NAMI TULARE COUNTY

EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY: NAMI TULARE COUNTY EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFER KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE PEER LED EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICE TO MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC INCLUDING RELEVANT INFORMATION, VALUABLE INSIGHT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN SUPPORT NETWORKS. THE PROGRAMS DRAW ON THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THEIR ILLNESSES AND HAVE HAD SPECIAL TRAINING OF HOW TO HELP OTHERS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP VISALIA IS A FREE, MONTHLY MEETING OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. PARTICIPANTS CAN TALK FRANKLY ABOUT THEIR CHALLENGES AND HELP ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THEIR LEARNED WISDOM. THESE MEETINGS ARE FACILITATED BY TRAINED NAMI MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE ACTIVELY IN THE WORK OF THE GROUP. MONTHLY NAMI TULARE COUNTY GENERAL MEETINGS ARE HELD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE NAMI TULARE COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF THE PERTINENT EVENTS AND ACTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION THAT MAY CONCERN INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AT REGULAR INTERVALS, EDUCATIONAL SPEAKERS WITH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF MENTAL ILLNESS ARE INVITED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AND OUR MEMBERSHIP ABOUT AREAS OF INTEREST. FAMILY TO FAMILY IS A FREE, 8 WEEK COURSE FOR FAMILIES, PARTNERS AND FRIENDS OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES TAUGHT BY TRAINED NAMI TULARE COUNTY FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES. THE COURSE DWELLS ON THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSES FAMILIES HAVE TO THE TRAUMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF HOW TO NAVIGATE THEIR NEW LIFE AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS. MANY FAMILY MEMBERS DESCRIBE THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THIS PROGRAM AS LIFE-CHANGING. ENDING THE SILENCE IS A 50-MINUTE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR STUDENT AUDIENCES AND IS TYPICALLY PRESSENTED TO 7TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE HEALTH CLASSES DURING THE MENTAL HEALTH PORTION OF THE CURRICULUM. THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM IS DEVOTED TO GIVING STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUICIDE THROUGH AN INFORMATIVE POWERPPOINT, SHORT VIDEOS, AND PERSONAL TESTIMONY. THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, STUDENTS LEARN SYMPTOMS AND INDICATORS OF MENTAL ILLNESS, AND ARE GIVEN IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO HELP THEMSELVES, FRIENDS, OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF SUPPORT. THIS CLASS EMPHASIZES THE PREVALENCE OF STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLLNESS. THIS IS OFFERED THROUGHOUT TULARE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.NAMI TULARE COUNTY WITH SUPPORT FROM NAMI CALIFORNIA HELD A TOWN HALL ON SERVICES PROVIDED BY KINGS VIEW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ON TULARE COUNTYS CARE ACT (COURT) AND FIELD BASED SERVICES. CARE COURT IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM THAT GIVE EXTRA SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING MENTAL ILLNESSES FEATURING PSYCHOSIS INCLUDING SCHIZOPHRENIA THAT ROUTINE MENTAL HEALTH SEVICES DO NOT HELP. THE FIELD BASED SERIVICES HAS CLINICIANS AND PEERS GO TO THE CLIENTS AND SUPPORT THEM IF THEY CAN NOT GO TO A CLINIC OR ARE HOMELESS ON THE STREET.WALK WITH NAMI TULARE COUNTY IS AN EVENT TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM NAMI TULARE COUNTY, TO REDUCE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS, AND TO ENCOURAGE PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO SEEK TREATMENT. FUNDS RAISED ARE USED TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY, SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO PERSONS WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS OF PERSONS WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS IN TULARE COUNTY.CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM (CIT) TRAINING IS A THIRTY TWO HOUR CLASS FOR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OFFICERS, POLICE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, POLICE DISPATCHERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IN TULARE AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. NAMI TULARE COUNTY PARTICIPATES BY PROVIDING MEMBERS FOR TEACHING THE PARTICIPANTS, ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS/FRIENDS. THESE PEOPLE EITHER HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS OR ARE A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND WHO HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN THERE WAS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. WE UTILIZE THE FAMILY TO FAMILY VOICES EXERCISE TO DEMONSTRATE THE VOICES SOME PEOPLE HEAR WHEN THEY HAVE SCHIZOPRHENIA OR PSYCHOSIS. WE ALSO TELL OUR STORY USING OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF HOW WE FELT WHEN WE HAD AN INTERACTION WITH POLICE AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS DURING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. THE NAMI TULARE COUNTY COORDINATOR REVIEWS RESOURCES THAT NAMI TULARE COUNTY PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY. HE/SHE COORDINATES THE NAMI PRESENTATION.THE NEWSLETTER INFORMS MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS ACTIONS AND NOTICES OF UPCOMING EVENTS THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS AND OTHER INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS OF THE COMMUNITY. IT ALSO UPDATES RECIPIENTS OF APPROPRIATE SCIENTIFIC FINDING AFFECTING PERSONS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.THE HOLIDAY GIFT BAG OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES PURCHASED AND DONATED ITEMS IN HOLIDAY GIFT BAGS AND DISTRIBUTES THEM TO APPROXIMATELY 525 LOW INCOME PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN TULARE COUNTY. THE HOLIDAY GIFT BAGS ARE FILLED AND DISTRIBUTED BY NAMI TULARE COUNTY MEMBER VOLUNTEERS. MANY PERSONS WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS EAGERLY AWAIT THIS HOLIDAY EVENT AND WELCOME THE VOLUNTEERS WITH OPEN ARMS.COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS AND EVENTS: NAMI TULARE COUNTY PARTICIPATES IN SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS, AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT TULARE COUNTY PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT NAMI TULARE COUNTY, MENTAL ILLNESSES AND MENTAL HEALTH WHILE PROMOTING WELLNESS AND RECOVERY FOR ANYONE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.