The Official Newsletter of NAMI - Waterbury
1
NAMIBlurb
Central
1
Letter from the
NAMI Wtby Pres.
2
NAMI Walks 2010
2
New Email Address 3
Social Networking
3
Party Highlights
4
InkMyFunds
5
(help raise $ for NAMI)
Speaker Program
6
Parenting Spike
Divorce
7
Melissa’s Project 8 - 11
Program Info
12-13
Meeting Schedule
14
Why Join?
15
Membership/
Renewal Form
15
CONTACT US!
NAMI -Waterbury
P.O. Box 2924
Waterbury, CT 06723-2924
Tel: 203-758-5844
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Website: www.namiwtby.org January/February Winter 2010
What is NAMI?
The National Alliance on Mental disorder, Inside this issue:
What is NAMI ?
Volume 2: Issue 3
Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1,100 affiliates in communities across the country who engage in advocacy, research, support, and education. Members of NAMI are families, friends, and people living with mental illnesses such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive‐
compulsive disorder (OCD), panic E post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder. Many NAMI affiliates offer an array of support and education programs for families and consumers. For information about what is available in your community, contact your local affiliate directly or visit www.nami.org. Central…Blurb Central……
NAMI Blurb
The annual NAMI Christmas Party was held December 9, 2009 at Waterbury Hospital Behavioral Health Center on Grandview Ave. It was a wonderful evening and Santa Claus was good to everyone. Dr. Andrew Gibson will be speaking on January 13th for our speaker meeting however, it will be held at the Maloney Magnet school instead of our usual location due to an expected large crowd. He will be speaking about raising Spike an exceptionally difficult child. If you would like to attend please contact Kim at 203‐578‐5447 or Susan at 203‐217‐6321. NAMI Waterbury has set up its NAMIWalks website!!! Please sign up to participate or donate at www.nami.org/namiwalks10/CTC/n
amiwaterbury. We are looking for walkers, donations, ideas to raise money prior to the walk, other teams, people who want to help with the walk and many other ideas. Please come help with this fun event. The Minds of Waterbury are counting on us! NAMI Waterbury is looking for a few good writers. If you enjoy writing news articles and would like to help out with the newsletter we want to hear from you. We would like to have more interesting articles and feedback for our members. It is our belief that our members have plenty of information that could fill the pages of our newsletters. So, if you are a budding journalist or just a sometimes writer, come join us on the newsletter team. Email us at [email protected] or call 203‐758‐5844 and leave a message for Kim. 1 VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED!! TO
SERVE ON OUR
COMMITTEES.
Please call Kim
at 203-578-5447
or call Susan at
203-758-5844 or
Barbara at 203263-3250 or
email at
barbara114@sbc
global.net or at
info@namiwtby.
org for more
information.
BE A PART OF
YOUR
ORGANIZATION!
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Winter is now in full force and we are all snuggled into our winter routines. Many of us have the yearly sadness and let down that comes after the holidays. This year we decided to do a program in January to break up the winter doldrums. I hope many of you take advantage of coming out to see Dr. Gibson speak about dealing with Spike, the out of control child. Sometimes just keeping moving and finding things to do can help ward off some of the depression that many of us suffer. For many however, the hustle and bustle is not enough. They need to seek medical attention as well as psychiatric attention to make sure that their depression does not get the best of them. It is in this light that I ask each of us to keep a vigilant eye on our friends and neighbors for any signs of depression. The winter season while its snowy landscape can be beautiful, its long nights and snow can also keep many locked in their homes, isolated from others. Please watch for signs of hygienic neglect, lack of interest in things they used to enjoy, increased sleep, and general sadness. Most at risk are the elderly who have trouble getting out of their homes. If you have some time, stop by for a visit to say hello. Bring some flowers for a little brightening of the day. The little things we do may mean a lot and may save someone from a very long and lonely winter. Have a safe and happy winter! Kim NAMIWALKS 2010 Spring is only three months away which means that the NAMI Walk is only five months away. It is time to get to the gym and get the walking shoes broken in. The 5K walk at Bushnell Park is a great event every year. It is a great way to raise money for a great cause and a great way to meet new friends. Create a new walk team or join the MINDS OF WATERBURY by logging onto www.nami.org/namiwalks10/ctc/
