March 19th, 2015
 
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NAMI-NYS NEWS

NAMI-NYS Mourns the Passing of Elizabeth 'Betts' Custer 

 

 

NAMI-NYS is saddened to report the passing of Elizabeth (Betts) Custer on March 1, 2015.  Betts played a key role in establishing the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in 1979. She participated in the formation of the New York State Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and served as the first Research Chairperson.   She continued as a board of director and on committees until her retirement from these responsibilities at the age of 100 in 2010.

 

Betts was one of the founders of NAMI National and NAMI-NYS. Betts served on the NAMI-NYS board for a number of years mentoring advocates on how to interpret government budgets, understand parlimentary procedures (bylaws), analyze research studies, and effectively present testimony at legislative hearings. Betts worked closely with the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD) since its formation, as well as a number of other mental health and government committees.

 

Betts was honored a number of times by NAMI-NYS for her outstanding advocacy in general, and Research successes in particular. Betts received Lifetime Achievement Awards from Dr. Herbert Pardes, President of The Brain and Behavior Council, and Dr. John Oldham, previous Director of the NYS Psychiatric Institute. Betts was the founding president of "NAMI-NYS Friends of Psychiatric Institute."

 

Betts' generosity, intelligence, grace, and devotion to improving life and prospects for all people suffering with mental illness no matter how challenging the situation, was inspirational. She will be missed.

 

At the time of her death, Betts was 104 years youngClick here to read the obituary from The New York Times.

NAMI on Campus at Syracuse University Host Event with Drummer Mike Veny



In their first public event of the Spring semester NAMI on Campus at Syracuse University invited Mike Veny to campus to present his Transforming Stigma Into Strength program.  Click here to read the full article on this successful event.


NAMI-NYS Welcomes Herkimer College as the Newest NAMI on Campus Club



We are happy to announce Herkimer College has become our newest NAMI on Campus Club in New York.  Students of Herkimer College participated in the NAMI-NYS Education Conference back in November which helped to spark their interest in becoming an official NAMI on Campus club and we look forward to hearing more good things from this new club.  To learn more about NAMI on Campus, click here.  

NAMI-NYS Board Member  Presents During Criminal Justice Caucus at Colombia University



On March 7th NAMI-NYS Board member Jayette Lansbury presented at Columbia University School of Law.  Lansbury, who is also the Criminal Justice Chairperson for NAMI-NYS, presented on a panel about the importance of Family Advocacy.   The well attended event was able to highlight the importance of listening to family and extended family when a person suffering w/ serious mental illness lands up in the criminal justice system.

 

NAMI NEWS

NAMI and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Announce Partnership for Broader Mental Health Education, Awareness, and Support Nationwide

 



NAMI issued a press release earlier this week describing the partnership and its goal to prepare new volunteer leaders for the future and reach broader constituencies as a growing movement to address unmet mental health needs.  Click here to read the full press release. 

NEW YORK NEWS
A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Excellus Health Plan To End Wrongful Denial Of Mental Health And Addiction

NEW YORK - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the fifth settlement since last year in an unprecedented enforcement effort of mental health parity laws. The settlement, reached with Rochester-based Excellus Health Plan, requires the health insurer to cover residential treatment for behavioral health conditions and reform its procedures for evaluating behavioral health treatment claims. The settlement also requires Excellus to provide notice of a new appeal right to 3,300 members whose requests for inpatient substance use disorder rehabilitation and eating disorder residential treatment Excellus denied from 2011 through 2014. The estimated value of Excellus's denial of these individuals' requests is up to $9 million.

 

NAMI-NYS Executive Director Wendy Burch stated "NAMI-NYS wholeheartedly supports the Attorney General's active enforcement of Timothy's Law." Burch went on to say, "By not treating mental health claims in the same manner as other physical illnesses, insurance companies are guilty of blatant discrimination and place those suffering at increased risk while hampering their chance at recovery."

 

For more on this topic click here, or to read a copy of the settlement click here.


