Family to Family Education Program
The Family-to-Family Education Program is for families of individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. Family members learn the skills they need when faced with the problems of mental illness in a loved one. This free program, distributed and supported by NAMI National, balances education and skill-training with self-care, emotional support, and empowerment. The 12-session program is taught by trained volunteers and is one of the most important programs offered by NAMI. Over 100,000 family members across the country have taken this course.
NAMI Greater Bloomington Area's fall 2012 Family-to-Family class began August 21, 2012 and ended November 13, 2012. We plan to offer the class again in fall 2013. To get on the list for upcoming classes, please contact the us at (812)369-3119.
NAMI Basics: Fundamentals of caring for you, your family, and your child with mental illness
The free course is taught by two trained instructors, Daunna Minnich and Sarah Hunt, each of whom are parents of children with mental illness who experienced symptoms of brain disorders prior to the age of thirteen. There is no charge to participate, however class size is limited to 20 participants and there is no childcare provided.
Classes are usually be held for a period of six consecutive weeks. Normally the class is held in the summer.
Examples of topics covered include:
-It's Not Your Fault: mental illnesses are brain disorders
-The biology of mental illness
-getting an accurate diagnosis
-Navigating the System: schools, juvenile justice, and mental health
Please contact Sarah Hunt (sarah.f.hunt@gmail.com, 812-327-8107) or Daunna Minnich (daunna@aol.com, 812-333-6660) for more information.
Support Groups
Support groups are offered through NAMI Greater Bloomington Area. Because mental illness strikes persons of all walks of life, we provide support groups that can offer a comprehensive view on the many facets of living with a mental illness.
NAMI Greater Bloomington Area has a support group meeting every third Monday of the month at 7:00pm in the First United Methodist Church, Room 302, on Fourth Street across from the former Bloomington downtown post office. We also meet jointly with the Mental Health America's TLC Group, which meets on the first Monday of the month. Everyone in search of support is welcome. To learn more, please call one of the support group facilitators: Daunna Minnich (812-333-6660) or Laura Jesseph (812-333 0341).
For information about the Bedford Family Support group please call facilitators Jan and Sherry Owens (812-275-4506).
Book Club
Book Club Meeting ScheduleAll meetings will start at 7:00 pm, end at 8:30 pm and will be held in the Sanctuary/Gathering Room, First Christian Church, Bloomington, IN
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 canceled
Wednesday, August, 22, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 (more)
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Wednesday, August, 21, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
For our April 17 meeting we will be reading "Divided Minds: Twin Sisters and Their Journey Through Schizophrenia" by Pamela Spiro Wagner and Carolyn Spiro, MD. Our consensus is that our meetings should be interesting and open. If you haven’t finished the book(s), come and participate anyway. Your experience, your reaction, your ideas all belong in the NAMI Book Club.
For more information please contact Janet James at jjames AT indiana.edu or call her at (812) 345-3294.
Family Advisory Committee
Advocating for appropriate community treatment for consumers of mental health services is an important activity of NAMI Greater Bloomington Area. Over the past three years, the six members of the Family Advisory Committee have met regularly with some of the administration and staff at Centerstone (formerly the Center for Behavioral Health). These meetings are to discuss concerns that family members have expressed about the policies and procedures of the center.
The emphasis of these meetings has been on the important role that family members play in the successful treatment of their loved ones. Although hampered by federal and state regulations with regard to confidentiality, the meetings have tried to find ways that vital information can be shared. Family members are often the primary caregivers and need to communicate with the center professionals in order to provide effective support.
For more information, or to be involved in the Family Advisory Committee, please contact Lee Strickholm at 812-339-5440.
Important Forms
Download important forms for your loved ones when dealing with the Bloomington Hospital.Special Needs Application for Emergency Services
Power of Attorney Form
Authorization for Release/Receipt of Information
Application for Emergency Detention
Physician's Emergency Statement
Endorsement by Judicial Officer
Release of Information Form for Meadows Hospital
Bloomington Meadows Hospital Release of Information Form
Newsletters Available
Miss our latest newsletter? Download archived issues here. To be added to our mailing list, please send your name and address to Lee Strickholm at leestrick AT aol.com or call 812-339-5440.Issue No. 3 (October 2006)
Issue No. 4 (January 2007)
Issue No. 5 (May 2007)
Issue No. 6 (October 2007)
Issue No. 7 (January 2008)
Issue No. 8 (May 2008)
Issue No. 9 (September 2008)
Issue No. 10 (February 2009)
Issue No. 11 (July 2009)
Issue No. 12 (December 2009)
Issue No. 13 (May 2010)
Issue No. 14 (September 2010)
Issue No. 15 (January 2011)
Issue No. 15.5 (April 2011)
Issue No. 16 (November 2011)
Issue No. 17 (January 2012)
Issue No. 18 (April 2012)
Issue No. 19 (September 2012)
Every journey begins with that first step. In 2012, thousands of concerned citizens in more than 40 communities across the nation will join NAMI Walks and will walk together to raise money and awareness about our country's need for a world-class treatment and recovery system for people with mental illness. Won't you join us?
For more information or to find a walk near you, visit www.nami.org and click on NAMI Walks.