Nami Pinellas County Florida Inc

NAMI IS AN ACRONYMY FOR THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS. IT IS THE NATION'S LARGEST GRASSROOTS MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION, DEDICATED TO BUILDING BETTER LIVES FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS. NAMI PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION CLASSES, FREE SUPPORT GROUPS, PUBLIC OUTREACH, AND DEDICATED VOLUNTEER MEMBERS AND LEADERS ADVOCATING FOR ACCESS TO SERVICES, TREATMENT, SUPPORT, AND RESEARCH, AND IS STEADFAST IN ITS COMMITMENT TO RAISING AWARENESS AND BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF HOPE FOR ALL THOSE IN NEED. EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND SUPPORT GROUPS ARE FACILITATED BY TRAINING VOLUNTEERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - NAMI PINELLAS' PRIMARY MISSION IS FOCUSED ON OUTREACH BY MAKING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE PRIMARY OUTREACH SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH NAMI PINELLSAR ARE NAMI SIGNATURE PROGRAMS, SUPPORT GROUPS, EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS, COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS/PROVIDER INFORMATION, SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS, TWO NAMI HELPLINES, COMMUNITY INFORMATION/RESOURCE VENDOR FAIRS, CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAININGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS, MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY EFFORTS, AND THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION THROUGH NAMI/MENTAL HEALTH LITERATURE BY MEANS OF MEETINGS, HOSPITAL DISCHARGE PACKETS, FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTIONS, ETC. EDUCATION/TRAINING - EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT NAMI PINELLAS OFFERS ARE FAMILY-TO-FAMILY, PEER-TO-PEER, ENDING THE SILENCE, NAMI FAITH NET, AND NAMI SMARTS. THESE COURSES ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, FREE OF CHARGE. FAMILY-TO-FAMILY IS AN 8-WEEK EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF ADULTS LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. THE COURSE IS DESIGNED TO HELP ALL FAMILY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THEIR LOVED ONE WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR OWN WELL-BEING. IN MAY 2013 THE PROGRAM WAS ADDED TO THE U.S. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA) NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES. PEER-TO-PEER IS A 6-WEEK EDUCATIONAL COURSE ON RECOVERY FOR ANY PERSON LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. THE COURSE IS DESIGNED TO TEACH THE INDIVIDUAL MORE ABOUT THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS AND WAYS TO PREVENT RELAPSE AND LIVE IN RECOVERY. ENDING THE SILENCE IS AN ENGAGING 50-MINUTE PRESENTATION THAT HELPS AUDIENCE MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND WHAT STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF A MENTAL ILLNESS. THE PRESENTATION IS FREE OF COST TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, AND IS DESIGNED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. IT COVERS WARNING SIGNS, FACTS AND STATISTICS, AND HOW TO GET HELP FOR THEMSELVES FOR A FRIEND. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT NAMI ENDING THE SILENCE FOR STUDENTS IS EFFECTIVE IN CHANGING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND TOWARD SEEKING HELP. NAMI FAITH NET IS A ONE-HOUR PRESENTATION CONSISTING OF AN INTERFAITH RESOURCE NETWORK OF NAMI MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS OF ALL FAITH TRADITIONS WHO WISH TO ENCOURAGE FAITH COMMUNITIES WHO ARE WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE OF PERSONS AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. NAMI FAITH NET STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE WELCOMING, CARING CONGREGATIONS AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE THE VITAL ROLE OF SPIRITUALITY IN THE RECOVERY JOURNEYS OF MANY WHO LIVE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, THOSE FOR HOME FAITH IS A KEY COMPONENT. NAMI SMARTS FOR ADVOCACY IS A HANDS-ON ADVOCACY TRAINING PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, AS WELL AS THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, TRANSFORM THEIR PASSION AND LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO SKILLFUL GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY. NAMI SMARTS FOR ADVOCACY IS DESIGNED AS A SERIES OF THREE 1-2 HOUR WORKSHOPS/MODULES. C.I.T. (CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING) IS A 40-HOUR TRAINING WITH CONCERTED EFFORT MADE BY THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, NAMI STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS/TRAUMA AS OPPOSED TO A CRIMINAL ACT. NAMI PINELLAS ASSISTS WITH/IMPLEMENTS CIT TRAININGS AND ALSO SERVES AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE CIT COMMITTEE. THE CIT COMMITTEE MEETS TO RAISE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER AWARENESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH; ESTABLISHES AND DISSEMINATES RECOMMENDED STANDARDS FOR DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING, AND SUSTAINING CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS; AIDS COMMUNITIES INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING CIT PROGRAMS; SUPPORTS RESARCH INTO IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND EVALUATION OF CIT PROGRAMS; AND PARTNERS WITH CIT PROGRAMS IN VARIOUS LOCALITIES TO HOLD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CIT CONFERENCES. SUPPORT SERVICES - NAMI PINELLAS OFFERS TWO HELPLINES, ONE FOR PEER SUPPORT AND ONE FOR FAMILY MEMBER SUPPORT. BETWEEN 50 AND 80 CALLS ARE RECEIVED MONTHLY AT THESE TWO HELPLINES. THERE ARE TWO WEEKLY CONNECTION RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED, WHERE APPROXIMATELY 10-20 INDIVIDUALS ATTEND EVERY WEEK. NAMI CONNECTION RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP IS A FREE, PEER-LED SUPPORT GROUP FOR ADULTS LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. INDIVIDUALS WILL GAIN INSIGHT FROM HEARING THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF OTHERS, AND THE GROUPS ARE LED BY NAMI-TRAINED FACILITATORS WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCES. NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS ARE A PEER-LED SUPPORT GROUP FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, CAREGIVERS, AND LOVED ONES OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. INDIVIDUALS GAIN INSIGHT FROM THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF OTHERS FACING SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. NAMI PINELLAS OFFERS THREE MONTHLY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS WITH APPROXIMATELY 10-20 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDING EACH MEETING PER MONTH. FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE - OVER 2500 COPIES OF THE FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE WERE DISTRIBUTED TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, DOCTORS OFFICES, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, VENDOR FAIRS, AND INDIVIDUALS.