NY Lawmakers Back Police Training On The Mentally Ill

 

Budget proposals from New York's Assembly and Senate contain additional funding for more pilot programs to train police officers in dealing with the mentally ill.  Click here read more on this topic.

 

 

  Raise the Age in New York

 

Governor Cuomo has included raising the age of criminal responsibility  in his executive proposal.  We are asking that you help by reviewing the new toolkit produced by Raise the Age NY campaign which is available here and by signing and sharing the call to action letter.     

  

  

 Research Survey for Mental Health Professionals  


A survey created by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice asks about your opinions regarding your job as a mental health professional. Participants should be mental health professionals (case managers, peer counselors nurses, social workers, psychologists, etc.) who have experience working with individuals living with a serious mental illness to participate in the survey.

The survey should take about 25 minutes. 

 

 

You will be compensated $10 for your time.  Click here for the survey link.    

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Beth Vayshenker.


NAMIWalks - Rochester
Date: May 2nd
Location: Village Gate, Rochester, NY
Contact: Lindsay Chambers, 585-330-1968 or e-mail
Click here for more information.

NAMIWalks - Long Island/Queens
Date: May 2nd
Location: Jones Beach, E. Bathhouse, Parking Field #5, Wantagh, NY
Contact: Rori Fleshel, 516-325-0428 or e-mail.
Click here for more information


NAMIWalks - NYC Metro
Date: May 9th
Location: South Street Promenade, New York, NY
Contacts: Sarah Sheahan, 212-684-3365 or e-mail and Ariel Roth, 212-684-3365 or e-mail.
Click here for more information.

NAMIWalks - Westchester
Date: May 16th
Location: Rye Town Park, Rye, NY
Contact: Marie Consideine, 914-258-7613 or e-mail.
Click here for more information
Signature Programs

 

March 24 - Join NAMI-NYC Metro for a new Basics course being held at the NAMI-NYC Metro office on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 - 8:30 PM.  For more information or to sign up please contact Deniece Chi at 212-684-3365 ext 203 or by e-mail.

 

March 24 - Join NAMI of Otsego County for a new Family-to-Family course beginning in Oneonta. To register: contact: Kim, P.O. Box 804 Oneonta, NY 13820 or call 607-351-3392 or Email  

 

March 25 - Join NAMI-NYC Metro for a new Basics course being held at the NAMI-NYC Metro office on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM.  For more information or to sign up please contact Deniece Chi at 212-684-3365 ext 203 or by e-mail.

 

April 6 - Join NAMI Buffalo and Erie County for a new Family-to-Family course at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Eggertsville, NY.  Classes will be held on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM.  For more information contact NAMI Buffalo and Erie at 716-226-6264.    

 

April 6 -  Join NAMI Columbia County as they offer a new Family-to-Family course.  This course will be abbreviated and offered twice a week for six weeks in Valatie, NY.  Monday and Wednesday classes will be available from 6:00 - 8:45 PM.  For more information contact MaryEllen or Debra at 518-573-1563.

 

April 7 - Join NAMI NYC State Island as the begin a new Peer-to-Peer course.  Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 PM, and you must register in advance.  For more information or to register contact Linda at 718-477-1700 or by e-mail.

       

April 8- Join NAMI Rochester as they begin their Family-to-Family course on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 9:00 PM at St. Mary's of the Lake Church in Ontario. For more information, contact jodie.terhune@namirochester.org or call 315-370-9051.

 

April 9Join NAMI of Otsego County for a In Our Own Voice presentation at 7:00 PM at State University at Oneonta, Morris Conference Center, Craven Lounge.  All welcome For more information:  namiofotsego@gmail.com 

 

April 13 - NAMI of Central Suffolk will be offering another NAMI Basics course from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM at the Suffolk County Farmingville Mental Health Center in Farmingville, NY.  Registration is required for all classes and priority placement in classes is given to NAMI members.  Call or email Beth to register at their earliest convenience as there are limited spots available & classes fill up quickly. 631-673-6097 or bethsramme@gmail.com.  

