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Education Programs
Family to Family:
The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a free 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals
with severe brain disorders (mental illnesses). The course is taught by trained family members. All instruction and course
materials are free for class participants.
The Family-to-Family curriculum focuses on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression),
clinical depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The course discusses the clinical treatment of
these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively.
The course is free, but registration is required. To sign up for the next Family to Family class in
2006, please send an e-mail to info@namimidcentralwi.org with your name, telephone number and address or call 608-408-0177.
Peer to Peer:
Peer-to-Peer is a unique, experiential learning program for people with
any mental illness who are interested in establishing and maintaining their wellness and recovery. The course was written
by Kathryn McNaulty, a person with a psychiatric disability who is also a former provider and manager in the mental health
field and a longtime mutual support group member and facilitator. An advisory board comprised of consumer members of NAMI,
in consultation with Joyce Burland, Ph.D., author of the successful NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program, helped guide
the curriculum's development. All instruction and course materials are free for class participants.
- Peer-to-Peer consists of nine two-hour units and is taught by a team of
three trained "mentors" who are personally experienced at living well with mental illness.
- Mentors are trained in weekend-long training sessions, supplied with teaching
manuals, and are paid a stipend for each course they teach.
- Participants come away from the course with a binder of hand-out
materials, as well as many other tangible resources: an advance directive; a "relapse prevention plan" to help identify tell-tale
feelings, thoughts, behavior or events that may warn of impending relapse and to organize for intervention; mindfulness exercises
to help focus and calm thinking; and survival skills for working with providers and the general public.
The course is free, but registration is required. To sign up for the next Peer-to-Peer class in 2006,
please send an e-mail to info@namimidcentralwi.org with your name, telephone number and address or call 608-408-0177.
Hand to Hand:
Hand to Hand is an eight-week education program designed to foster learning,
healing and empowerment among families of children with emotional/mental/ neurobiological disorders This course, developed
by AMI of Greater Toledo, is funded by a grant from ODMH and is taught by professionals and family members who are part of
NAMI. The course is similar to Family to Family in structure and goals, with each week of the curriculum dedicated to a particular
aspect of having a child with a mental illness.
Topics covered
include:
- Understanding
your child's diagnosis
- Developing family
coping skills
- Counseling and
therapy
- Medications
- Special educational
needs
- Juvenile
justice and child protection agencies
- Guidance on locating
appropriate support and services within the community and obtaining better mental health services as well as advocacy for
appropriate federal and state policies are also included.
The course is
free, but registration is required. To sign up for the next Hand to Hand class in
2006, please send an e-mail to info@namimidcentralwi.org with your name, telephone number and address or call 608-408-0177.
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In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness:
What It Is:
- A presentation by consumers that creates awareness about what is involved
in recovery from mental illness.
- A powerful anti-stigma tool to change hearts, minds, and attitudes about mental illness.
- An opportunity for consumers to gain self-confidence, self-esteem, and
income while serving as role models for the community.
- Living proof that recovery from mental illness is an ongoing reality.
The Presentation:
- Hear from people who have struggled with disorders such as depression,
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other severe mental illnesses.
- A brief video features consumers speaking about the topics of Dark Days,
Acceptance, Treatment, Coping Skills, and Successes, Hopes, and Dreams.
- Gain insight into how people with serious mental illnesses cope with the
realities of their disorders while reclaiming productive lives.
- Ask questions from the real experts -- the consumers are the ones who
"have been there."
- A Take Home Folder is distributed to all attendees, which includes resources
and an opportunity for program evaluation.
The Audience:
- Consumers…in day programs, inpatient settings, support groups, and
other community settings who can share, learn, and find hope for successful living.
- Family and friends…who may need further reassurance of the possibility
of recovery for their loved ones.
- Health care providers…who desire strengthened communication with
their clients and improved outcomes.
- Law enforcement officials…to increase awareness of and sensitivity
to behaviors triggered by mental illness.
- Faith communities…to increase responsiveness to people with mental
illnesses who may first turn to their spiritual community for guidance.
- Students…of various age levels, who wish to expand their knowledge
of living with mental illness.
- Any community or civic organization…who may be interested
in learning more about mental illnesses and recovery.
Why Must We Have This Program?
- Raises awareness in communities about recovery from mental illness
- Empowers consumers by providing a path to recovery
- Presents the real face of mental illness
- Combats stigma by opening dialogue
- Provides supported employment opportunities for consumers
- Increases visibility of NAMI as a resource
To have an In Our Own Voice:
Living With Mental Illness presentation given at your workplace, church, school, organization or club meeting, please send
an e-mail to info@namimidcentralwi.org with contact information, including phone number, number of people interested in attending the presentation, and location
or call 608-408-0177.
NAMI Wisconsin holds several In Our Own Voice trainings throughout the year. If you
are a mental health consumer and would like to receive this training, please send an e-mail to info@namimidcentralwi.org with your information or call 608-296-0177 to receive more information.
Breaking the Silence:
A curriculum designed specifically for middle and high school aged students.
Students Learn:
- It is biology, not a character flaw that causes mental illness
- Mental illness has never been more treatable
- The warning signs of mental illness
- How to overcome stigma that surrounds mental illness
We are currently seeking people interested in presenting this curriculum
to area school districts in teams of 2 to 3 people. For more information on becoming a Breaking the Silence presenter,
or to have the Breaking the Silence curriculum presented in your local school, please send an e-mail to info@namimidcentralwi.org with or call 608-408-0177.
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