namiwaterbury. Or donate to one of our walkers, any small donation is great. We look forward to a great and prosperous year! Come join us for some fun! Waterbury Walk Teams 2009 2 NAMI members can receive our newsletter via email, which lowers our costs. If you do not have a computer, we will be glad to mail you our newsletter. Nonmembers can receive one issue of our newsletter by email. We send this out in between issues. Then if you like what you read and see, you can contact the person listed in the email. NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES Keeping up with the technology of the times, NAMI Waterbury now has email addresses for officers and information purposes. This should make contacting people easier. It will also make it easier for other NAMI’s to reach us and make us look more “professional” to the world at large. Here is the breakdown of the email addresses for the organization: Kim Pernerewski [email protected]
Jenny D’Averso Vice‐[email protected]
Susan O’Bernier [email protected]
John Henebry [email protected]
Eileen Kulmann Co‐[email protected]
General Information [email protected]
Any Special Events [email protected]
NAMI WATERBURY SOCIAL NETWORKS Are you an avid fan of Facebook, LinkedIN or Twitter? Have you ever thought about becoming a blogger? Well NAMI Waterbury has become a tweeter on Twitter! Code Name is NAMIwtby. Become a follower on Twitter. You can also join one of our groups on Facebook or on LinkedIn. Social networking is an upcoming way to keep intouch with those around the world. Using this method you can keep in touch with the NAMI Waterbury family. If something happens in the Waterbury area be looking for the news on the networking lines. We are always interested in what the membership is doing and would like to tweet with you. Keep us informed of what is happening with you and how you are doing. Join us as we move into the 21st century! We didn’t think we could do it either but we are managing. Let’s have some fun!! Looking forward to your tweets! 3 CHRISTMAS PARTY 2009 Santa made his annual appearance at the NAMI Waterbury Christmas Party again this year. The event was held at the Waterbury Hospital Behavioral Health facility on Grandview Avenue with the help of the Waterbury Hospital Staff. The food was provided by many of those who attended the event and was delicious. Everyone did a great job. The committee would like to thank all who solicited area businesses, made calls, donated and or wrapped gifts, made delicious food and helped in any way, to make the Christmas party a big success. Hats off to Bev Monterosso who every year spends a great deal of time and energy putting this event together. With out her dedication and persistence this party would not get off the ground. Every year she books the room, she coordinates the food and creates the gifts. She finds a few elves who are willing wrappers to finish things off. Next time you see her be sure to thank her. If you are interested in helping with this wonderful event, without a doubt, the help would be appreciated. Thanks to Waterbury Hospital as well for the use of their facilities. It has been our pleasure for many years to be there. 4 5 NAMI Waterbury is pleased to present Dr. Andrew Gibson in a lecture / discussion “Parenting The Seriously Difficult Child” JANUARY 13, 2010 6:30PM – 8:30PM MALONEY MAGNET SCHOOL, WATERBURY “Parenting the Seriously Difficult Child" is the culmination of a 20 plus year career in parent training using the P.A.C.T., a parenting model developed by Dr. Gibson. The lecture/ discussion focuses on Spike, an out‐of‐control child. We follow Spike as his outrageous behavior is gradually tamed. Spike inhabits the lives of many parents, grand parents, relatives friends and professionals. They all began with a bouncy happy child. Most every extended family has a Spike somewhere. Many have a Spike waiting to emerge. Those families who have Spikes often don't know that they can be happy, their family can function and their home can be a place of calm. . For more information about Dr. Gibson go to DrAGibson.com For advanced reservations please contact Kim Pernerewski @ [email protected] or call 203‐758‐5844 Or call Susan O’Bernier at 203‐217‐6321 6 Parenting Spike: The seriously difficult child Divorce by Andrew D. Gibson, Ph.D. All rights reserved The most common way Spike, a ten year old out‐of‐control boy, gets to be Spike is through divorce. But it isn't the only way and a divorce does not guarantee you will get a Spike. (see http://www.helpguide.org/mental/children_divorce.htm
The culprit isn't really the divorce anyway. It is all the fighting both before, during and after the divorce. Spike picks up two things from all the fighting: One, his fighting parents scare him and he ends up believing the split is all his fault. He believes that if he were a better boy this wouldn't have happened. This is a hard thing for adults to grasp but it is true. Spike can't handle the blame he feels and so he lashes out. He is a kid, after all. His understanding as an adult won't come for decades. By then the damage could be immense. Two, Spike will manipulate the difference between his parents. They are not on the same child rearing page. Dad insists his way is best. Mom insists hers is best. Spike hears it all, especially the arguing parts. He calculates his advantage and happily shows his resentment. He will, then, drive an even bigger wedge between them. Let's say Spike's parents aren't divorced yet; Spike will just about guarantee that divorce happens. It will take a lot to prevent it. Spike will keep pounding and pounding on that wedge. Spike still feels responsible for all the upset but he is also angry. Rather than turn anger entirely on himself, he turns it on his parents, too. ( see http://www.kidsturncentral.com/topics/issues/divorce.htm)
