The PHOENIX

We will continue to forge

solid community relation-

ships and maintain our

vigilance in reaching

those individuals and

families affected by men-

tal illness and co-

occurring disorders.

Should you wish to do-

nate, make checks paya-

ble to NAMI Abilene. Or

you can donate online at

www.namitexas.org/nami

-abilene.

Welcome to our 1st Annu-

al Mental Health Confer-

ence and NAMI Fest 2017!

Our theme this year is

“Educate, Empower, En-

gage: The Power of Con-

nection”. We’re excited

about sponsoring this

event.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 states:

Though one may be over-

powered, two can defend

themselves. A cord of

three strands is not quickly

broken.” Throughout the

Conference weekend we

build that 3-strand cord of

educate, empower, and

engage—the power of con-

nection.

We are proud to have suc-

cessfully trained Facilita-

tors for both our Family

Support and Connection

Recovery Support Groups.

We have opened dialogue

with area Pastors and the

local Ministerial Alliance to

sponsor our NAMI Faith-

Net/Bridges of Hope pro-

gram, as well as meeting

with the Military Partner-

ship of West Texas organi-

zation to partner with us in

offering NAMI Homefront

for Military Families and

Veterans.

We began raising funds in

our service area of Taylor

and Jones counties by so-

liciting sponsors and indi-

vidual contributions for

our NAMI Fest weekend

with our 4th of July Kick-

off Celebration.

Along These Lines...

Volume 1, Issue 4 Special Conference Issue

NAMI Abilene General Meetings

NAMI Night Big Country

• Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017

• Tuesday, Nov. 7,2017 .

• Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2017

All meetings are at 6 p.m. Grace Fellowship

910 Cypress Street. Abilene, TX

Inside this issue:

NAMI Puts A Face On Public Policy

2

Walk for Mental Ill-ness Awareness

2

In Our Own Voice: Louisa P.

3

About NAMI Abilene 3

NAMI Fest 2017 “Educate Empow-er.Engage”

4

Signature Programs 5

Special Thanks 5

Contact Us 5

PHOENIX

The Official Newsletter of NAMI Abilene

October 1-7 is National Mental Illness Aware-ness Week. In 1990, the United States Congress enacted the first week of October as Mental Ill-ness Awareness Week in recognition of NAMI’s efforts to raise mental health awareness. Since then, mental health advocates from across the country the country have joined together during the first full week of October in sponsoring many kinds of activities. NAMI Abilene has chosen to hold an annual Mental Health Awareness Confer-ence and a Walk for Mental Illness Awareness to further advance our cause for advocacy.

Until next issue ...

The PHOENIX

We welcome our NAMI Texas Public Policy Director to our Mental Health Confer-ence to speak with us about the state of mental health affairs here in Texas.

As you may have heard, NAMI Chief Executive Officer, Mary Giliberti has been selected to serve as a member of the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee. The Commit-tee was established pursu-ant to the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 to pro-vide guidance to Congress and relevant federal de-

partments and agencies about advances in re-search and access to ser-vices for people with seri-ous mental illness (SMI) and children and youth with serious emotional disturb-ance (SED).

It is imperative that our NAMI Abilene members stay on top of advocacy measures. William “Byl” Boyd has been awarded a scholarship to attend the NAMI Smart Class for Advocacy Training in Round Rock, Texas lat-er this month. Brenda Dagestad will serve as our Advocacy Lead. She is no stranger to Austin and to our State Legisla-tors especially when it

comes to “all things mental health”. We are blessed to have her aboard. Her work with Mental Health Ameri-ca of Abilene has posi-tioned her well to fulfill her role as our Advocacy Lead.

Walk for Mental Illness Awareness 2017

criminatory and equitable policies at federal, state and local level and in pri-vate sector

• Advocate for improved op-portunities for housing, re-habilitation, and meaningful jobs

• Support research into the causes, systems and treat-ment of brain disorders

• Support public education programs designed to elimi-nate pervasive stigma sur-rounding severe mental illness.

• Establish the S.E.A. (Support, Education Advo-cacy) Centre’ & Clubhouse.

NAMI Abilene’s Walk for Mental Illness Awareness 2017 will kick off Saturday, October 7th at 9 am at Frontier Texas. This event is our annual fundraiser and the goal is to raise money and awareness. The proceeds, including corporate sponsorships will be used by NAMI to:

• provide support to and educate people with mental illness and their families

• Fight for funding for training of police to expand Crisis Interven-tion Team in Abilene

• Advocate for nondis-

NAMI Abilene

encourages you to

“stomp out” Stigma!

2017

Page 2

NAMI Puts A Face On Public Policy

Different WALK, same GOAL

The PHOENIX

In 1988, Louisa joined the United States Navy where she served our country for six (6) years. Following her military service, she found herself living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area struggling with Post Traumatic Stress and bipolar disorders as well as alcohol addiction. Facing a myriad of chal-lenges, she struggled to get back on a trajectory to success. By 2007, Louisa returned to the Abilene area where she, after a period of time and assis-tance from 2-1-1 Texas A Call to Help/Basic Needs Network in Abilene, was able to connect with the Veteran’s Affairs office and other community programs to help her get back on her feet. Louisa sought out the

stability and support of No-ah Project and Regional Victim Crisis Center follow-ing an abusive relationship. In order to end the cycle of homelessness she was experiencing, Louisa moved into the Abilene

Hope Haven. These pro-grams gave her a sense of belonging and accountabil-ity so that she could focus on recovery and self-sufficiency. Her desire was to give back what was so freely given to her so in 2015 she decide it was time to refocus her life and she enrolled in FaithWorks. FaithWorks offered her the development, guidance, and confidence needed to reenter school. She suc-cessfully completed the 13-week career development curriculum offered by FaithWorks and graduated 37th in her class. Louisa is currently enrolled in Texas State Technical College pursuing a certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling. She serves on the Peer Advisory Council of ARCADA and is a Texas Certified Peer Specialist.

