2.  NAMI Child and Adolescent Center Seeks Information on Suicide Programs

NAMI remains deeply concerned with the rate of youth and young adult suicide (3^rd leading cause of death in 15-24 year olds, with 90% having a diagnosable mental illness).   NAMI is looking at existing suicide prevention programs and initiatives at the state and local levels to determine where there might be gaps and opportunities for NAMI to make a contribution to help address this crisis.

 -  Identify the suicide prevention programs and initiatives in your community and state that target adolescents and young adults (title and brief description of the program).
-  Who is leading the program/initiatives (advocates, state or local officials, schools, others)?
-  What age group is the program/initiative targeting (adolescents, young adults, students in certain grade levels)?
-  How long has the program/initiative been in existence and what is the anticipated duration?
-  Is there a web site that we can visit to learn more about the program/initiative?

Thank you for responding to this request and for all that you do for children and families.

3.  2007 NAMIWalks Applications Now Available

NAMI affiliates interested in participating in the NAMIWalks Program for the first time may request an application and information Monday, May 1.  If you are interested in holding a walk fund raising event in either the spring or fall of 2007, please contact Jonathan@... for NAMIWalks 2007 materials.

4.  Mental Illness Awareness Week October 1–7, 2006

Mental Illness Awareness Week for 2006 is October 1-7, with Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day on October 5.  Watch Friday Facts for more information on materials, telephone conferences and workshops at Convention that will make your activities and programs for both events a success.  NAMI plans on having technical assistance materials and order forms for brochures, posters, and stickers to all affiliates by the end of May.

5.  Heroes in the Fight Recognition Program

The Heroes in the Fight^SM recognition program celebrates dignity, courage, hope, and recovery in the treatment of people with severe and persistent mental illness within specific local or state communities.

Designed to recognize a wide range of health care and other professionals who provide exemplary care and suppport for consumers and their families, Heroes in the Fight^SM was established by Eli Lilly and Company.  The NAMI National Regional Leadership Consultant team is collaborating with Eli Lilly and Company on this project. 

Twenty-four programs are targeted for 2006 with select local or statewide advocacy organizations across NAMI, NMHA or nonprofit mental health advocacy coalitions.  Eli Lilly and Company is responsible for the program design, materials and costs but is not involved in the nomination and selection process or the event planning.  A third party program administrator, VMS Medical, provides each advocacy partner with a full range of planning and logistics and event planning support.

An independent selection committee created by each advocacy partner will review nominations and select seven recipients across categories spanning health care professionals, community supporters and media.  In addition, each advocacy partner will choose a separate nonprofit mental health organization to receive a $500 donation from Eli Lilly and Company in each award recipient’s name (seven awards). These donations will be used to improve education or help advance care for persons with severe and persistent mental illness in their community.

Advocacy partner applications will be accepted from Monday, April17 through Friday, May 5.  Partner selections will be made on a rolling basis based upon pre-defined partnership criteria defined in the application form.  For more information and an application form, contact Cari with VMS Medical at (317) 805-6645 x241 (email cari.nicholson@...) or contact your NAMI Regional Leadership Consultant:  Region 1 and Region 4 – Liz Smith lsmith@...; Region 2 – Teri Brister tbrister@...; Region 3 – Karen Ford Manza kmanza@....

6.  NAMI State Policy Conference Call Scheduled to Address Impact of Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) on Medicaid Policy

On Friday, May 5, NAMI leaders are invited to participate in a conference call to discuss the impact of the Deficit Reduction Act on State Medicaid Programs.   Under the DRA, state Medicaid programs can make significant changes without seeking a waiver from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).   The DRA enables broader use of copays and imposes new documentation requirements for gaining or maintaining eligibility for Medicaid benefits.  New waiver initiatives will also be addressed in the conference call, which is hosted by NAMI staff members Mary Giliberti and Steven Buck.   Please RSVP for the call by emailing Steven at sbuck@....

Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Call-in Number: 1 - 888-858-6021 (Toll Free), Access Code: 309918#

7.  NAMI 2006 Elections

Congratulations to our 2006 NAMI National Board candidates!  The following NAMI leaders have been nominated for the five slots up for election on the National Board of Directors: 

Don Muller (nominated by NAMI Utah)
Dave Lushbaugh (nominated by NAMI Georgia)
Anand Pandya (nominated by NAMI New York State)
Fred Frese (nominated by NAMI Summit County, Ohio)
Eileen Silber (nominated by NAMI North Carolina)
Nancy Carter (nominated by NAMI California)
Suzanne Clifford (nominated by NAMI Indiana)
Marty Raaymakers (nominated by NAMI Michigan)

For information about the election, proposed bylaws changes and the Board candidates (including their letters of nomination, photographs, and answers to five questions on the most pressing issues facing NAMI), visit www.nami.org/voting and watch for your special election edition of the Advocate, coming in May.