As far as he is concerned, Spike's parents need to pay for his anger. Spike is too young to understand exactly how he feels or the dynamics of fighting parents. He just know his life is awful, that somehow the unhappiness is a reflection on him and that somebody must pay. That somebody is almost always parents. They pay big time. They will pay through a life that is even harder and more disruptive than just the life approaching divorce alone. Of course the divorce can be avoided, unless everyone has already driven over a cliff. It can happen if parents can bring themselves to agree on how to deal with this increasingly hostile child of theirs. One of these parents is going to get Spike in custody; probably Mom. Think she is ready for it? However worthless Mom thinks Dad is, she is likely to find that unless he is an utter jerk, that life without him is actually harder. For more information go to DrAGibson.com #parenting 7 Guardian ad Litem Services Inc. Creating a continuum of care in our communities. Guardian ad litem Services, Inc. is a non‐profit organization designed to assist, support and empower people with disabilities. Our mission is to provide supportive services to individuals and community provider agencies in order to increase the effectiveness of services afforded to persons with disabilities. Melissa’s Project, a division of Guardian ad Litem Services, Inc. Melissa’s Project aims to increase coordination of available services in the community in order to ensure that persons in need will be represented to the degree prescribed by their physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health care providers. Melissa’s Project acts as a liaison between individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses and the various systems in which the individual is involved (i.e. the court system, community supports, hospitals, and more.) It is the mission of the Melissa’s Project to monitor, coordinate, and navigate our clients through the complex systems of care in which they are involved in order to ensure that individuals within the mental health system have access to quality healthcare and services available to them in the community. This Project focuses on preventative approaches and the development of appropriate interventions to promote positive change and growth. By improving the quality of care and treatment that individuals receive, we are creating an atmosphere where realistic and individualized goals can be accomplished. Founded by a Naugatuck Attorney In the late 1990’s Naugatuck attorney Michael W. Mackniak saw first‐hand that difficult guardian ad litem cases involving people with mental disabilities were putting a huge burden on social service agencies and probate and criminal courts. So he launched a nonprofit that helps people navigate the mental health system and helps court‐appointed conservators monitor progress of individuals in their care. Even as Mackniak has maintained his private practice, his nonprofit, with a staff of eight, helps court‐appointed conservators, families and clients steer clear of courts, institutions and state agencies. The formal name is Guardian Ad Litem Services Inc., but “Melissa’s Project,” in honor of a young woman who was helped by the organization. Continued on Page 9 8 What does Guardian Ad Litem Services, Inc. do? Guardian ad Litem Services offers multi disciplined staff and personnel acting in concert for the benefit of the client in order to achieve our objectives through various programs to be developed (i.e. Melissa’s Project). Guardian ad Litem Service is staffed by individuals highly experienced in these areas as they relate to the needs of service providers and the Probate Court system. GALs Was Formed To •
Assist individuals in need by advocating for quality health care services. •
Assist individuals in becoming active participants in treatment planning and navigating the mental health system. •
Provide support to court appointed conservators by monitoring progress and completing monthly reports pertaining to their ward. •
Facilitate open communication between the consumer and the various systems in which they interact. How It Works Guardian acts as an extension of the court appointed conservator. The project monitors daily activity and treatment of the conservator by: •
Completing an initial medical record review. •
Conducting frequent contact with service providers and community supports. •
Conducting regular visits with the consumer. •
Attending all treatment planning meetings with the consumer. The Project Reports To •
The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services on a monthly basis regarding each individual receiving services and agency activity. •
The conservator on a monthly basis in the form of an individualized report. •
The Probate Court Administration on a monthly basis regarding agency activity. Continued on Page 10 9 GOALS /OBJECTIVES 9