April 14 - Join NAMI NYC Staten Island for a new Basics course being offered at the Regina McGinn, M.D. Education Center in the Staten Island University Hospital.  Classes will be held Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 PM.  For more information or to register contact Linda at 718-477-1700 or by e-mail.  

April 14 - Join NAMI of Central Suffolk as they begin a new NAMI Basics Course to be held on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 -12:30 PM in the Dix Hills area. Registration required. For more information and to register, please contact Beth Ramme 631-673-6097  or  BethSRamme@gmail.com 
 
April 20 - NAMI NYC Staten Island will begin a new Family-to-Family course being offered on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM.  Classes will be held at the Fr. Dominic Epifano Parish Center at Holy Rosary Parish in Staten Island.  For more information or to sign up, contact Linda at 718-477-1700 or by e-mail.   

Save the Dates

March 20 - Join NAMI for their Children's Ask the Doctor call from 11:00 AM - Noon.  The topic will be Childhood Onset Schizophrenia with Dr. Judith Rapoport. The calls are toll free, to access the toll-free call, please dial 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918#. 

 

March 22 - Join NAMI of Central Suffolk as they invite you to join them for a Spring walk on a nature trail to the lighthouse at Robert Moses State Park.  The walk will be from 2:00 - 4:00 PM, for more information contact Sandy at 631-793-4712 or by e-mail.    

 

March 25 -  Join Magellan Healthcare for a free webinar on Psychiatric Advance Directives - Concept to Practice: A Virginia Case Study.  This webinar will be from 2:00 - 3:30 PM.  The webinar presenter will be

Heather Zelle, J.D., Ph.D., post-doctoral research associate at University of Virginia's Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy. To register click here.  

 

March 27 - Join NAMI for their Ask the Doctor call where the topic will be Communication between Families and Providers with Dr. Stewart Newman and Jerry Gabay.  The call will take place from 11:00 AM - Noon. The calls are toll free to access the toll-free call, please dial 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918#.

 

March 31 - Join NAMI Huntington as they participate in 'Vigil For The Homeless.'  The affiliate is seeking donations of clean or gently used warm clothing, sheets, towels and blankets to be distributed to needy families.  For more information contact Jayette at 631-385-0754.  

 

April 1 - Join NAMI of Central Suffolk for an event with Jim Ryan, Founder and President of Jim Ryan Talks.  Jim will discuss living a life of joy, fulfillment and success.  This speaking event will be held at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson at 7:30 PM.  For more information, contact Deb Mayo at 631-675-6831.  

 

April 9 - Join NAMI of Columbia County for a special educational meeting featuring Jason Paden.  Jason will be telling his personal story of recovery and wellness.  For more information on this event contact Pat Anders at  namiccny@gmail.com or 518-336-0246.     

 

April 11 - Join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for their Out of the Darkness walk being held at the campus of RPI in Troy, NY.  The walk will begin at 11:00 AM, click here to register or learn more.  


April 25 -
Join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for their Out of the Darkness walk being held at the campus of Schenectady Community College in Schenectady, NY.  The walk will begin at 1:00 PM, click here to register or learn more.

May 2 -
Join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for their Out of the Darkness walk being held at the campus of University at Albany in Albany, NY.  The walk will begin at 1:00 PM, click here to register or learn more.  SUNY Potsdam will also be holding their walk on this day as well, walk begins at 12:30 PM.  Click here to read more.

May 6
- NAMI Syracuse will be hosting their annual Children's Conference at the Empire Room at the NYS Fairgrounds.  The title of this year's conference is New Options for Treatment, Research, and Education on Mental Illness in Children.  The conference will begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 3:00 PM.  Tickets are $35.00, for more information call 315-487-2085.

 

TO HAVE YOUR EVENTS FEATURED IN THE NAMI-NYS NEWS RELEASE PLEASE EMAIL EVENT DETAILS TO ANDREW CHAKMAKAS.   

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