-Mental diseases are brain disorders -
NAMI Pennsylvania 1-800-223-0500

The NAMI Pennsylvania Family-to-Family Education Program is a free 12-week course for family caregiversof individuals with severe brain disorders (mental illnesses). All instruction and course materials are free for class participants.

The Family-to-Family curriculum focuses on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), clinical depression,borderline personality disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and the dual diagnosis of mental illness together with substance abuse. The course discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively.

Click to register for the
FALL 2003 FAMILY-TO-FAMILY EDUCATION CLASS!

or contact us directly at:

1. The local coordinators in Clarion county and vicinity:
   Betty Anne and Paul Hamilton, 814-752-2633 bapa@csonline.net
   Joan Beichner at  jbeichner@usachoice.net
   Bob Schiffhouer at   robertsc@direcway.com
2. or contact our state program director:
   Karen Willamann 610-339-0387 or 1-800-223-0500 kew@earthling.net

   The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program wants to help you begin the process of understanding the experience of people with brain disorders (mental illnesses) and learning effective coping skills for yourself.  This course has educated thousands of families just like yours.  You will join other family members and friends with similar experiences.  Start making a real difference in your life today!

  The NAMI Peer to Peer Program...

...is the belief in...     

C.A.R.E.:  Consumers Advocating for Recovery through Empowerment.  If you suffer from a mental illness, this program helps you interact with others in your situation in order to empower you on the road to recovery.

The NAMI Pennsylvania Peer to Peer Course offers free mentoring by consumers for consumers in healthy living with a mental illness. The spring 2003 eight week course is scheduled for the counties listed below.

The course uses a combination of lecture, interactive exercises and structured group processes, and the diversity of experience among course participants affords for a lively dynamic that moves the course along. Courses are taught by teams of trained "mentors", or peer-teachers, who are themselves experienced at living well with mental illness.

cfor more information on our Peer to Peer Program, contact:

Donna Rosati, NAMI PA State Consumer Coordinator
724-847-1064(h) 724-384-0129(f) drosati1@nami.org

 The NAMI Provider Education Program... -under development- 


...is the feeling that...

There is comfort in knowing that Providers care.  The program offers a 10-week course in mental illness education and consumer/provider/family collaboration skills for line staff at public mental health agencies. Form more information contact the NAMI PA State Office at 800-223-0500

The NAMI Hand to Hand Education Program...

 
...is the flowering of...

The knowledge that you, your children, and all other Nami members and mental health care providers are working in concert to bring about the best quality of life for everyone.

NAMI PA "HANDTO HAND" (H2H) Education Program starts its 4th year in Pennsylvania. It is an education and support course for families of children and adolescents with mental, behavioral and emotional difficulties. H2H is taught for eight (8) weeks - 1 time a week.. It is a structured educational course originally developed in Ohio by a person with a Phd. associated with NAMI Toledo-Ohio.

The Keys to Understanding are presented in the H2H program, which helps parents and guardians navigate the complicated mental health system. Participants learn what to expect along the way, as well as where to get support for their child and themselves.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Understanding Your Child's Diagnosis
• Developing Family Coping Skills
• Counseling and Therapy
• Understanding Treatment
• Where to go for Help
• Understanding Special Education
• Juvenile Justice
• Advocacy

  
  NAMI PA introduced "HAND TO HAND" to Pennsylvania in late fall of 1999. Classes have been held in 1999, 2000, 2001 and now 2002. As more instructors get trained and as the existing course gets updated, this education course will be introduced to other parts of the state not already offering the course.

If you know of some families, who need this type of education and support OR would like to get trained to hold these classes, please recommend they call the NAMI PA office at 1-800-223-0500 or 1-717-238-1514 and leave a message for Marilyn Baker, Hand to Hand Project Coordinator. Deb Ormsby is the Hand to Hand State Trainer. 

 The NAMI Forensics Education Program...


...is the justice of...

The people in law enforcement, the courts and the legal system are becoming educated as to your rights and the realization that you may be treated no differently from any other citizen.

It is a well documented fact that there are more persons with a serious mental illness being treated in our penal institutions then there are in our state mental hospitals. Today there are over 10,000 individuals with mental illness being treated in our state correctional facilities while the state mental hospital population is under 3,000. The PA FITF was establablished in July 1996 to bring together statewide community organizations, law enforcement and governmental agencies responsible for and interested in forensic issues and programs on mental illness and a co-occurring substance abuse issues. The task force is intentionally structure informally to encourage and foster open and frank discussion of issues which cross agency boundaries and responsibilities. The task force also acts as a conduit for information sharing of programs and ideas of interest to its members

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