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Sometimes the challenges in life are overwhelming…
but never give up hope.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Return to Giving Back

NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country.

NAMI is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life for persons of all ages who are affected by mental illnesses. NAMI members and friends work to fulfill the mission by providing support, education, and advocacy.

You can learn more about the organization and its resources at www.nami.org.

Karen’s involvement with NAMI is four-pronged.

NAMI Family to Family Education Program :

Once a year, Karen teaches this free 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. During the 12 weeks, the material discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively.

NAMI Family to Family Education Program - State Trainer:

In March of 2009, Karen was certified as a state trainer for the NAMI Family to Family Education Program. NAMI California conducts an on-site, 3-day training of volunteers to become Family to Family teachers. Karen and two other volunteers will conduct Orange County CA's first training weekend March 12-14, 2010. The need for more teachers is tremendous.

NAMI Provider Education Program :

Teams of five (made up of one mental health provider, two family members and two patients) conduct a 10-week course to provider agencies in Orange County CA. It offers the providers a rare personal view of the lived experience of mental illness, lead to a better understanding of this challenging human story, and prepares them to work collaboratively with patients and families to foster recovery. This program is new to Orange County.

Training was completed in May 2008, first 10-week class ran during the summer of 2009. It was very well received. The second 10-week class Karen will conduct commences March 24, 2010.

In September 2009, the panel that Karen was in the summer of 2009 was asked to make a presentation about the course at Patton State Hospital. Patton is a forensic hospital for the mentally ill who have been convicted of a crime; all inmates are there by order of a judge, and are not released unless a panel determines release would not be a safety risk to the community. Some inmates never leave.

NAMIWalks :

Karen is co-captain of a team participating in the NAMIWalk fund raiser in Orange County. The team, NAMIgoes (cute play on words, eh?) has raised over $24,000 during the last 4 years.

NAMI Orange County 2009 Walk was held September 26, 2009 in Huntington Beach CA. The NAMIgoes is an enthusiastic team made up of Family to Family class members, their families and friends. All who participate and/or sponsor a team member are proud to support this critical and awesome charity.

NAMIWalks are held in over 69 cities across America, have attracted more than 70,000 individual walkers/supporters, securing over 1,000 corporate and business sponsors and raising over $6,500,000 last year. If you are interested in participating or sponsoring a walker, you can do so online at www.nami.org.

It's all about education, awareness and fighting stigma. If you or someone you know can benefit from any of the many services offered by NAMI, please avail yourself of this powerful resource at www.nami.org.