September’s Monthly Meeting

Do you  need help with public mental health services and public assistance but don’t know where to turn?

Do you have questions or concerns about your rights?

Attend and meet Mental Health Ombuds, Chris Hoag.

Takes place at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 8,

in the Fellowship Hall at Shalom United Church,

505 McMurray St. in Richland.

Smart Responses in Tough Times

Achieving Better outcomes for People with Mental Illnesses Involved in the Criminal Justice System

Click to:    Watch the Video

In the opening session, Peter Earley, journalist and author, recounted the difficulties of addressing the needs of a family member with a mental illness. Following on the heels of this personalized “statement of the problem,” Judge Steven Leifman from Florida discussed how individuals working at the local level can work to affect real change for people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system.

Speakers:

• Peter Earley, Journalist, author of Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness (2006)
• Honorable Steven Leifman, Special Advisor on Criminal Justice and Mental Health, Supreme Court of Florida
• Moderator: Dr. Fred Osher, Director of Health Systems and Services Policy, Council of State Governments Justice Center

From the training and techinical assistance event hosted by the Council of State Governments Justice Center, in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) held July 2009.

Benton-Franklin Survey Seeks to Identify Issues

A regionwide survey aimed at helping identify the most pressing issues in Benton and Franklin counties is available online.

The survey is part of Community Solutions, an initiative for regional health and human services planning. it can be taken on-line at www.communitysolutions-bfco.com, or you can print a paper copy and mail it to United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, 401 N. Young St., Kennewick.

The deadline is September 11.

“Consumer Voice, Leadership, and Training Project”

Please join us for an informative training for Mental Health Consumers.  Information will include leadership, Self-Advocacy, Consumer Rights, and the Complaint, Grievances, Appeals, and Fair Hearing Process.  This training will be held at the Shilo Inn in Richland.

There will be three door prize drawings for a $50 Visa Gift Card.  Seats are limited to 25.  Call early to reserve your seat! Lunch Provided. A free Booklet and CD will be given.

LOCATION: Shilo Inn

50 Comstock St.

Richland, WA 99352

*Off of George Washington Way (You can take the 225 bus to Knight’s Transit Center, once on bus 225, request a free Taxi Feeder from Knight’s Transit Center to Shilo Inn)

DATE: August 5, 2009

TIME: 10:00 – 2:00 P.M.

RSVP: Cindy Adams

(509) 735-8681

Sponsored by Washington mental Health Transformation Project

Partnership for Recovery & Resiliency

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August Adult “Ask the Doctor” Call with Guest Dr. Ken Minkoff

Save the Date: Friday August 28th, 2009

Please join us for our monthly adult issues conference call with NAMI’s Medical Director Dr. Ken Duckworth, and guest Dr. Ken Minkoff. Dr. Minkoff is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a senior systems consultant for ZiaPartners in San Rafael, CA. He is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on integrated treatment of individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders. The topic of the call will be “Systems Change for Dual Diagnosis.”
The call is toll free and scheduled from 11-12:30 Eastern Time on Friday, August 28th. To access the call, please dial 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918. This call can be made from any phone.  If you have any questions, please contact Bianca Ruffin.