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 will be offering the class starting March 8, 2011 and continuing until May 24, 2011. For more information, or to join the class, please contact Nan at 812-876-3826 or namiller@indiana.edu.
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 will be held weekly for a period of six consecutive Thursdays 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 downtown post office. We also meet jointly with the Mental Health Alliance's TLC Group, which meets on the first Monday of the month. Everyone in search of support is welcome. To learn more, please call Lee Strickholm, the support group facilitator, at 812-339-5440.
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
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)
Every journey begins with that first step. In 2010, thousands of concerned citizens in more than 60 communities across the nation will join NAMI's Campaign for the Mind of America and 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.