8.  Eliminating Disparities: Multicultural Strategic Summit

NAMI's Multicultural Action Center (MAC) will host the Eliminating Disparities: Multicultural Strategic Summit on June 28 to July 2 as part of NAMI's 2006 Annual Convention.   The Summit will bring together multicultural mental health leaders from across the nation to address the lack of access to care and the disparities in treatment faced by multicultural communities. The Summit will feature policy and research briefings, plenary sessions and program tracks to address issues specific to African American, American Indian, Asian American and Latino/Hispanic communities.   Nationally recognized consumer and family advocates, researchers, policymakers and providers will work together to offer a vision for change.   For more information contact us at MACenter@... or visit www.nami.org/summit.

9. Second Annual CIT Conference Call for Presentations!

This national conference is designed to highlight effective community collaborations that are responding to the needs of those with mental illnesses including co-occurring substance use disorders. General sessions and workshops will address the development, implementation, advancement, and effectiveness of Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). Other innovative programs for the diversion of individuals with a mental illness from the criminal justice system will be included. The Conference will be hosted by the Florida CIT Coalition, the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, Orange County (Florida) Sheriff's Office, Florida Partners in Crisis, Florida judges, and the National and State Alliance on Mental Illness.

10.  Avanzamos!

11.  Seeking Nominations for the Family-to-Family Hall of Fame

In celebration of the 4^th annual F2F Hall of Fame, it's time to nominate your Family-to-Family teachers who have taught 10 or more F2F classes.   Nominees will be recognized at the NAMI convention in Washington, D.C. during the NAMI Education, Training, and Peer Support Center reception on Friday, June 30, with a special certificate and have their names included in the national F2F Hall of Fame.   We are also seeking nominations for F2F trainers who have trained 10 or more teacher training sessions.   Nominations must be sent to Lynne@... no later than May 31.   Have any of the 10+ teachers reached 20 or more classes?   If so, let us know about them.

12.  Airline discounts available for NAMI Convention Attendees

We have arranged discounts on two airlines, UNITED AIRLINES and AMERICAN AIRLINES, for attendees for the NAMI National Convention in Washington, D.D., June 26-July 2, 2006.

We have arranged the following discount on UNITED AIRLINES:   Book your ticket at least 30 days in advance and receive 7% off the lowest fare.  Simply call the United Airlines Meeting Desk at 1-800-521-4041 and refer to Meeting ID Number 538TO.  Either you or your travel agent can make this reservation.  (To book the United discount fares you must call the Meeting Desk.  These special fares are not available on-line.)

We have also arranged the following discount on AMERICAN AIRLINES:
a)  5% discount off Coach fares.
b)  After the ticket is purchased, but at least 48 hours prior to outbound flight departure date, the name may be changed for a service fee. (This is a great new benefit that AA is offering to our meeting attendees.)

13.  NAMI Legal Center in Need of Mental Health Attorneys

The Legal Center is presently in need of more Mental Health Attorneys in Criminal Defense practice. Nearly one third of callers to the Legal Center request such support for family members in Jail and Prison to present facts on serious mental illness in the Criminal Justice system.   Although we have nearly 100 Mental Health Courts at present, there continues to be a critical need for more Attorneys in this discipline, both for fee and pro bono. Please send nominations for such legal support to stuart@.... Thank you.

Disclaimer - NAMI Legal Center

NAMI does not warrant or guarantee results of referrals from the Legal Center.  However, we use the Disability Directory of the American Bar Association, the Directory of the American Council of Trust and Estate Attorneys, the Directory of the Planned Lifetime Assistance Network, the Directory of Legal Aid and Defender Offices, and our own Directory of mental Health Attorneys. We make our best effort to find legal support for inquiries to the NAMI Legal Center.

14.  Deadlines and Dates to Remember

- May 5 - NAMI State policy conference call to address impact of Deficit Reduction Act, Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time; Call-in Number: 1 - 888-858-6021 (Toll Free), Access Code: 309918#.

- May 5:  Multicultural Strategic Summit scholarship applications due. 

- May 5 - Heroes in the Fight Program applications due.

- May 31:  F2F Hall of Fame Nominations due to Lynne@....

- June 28-July 2, 2006:  NAMI's 2006 Annual Convention at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

- June 28-July 22:  NAMI's Multicultural Action Center (MAC) will host the Eliminating Disparities: Multicultural Strategic Summit as part of NAMI's 2006 Convention.

- September 25-27:  Second Annual CIT Conference

- November 10-12:  NAMI’s 2006 Fall Leadership Conference, St. Louis, MO.

NAMI Friday Facts are electronic newsletters provided free of charge as a service to NAMI members, leaders and staff. With more than 1,100 state and local affiliates, NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses. Contributions to support our work can be made online at www.nami.org/donate.

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