In Our Own Voice (Louisa’s story)

About NAMI Abilene

Our service area (Abilene) covers Taylor and Jones counties.

All meetings, classes, and support groups are free and are centrally located.

The success of our organi-zation depends upon involvement of community members like yourself!

Come JOIN US!

YOU can make a DIFFER-ENCE!

There are many ways to get involved:

• Take a mental health class

• Participate in a support group

• Lead a class or support group

• Attend our general meetings

• Advocate for improved mental health

services

• Become a member

• Volunteer

NAMI Abilene is a newly formed Affiliate in Texas. NAMI Abilene offers a vari-ety of education classes and support groups, partic-ipates in area mental health events, and advo-cates for people with men-tal illness and their family members and friends. We welcome people living with a mental illness, their fami-ly members and friends, and mental health profes-sionals to get involved with NAMI Abilene activities.

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 4 Special Conference Issue

The PHOENIX

“Educate, Empower, Engage: The Power of Connection”.

Our publics are people. Those for whom we serve. Those individuals and families affected by mental illness and co-occurring disorders. We are here for them. Our agenda is their agenda. Our political agenda is their political agenda. We represent “the least of these”. We are that voice, crying in the wil-derness”. We, are NAMI Abilene.

Following this Conference and weekend we will be engaged in advancing our education efforts both internally and externally. Internally by equipping our membership and other collaterals on advanced research about mental health conditions. Externally by introducing NAMI ‘s Ending the Silence in our Middle and High School programs. More information concerning the ETS program will be forthcoming. Stay tuned.

We need your help in spreading the word about NAMI. Visit our website at www.namitexas.org/nami-abilene. Also LIKE US on our Facebook page. We need your support. Join us on Saturday, October 7th at our Walk for Mental Illness Awareness at Frontier Texas. Registration begins at 8am. Donations welcome. Official Walk Tee Shirts “Stomp Out Stigma” are $20. This is our Annual Fundraiser. All funds go to increasing our free education programs offered to the general public. Currently we are of-fering a free 10-week course “Peer-to-Peer”. All Training Manuals and materials are Free.

Our role as an advocacy organization grew from the need of our members—individuals with mental illness and their families—to affect a positive change in the response of society, government, business and law enforcement, to an individual with a mental illness. And we take our role seriously!

We look forward to great things as we continue to forge our relationships with strategic partners in the mental health community.

Introducing NAMI In Our Own Voice…

Schedule a presentation for your group, association, neighborhood club, or church

NAMI Abilene is currently scheduling community presentations entitled “In Our Own Voice. (IOOV).” In Our Own Voice is a unique public education program developed by NAMI, in which two trained speak-ers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery. In Our Own Voice presentations change attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes by describing the reality of living with mental illness.

NAMI In Our Own Voice adds a critical perspective to the popular understanding of what people with mental illness are like. Listening to this presentation will provide you:

• A first-hand account of what it’s like to live with mental illness. Presenters humanize this misun-derstood topic by demonstrating that it’s possible—and common– to live well with mental illness.

• A chance to ask the presenters questions, which allows for a deeper understanding of mental health conditions and dispel stereotypes and misconceptions.

• The understanding that every person with a mental illness can hope for a bright future.

IOOV presentations are provided at no cost to peer groups, college students, law enforcement offi-cials , educators, providers, faith community members, politicians, professionals, inmates and interest-ed civic groups. Groups or organizations in Abilene that are interested in seeing a presentation may request one by completing a NAMI Abilene Presentation Request Form. Contact us at officemanag-er@namiabilene.org

The PHOENIX

P.O. Box 2352 Abilene, Texas 79604 (325) 701-9051 officemanager@namiabilene.org www.namitexas.org/nami-abilene

https://www.facebook.com/NAMIAbilene/

Millions of Americans are affected by mental health conditions every

year. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s

largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building

better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness

through education and support for both the individual and the family.

A Note of Thanks:

There is absolutely no way to thank the myriad of people who helped in pulling off this monu-mental feat. But to every committee member, volunteer, donor, sponsor, patron, prayer sup-port partner, exhibitor, and to the “doubters and naysayers” who at least said it to my face, I ex-tend a warm-hearted thanks. There have also been many who have rendered in-kind services thank you. NAMI Texas and most of all, to YOU, our special guests!

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

We’re on the web

www.namitexas.org/nami-abilene

Every year , NAMI Texas hosts a mental health conference.. It will again be in Austin, Texas and

NAMI Abilene plans to be there.

November 2-4, 2017

NAMI Signature Programs

Type Day and Time Location Contact

NAMI Connection Support Group

Third Tuesday 6:00 p.m. -7:30

p.m.

Grace Fellowship 901 Cypress, Abilene, TX

Byl (Bill) (229) 429-4535

NAMI Family Support Group

First and Third Tuesdays of the

month 7:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m.

Grace Fellowship 901 Cypress Abilene, TX

Byl (229) 429 -4535

NAMI In Our Own Voice Coming Fall,2017

TBA.

Make appointments at williamboyd

@namiabilene.org Byl

(229) 429-4535

General Meetings

NAMI Nights Big Country

Open to the Public First Tuesday of the month 6 p.m.

Grace Fellowship 901 Cypress

Abilene, Texas Byl (Bill) Boyd

(229) 429-4535

Crisis Line:

1-800 758-3344

Suicide Hotline

1-800 784-2433