| | | NAMI Finger Lakes This Week- January 22, 2021 |
At National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Finger Lakes affiliate, we provide advocacy, education and support for families of people living with mental health conditions. In our weekly e-news, we share events and resources of interest to our mental health community. You'll find more resources and information at our website namifingerlakes.org.
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In this newsletter: - NAMI Finger Lakes Family Forum Welcomes CAHOOTS- This Tuesday- Registration required
- OMH Regional Advisory Committee Meeting- January 25
- Community Mental Health Services Board- February 1st
Open to the Public, Please attend - Register for Upcoming Family Support Group
- NAMI Frontline Wellness
- Peer Advocates of Cayuga
- Mental Health Advocacy Opportunities
- Share Your Favorite Mental Health Service Provider
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NAMI Finger Lakes continues our Family Forum series exploration of Mental Health Crisis Response on January 26th at 6:30 PM. This month, we turn our focus toward alternative solutions to policing for crisis response. Join us as we spotlight the program CAHOOTS, Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets, the mobile crisis and medic response team for Eugene-Springfield’s Public Safety System in Oregon. |
For over thirty years, CAHOOTS responders have provided a community-based public safety system of mental health first response for crises involving mental illness, homelessness, and addiction. Responders utilize trauma-informed de-escalation and harm reduction techniques to assess needs and provide immediate stabilization in case of urgent medical need or psychological crisis, assessment, information, referral, advocacy, and, when warranted, transportation to the next
step in treatment.
Last year, CAHOOTS answered roughly 24,000 calls and called for police backup 250 times. The program saves the city of Eugene an estimated $8.5 million in public safety spending annually. |
Meet our panelists:
Tim Black is the Director of Consulting at White Bird Clinic. With a background in runaway and homeless youth, harm reduction, and street outreach, he began working for CAHOOTS as a Crisis Intervention Worker in 2010, before moving into an administrative role as the CAHOOTS Operations Coordinator.
Ben Brubaker works as Administrative Coordinator of White Bird Clinic. He began serving White Bird in September 2006. Ben first started as a full-time Crisis Worker (Qualified Mental Health Associate) on WBC’s 24/7 Crisis Line and Walk-in Center. A few years later he joined the mobile crisis intervention team (CAHOOTS) as a Crisis Worker and presents internal and external training for the agency. |
The Office of Mental Health Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) is an important opportunity to express your views and needs regarding Mental Health care in New York State. The next RAC will be held on January 25th, 8:30 AM-12:30 PM ET.
The RAC is an opportunity for Consumers/Survivors/Ex-Patients, (c/s/x), and Families of people with mental health issues, to provide actionable advice to the Office of Mental Health.
JANUARY DRAFT AGENDA (subject to change)
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- 8:30 am-8:45 am -Networking, Sound Check, Orientation to the technology
- 8:45am-9:00am -Announcements from community partners: NY Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services(NYAPRS) Mental Health Empowerment Project, (MHEP) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mental Health Association of NYS. (MHANYS)
- 9:00am - 9:25am- Regional Reports from Community and Facility partners
- 9:25am - 9:45am - Regional Updates from 2020
- 9:45am -10:00am - Central Office updates from 2020
- 10:00am -10:30am Updates from the Commissioner
- 10:30am -10:45am Assignment to Breakout sessions: Topic - What should the Office of Consumer Affairs Prioritize for 2021?
- 10:45am – 11:45pm Breakout/brainstorming sessions
- 11:50am - 12:30pm Report outs from breakout sessions.
- 12:30 Meeting Ends
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Monday, February 1st at 5:30 PM, the Community Mental Health Services Board Meeting will include a discussion with Tompkins County Administrator, Jason Molino, regarding mental health and the County Re-imagining Public Safety initiative.
Families have a unique perspective to share regarding mental health crisis response and law enforcement, as family members are often faced with the decision to call for help when our loved ones are in crisis. Please take this opportunity to learn from Administrator Molino how the initiative is moving forward. Family participation in this process is imperative for successful reform. You can access this meeting by visiting this link:
Community Mental Health Services Board Meeting February 1, 2021 - 5:30 PM
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NAMI FL Family Support Group currently meets in Zoom online:
Support Groups can be attended with a computer, cell or landline phone. To register or for information on how to attend, email [email protected] or call 607-288-2460 for assistance.
NAMI Family Support Groups are for people 18 and over who have a loved one living with a mental health condition.
To have a safe and manageable group size that maintains privacy to the best of our ability in an online format, groups will be limited to 10 people. Please register soon for best availability. Registration is required.
First Tuesday of the month 7:00 PM-8:30 PM- (February 2nd)
Third Monday of the month 1:30 PM-3:00 PM- (February 15th)
If you need support now, please call the NAMI Finger Lakes Help Line at 607-273-2642. Our Help Line is answered by local NAMI family members who have experience with loved ones living with mental illness.
The NAMI National HelpLine may also be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET- at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or [email protected]
The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with mental health conditions, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. HelpLine staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and able to provide guidance.
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For many frontline professionals, the pandemic has taken a toll on their mental wellness. If you are struggling, you are not alone. We want you to know that NAMI is here to help.
NAMI has joined the #FirstRespondersFirst initiative to support frontline health care and public safety professionals facing the adverse mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This community-centered initiative is called NAMI Frontline Wellness.
As you navigate the NAMI Frontline Wellness site, you will find information and resources specific to your profession. This will include: - Confidential and professional support
- Peer support
- Techniques to build resilience
- Support for family members
- Information on how to identify signs of a potential mental health emergency
Our brave and selfless front line workers protect the health and safety of everyone. We want you to know that your mental health and wellness matter, and NAMI is here to lean on for support.
Visit NAMI Frontline Wellness for resources and support. |
Peer Advocates of Cayuga is a non-affiliated collaborative of peer mental health/substance use advocates located in Ithaca, NY, in partnership with other organizations who serve peers in recovery. Their mission is to promote well-being, resources and connectivity in our local community, Greater New York State and the world beyond.
Peer Advocates of Cayuga Mission:
1. To support and learn from each other.
2. To seek out new educational opportunities inside and outside our platform.
3. To network with other peers and organizations across New York and beyond.
4. To advocate for peer expansion and integration within our healthcare systems.
5. To offer resources to peer advocates and those seeking to join the workforce.
6. To foster well-being and the elimination of stigma associated with disabilities.
7. To provide a database of resources specific to our local community.
Visit this link for more information and/or to become a member.
Peer Advocates of Cayuga's next meeting is on January 25th, 2:00 PM on Zoom. Meeting ID: 870 3891 2827 Passcode: 2739250 |
Act4MentalHealth is a NAMI advocacy campaign.
You can Act4MentalHealth by engaging with your elected officials to help ensure people with mental health conditions get help early, get the best possible care, and get diverted from justice system involvement.
You have the power to influence policymakers and your voice makes a difference. Sign-up to join our movement and receive alerts when your elected officials need to hear from you.
To learn more about the important Mental Health initiatives you can share in your community, and to sign up for alerts about action you can take to help NAMI improve the lives of people living with mental health conditions, click here to visit NAMI's Act4MentalHealth action center. |
Do you have a therapist you love? Have you had an excellent experience with a mental health service provider in the area? Do you find a local agency very helpful with meeting mental health needs?
We want to know about it! Please visit the link below to share your favorite mental health professional and/or service provider. Your input helps us better meet the needs of families seeking support. We appreciate your sharing!
Mental Health Provider Survey |
Please share our NAMI Finger Lakes newsletter with anyone you think may benefit from the information here.
Thank you for your support of NAMI Finger Lakes |
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