To promote participation in the recovery planning process and to ensure that the plan formulated with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses is comprehensive and is, in fact, implemented. 9
To work towards a decrease in repeated hospitalizations and/or criminal involvement. 9
To enhance the level of individual functioning of persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses by empowering them to participate more actively in their own recovery/treatment planning and to live independent, fulfilling lives. 9
To facilitate communication between members of the treatment team to ensure that services are well coordinated. 9
To engage in program development activities when lapses or gaps in the system are detected. 9
To increase awareness and support for projects seeking to assist persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses. WHO IS MELISSA? Melissa is: ¾ A twenty four year old woman who has been involuntarily committed to at least nine different psychiatric facilities; ¾ A forty five year old man who lives with schizophrenia, is addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol and is consistently arrested for Disorderly Conduct; ¾ A thirty three year old woman with bipolar disorder who is illiterate and prostitutes herself to support her drug habits; ¾ A thirty seven year old man who, due to severe and persistent mental illnesses believes he is a multi‐millionaire forced to live in poverty Melissa is also: ¾ A twenty six year old woman with depression who wants to live independently, work and attend college courses; ¾ A forty year old man who dreams of being an artist despite his severe mental Continued on Page 11 10 illnesses; ¾ A twenty seven year old man with schizophrenia who enjoys his job stocking shelves, listening to music and socializing with his friends. Melissa has many faces but several, common characteristics: ¾ Severe and persistent mental illnesses; ¾ Involvement in the Mental Health system; ¾ Inability to make informed rational decisions regarding activities of daily living; ¾ Mental health Care Providers have exhausted attempts to meet his/her needs; ¾ Involvement of several community based treatment specialists; ¾ A desire to become involved with his/her own treatment; ¾ The will to live in the community; ¾ Personal goals, dreams and desires. Attorney Mackniak along with Judge James Lawlor Connecticut State Probate Court Administrator and Dr. Ken Marcus, Medical Director of the State Department of Mental Health and Addition Services were concerned about people in the community who continually cycled through the mental health system be it incarceration, hospitalization or probate. In 2001, a pilot program was put together for 15 clients that enhanced inter‐agency collaboration. This program evidenced a reduction in recidivism, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, arrests and jail time. After the pilot the program grew to be the agent for the court appointed conservators serving people in the community. The program was named after a young woman from Waterbury who was 18yeas old with everything going for her. She developed schizophrenia in high school and within the course of a year she was in nine different psychiatric hospitals. After one visit she was on the green in Waterbury found bludgeoned and beaten which landed her back in the hospital. She became the poster child. This is the kind of person who needs to use the laws and social services system to make sure that she does not fall through the cracks. Her mother is a very active conservator and has thanked Judge Lawlor personally and though Melissa is still ill acknowledges it was worthwhile to put together Melissa’s Project. For further information see www.guardianadlitemsvs.org or call 203‐723‐4332. ~~submitted by John Henebry 11 2010 NAMI WALKS CT Yes it is that time again! We are gearing up for the 2010 NAMIWalks here in CT. The Walk will be held on May 15, 2010 at Bushnell Park in Hartford. Last year we had 117 walk teams and over 950 walkers who raised over $156,000 for NAMI‐CT programs! Joining a team or creating your own is fun and easy! Go to www.nami.org/namiwalks/ct for more information. If you would like to be a part of the NAMIWalks committee to help with the planning please contact either Iris at [email protected] or Janice at [email protected]. 2010 Waterbury Walk Committee As you can see above it is never too early to begin planning for the walk. We are looking for committee members for the 2010 walk. If we start now we can meet monthly and not be rushed to get this done. We will need to seek donations for the walk, sponsorships for the walk and get the t‐shirts made. Please join our committee to start this process and get people involved. Please call 203‐
758‐5844 or email [email protected] if interested. JOIN OUR TEAM
MINDS OF WATERBURY
Go to www.nami.org/namiwalks10/CTC/namiwaterbury
to sign up or call 203-758-5844 or email
[email protected]
Everyone signed up will receive a t-shirt the day of
the walk.
12 WATCH namiwtby.org FOR THE NEXT FAMILY TO FAMILY CLASS IN FEBRUARY 2010 NAMI BASICS IN MARCH 2010 WANTED
Articles for the Bi-Monthly Newsletter
Please forward your articles to
[email protected] in Microsoft Word format
or call Kim at 203-578-5447 to get your story to
us.
