AssisAng with coordinaAng and logisAcs • IdenAfying consumer and family presenters • Ensuring your program’s sustainability
What challenges are you facing?
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Common Challenges Faced by Advocacy Organizations • Small grassroots organizaAons • Reliance on volunteer staff and board members • Lack of Funding • Many projects: educaAon programs, support groups, legislaAve advocacy, public awareness and anA-‐sAgma events, fundraising • Wide variaAon across the country
Strategies for Reaching Out Start small and don’t be afraid to ask for help: • IdenAfy local advocacy organizaAons in your community • Share informaAon about your program • Refer individuals and families to educaAon and support programs • Ask for help idenAfying a family or peer presenter • ParAcipate in a walk, bike or other public awareness event
Strategies for Reaching Out Look for opportuniAes for substanAve engagement: • Ask the advocacy group to review a resource or policy you’ve developed • Ask for feedback on the outcomes of your program • Invite to parAcipate in your steering commidee or coaliAon • Involve them in the creaAon of crisis or treatment plans
Strategies for Reaching Out Build strong partnerships: • Host a peer or family educaAonal program or support group in conjuncAon with your program • Apply for a grant together • Partner to advocate with legislators for beder mental health services
Peer and Family Advocacy Organizations NAMI (the NaAonal Alliance on Mental Illness): www.nami.org/local Mental Health America: hdp://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/ NaAonal CoaliAon for Mental Health Recovery: hdp://ncmhr.org/ NaAonal FederaAon of Families for Children’s Mental Health: www.ffcmh.org/ Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: www.dbsalliance.org/
Your Action Plan What are the peer and family advocacy organizaAons in your community? List three things your program needs to improve or could use help with (e.g. promoAng your program). How might local peer and family advocacy organizaAons help your program succeed?
Contact Us Laura Usher CIT Program Manager, NAMI 703-‐600-‐1109 laurau@nami.org Col. M. Kim Ward BalAmore County Police Department 410-‐887-‐2206