NAMI-Yolo - A chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

NAMI-Yolo is a grassroots program of education, advocacy and support dedicated to improving the lives of people with psychiatric brain disorders including clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. As chapters of NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness), our parent organization located in Arlington, Virginia and NAMI-California, we offer educational and support programs and vital information about local mental health resources. NAMI's philosophy is to view the family in its entirety. Persons challenged by psychiatric disorders are an essential part of our organization. We advocate, educate and learn together.

Yolo County is located in Northern California and includes the communities of the Capay Valley, Clarksburg, Esparto, Davis, Knight's Landing, Winters, Woodland, and West Sacramento. NAMI-Yolo can connect you to a network of families who understand. We are families helping families

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW: NAMI Connection, a weekly recovery support group for people with mental illness starts February 6, 2009. Details
Drug Abuse and Mental Disorders: Double Trouble - a slideshow from NAMI-Yolo guest speaker Dr. Jonathan Porteus, Director of Clinical Services at The Effort in Sacramento.
Kim Suderman appointed Director of Yolo County Department of Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health
Use Cool Beans to cater your next meeting!
The Cool Beans coffee cart is a new MHSA-funded training and employment program for adults with disabilities in Yolo County.
Baby Elmo: Free Parenting program offered to Yolo County parents with children ages 0-5.
NEW: What to do when a person who is mentally ill is arrested in Yolo County.
Free Stanford Study and Treatment for Schizoaffective Disorder
Read a UC Davis graduate's online book about his experiences with schizophrenia.
UC Davis Schizophrenia Early Intervention Research Program.
The M.I.N.D. Institute announces clinical trials for youth and teens with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and post-tramatic-stress disorder.

NEWS: Mental Illness Topics in the Media

Mental Health Services Act - Bureaucracy and restrictions doom implementation.. Less than 25% of the $3.2 billion collected since 2004 has been distributed to California County mental health departments. Meanwhile County Mental Health programs continue to suffer major cuts and layoffs.

Mental Health Insurance Parity at Last!

NAMI California Opposes California State Ballot Propositions 6 and 9

Sacramento County Mental Health Court Victim Of Budget

Scattershot—A Bipolar Family Portrait. See NPR.

L.A. County Jail is the U.S.'s largest mental health facility. See NPR.

El Dorado County deputies sue Shingle Springs woman after shootout involving her ill son and the death of her husband. See Sacramento Bee and express your opinion

SAMHSA Resources for returning veterans and their families.

PowerPoint presentation on College-based Services for Students with Mental Illnesses.

New Federal Guide to Help Parents Make Safe Choices When Choosing a Residential Treatment Program for their Children.

LA Times: New funds, enduring ills: While cash from Proposition 63 flows into premium mental health services, budgets for traditional care have suffered.

Successful El Dorado Mental Health Court Program Expands
$1.7 Million For Yolo Mental Health Grants
Merced County Mental Health Lays Off 61.
Supreme Court to Hear Appeal on Death Penalty for mentally ill inmate.
Yolo County Mental Health Services Act Plan approved (5-31-06)

More Catie Study results (Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness)

SSI Eligibility Rules Change

Partnership for Prescription Assistance: New online service to help people without prescription coverage to get the medicines they need.

New Drugs for Schizophrenia

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT NEWS

PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION
- Prevention and Early Intervention Plan (PEI)
- Pubic Comments Period for Prevention and Early Intervention Plan (December 22 - January 22, 2009).
- Public Hearing Thursday, January 22, 2009
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
- Implementation Progress Report, (Jan.- Dec. 2008)
OTHER
- Prudent Reserve Funds.
  Yolo County's Request to the State Department of Mental Health to Dedicate MHSA Funds to the Community Services and Supports Local Prudent Reserve is withdrawn. The State of California will keep unapproved Prudent Reserve Funds.

SPRING CLASS ENROLLMENT

Family-to-Family and Peer to Peer course registration is OPEN for
Spring 2009

Use Cool Beans to cater your next meeting!
Cool Beans is a training and employment program for adults with disabilities in Yolo County.

ELIGIBILITY TOOL

Use Sutter County's new Eligibility Tool to check for local, state and federal programs you might be
eligible for.

CALENDAR 2009: Click for Full 2008-2009 Potluck Meeting Calendar
December 3	Holiday Party
January 6	NAMI Potluck - Andrea Hillerman of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Sacramento, speaking on "The Personal Management of mood disorders".
January 22	Public hearing on Prevention and Early Intervention Play
February 26	Winter Mental Health Dinner
Feb. 17- April 19	Family to Family Education Class
March 11	Peer to Peer Orientation
March 18 - May 13	Peer to Peer Recovery Education Class

SUPPORT	WHEN	WHERE
NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group for people with mental illness.	Beginning February 6.	Woodland Details
Family Members (English) (NAMI-Yolo sponsored)	2nd Tuesdays 7pm	Woodland Details
Family Members (English) (NAMI-Yolo sponsored)	4th Wednesdays 7- 8:30pm Cesar Chavez housing complex conference room, 1220 Olive Drive, Davis	Davis Details
Family Members (Spanish) (NAMI-Yolo sponsored)	Phone for Details	Woodland Details
Family Member Support & Prayer Group (English)	4th Mondays	Davis Details
Family Members of People with Schizophrenia	1st Wednesdays 6-7pm	Sacramento Details
Parents of Transition-Age Youth	4th Tuesdays 6:30-8pm	Woodland Details
Warmline	Resource and support services for families of children with special needs.	Details

What to do when a person who is mentally ill is arrested.

What to do if you are stopped by the police

Can someone with a mental health problem get help in Yolo County if they aren't working and have no health insurance?

EDUCATE YOURSELF

UC Davis Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Researcher's Toolkit

The Infinite Mind: Listen to web re-broadcasts of cutting edge mental health issues

Psychiatric Advanced Directive Forms

Free Mental Health Recovery Booklets

Guidebook for Caregivers of Children and Adolescents with Severe Emotional Disorders

Parents and Teachers as Allies: Booklet for parents and teachers dealing with children having difficulties at home and at school possibly because of mental illness

ADVOCACY

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Low cost housing available for people with disabilities - Cesar Chavez and Seniors (age 62 and over) - Eleanor Roosevelt.

Homestead, affordable housing opportunity in Davis for people with disabilities.

GOING ONCE! – Sacramento Turning Point's new online auction and shipping service employing mental health clients. Turn your clutter into cash!

Use Pine Tree Gardens Supportive Employment Program for landscaping, housekeeping, window washing, spring and fall cleanup and hauling and pressure washing.

Visit the NAMI Sunflower website for sunflower art, photos and fun.

Living on a Shoestring: Yolo County Resources for people on low income budgets.

LEND A HAND

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

MANY THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
St James Catholic Church	Hats off to St. Martin's for their generous sponsorship and support!	Episcopal Church of St. Martin