If you have information you would like posted in the bi‐monthly newsletter, please forward it to [email protected]. Pending editor approval we will print all information sent to the newsletter. 13 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 SCHEDULE Last Wed. of the Month 1/27 2/24 Meriden Support Group for Persons with Mental Illness and/or Family Members. Held at Rushford Center, 883 Paddock Avenue, Meriden, 06450 from 6:30 to 8:00pm. Contact Barbara McKenney at 203‐710‐3173 with questions. Every Tuesday Waterbury Mattatuck General Mental Health Support – For persons with a variety of mental disorders – held at Russell Place, 969 West Main St., Waterbury. It will be in Room 1F, use Wilson St. entrance. Meeting from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. 2nd Wednesday of the Month 1/13 snow date 1/20 2/10 Speaker Meeting – Dr. Andrew Gibson – Parenting the Seriously Difficult Child – 6:30PM to 8:30PM at Maloney Magnet School, 233 South Elm Street, Waterbury, CT, SNOW DATE 1/20/09 SAME TIME AND PLACE – WATCH CHANNEL 3 AND CHANNEL 30 FOR SNOW CANCELLATION ANNOUNCEMENT. General Membership Meeting General meeting to discuss what is going on in the organization. Please come with your suggestions and comments. We will also update you on the upcoming NAMIWalks. 3rd Monday of the Month 1/18 2/15 Spousal Support Meeting will be held at the First Congregational Church, 40 Deforest St. , Watertown from 7:30 – 9:00pm. For information, call Beverly Monterosso at 860‐274‐5841.
3rd Wednesday of the Month 1/20 2/17 NAMICAN(Children and Adolescent Network) – Support meeting for parents of children & adolescents under the age of 18 who suffer from mental illness, held at Russell Place , 969 West Main St. , Waterbury , Room 1F. Use Wilson St. entrance. Meeting will be from 7:00 – 8:30pm . For information, call Kim at 203‐578‐5447. Tuesdays Fridays Waterbury NAMICAN (Waterbury Youth Service Bureau) – 95 North Main St., 10:00am – 12:00pm. Round Table Mental Health Discussion – 95 North Main St. 10:00 am ‐ 12:00pm. For more information call Debbie McCusker at 203‐592‐5537, [email protected]. 1/26 Survivors of Suicide Support Meeting held at Seymour Congregational from 7:00 – 8:30pm . This is a bereavement group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. For 2/23 information and directions, call Vivian at 203‐264‐5613. 1/27 NAMI General Support Group ‐ Support meeting for family members & friends of persons 18 and over who suffer from mental illness. Held at Russell Place , 969 West Main St., 2/24 Waterbury, Room 1F. Use Wilson St. entrance. Meeting will be from 7:00 – 8:30pm . Last Tuesday of the Month 4th Wednesday of the Month Every Thursday (excluding holidays) Waterbury NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group – Meets at First Congregational Church, 222 West Main St., Waterbury, in the Hearth Room from 3:45 – 5:15pm. NAMI Connection groups offer a flexible and casual environment without an educational format. No registration, enrollment obligation, or fee is required. For more information please call 203‐758‐5844 and leave a message. Mental Health Association Meetings: There are other free self‐help support groups available statewide. Please call the Mental Health Association of CT, 1‐800‐842‐1501, ext. 15 for more information. You may also call the Info Line ‐ 211, for other support groups. 14 Why should you join NAMI? Because as a grass‐roots organization, each individual member helps to strengthen our voice as an advocate for family members and people living with mental illness. Because NAMI advocates for issues that are important to our members and which cut across party lines. Because NAMI offers access to scientific and field‐tested education and advocacy resources that help support recovery. Because NAMI members understand that we are stronger together than apart. Membership/Renewal Form To become or renew as a member of NAMI Waterbury using a credit card go to www.namict.org, click on “Become a Member” To pay by check, complete this form, enclose payment and mail to: NAMICT Inc 241 Main Street, 5th Floor Hartford, CT 06106 18608820236 Name_______________________________________email_________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________ City___________________________State_______________Zip______________________________ Annual Membership: About you (Optional) (Information will not be linked with your membership data) ______Individual/Family Membership…$ 35.00 Family members/people living with mental illness/friends & supporters ______Open Door Membership….. $ 3.00 For those with limited financial means ______Professional Supporter ……. $ 60.00 Includes annual membership for one agency member _____Agency Champion………….. $125.00 Includes annual membership for one agency member Please check all that apply: ___Current NAMI‐CT member ___Consumer/Person living with mental illness ___Family Member/Friend (of an adult) ___Family Member (of a child/adolescent) ___Son/Daughter of a parent living with mental illness ___Mental Health Advocate ___Mental Health or other Provider Race & Ethnicity: ____White ___African American ___Latino/Hispanic ___Asian ___Other, ___American Indian Please tell us________________________________________________ NAMI (Local, State, and National) is not responsible for any personal opinions expressed in this newsletter. Any personal opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and are solely responsible for their content. Any article copied into this newsletter or linked to is not to be used for commercial purposes. 15 PO Box 2924
Waterbury, CT 06723-2924