NAMI Marion County E-Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 3

April, 2018

(352) 368-2405 Post Office Box 5753 Ocala, FL 34478-5753 [email protected]

Breaking News! The Marion County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a plan on March 20th to increase the amount of funding that problem-solving court programs receive from the county's general revenue fund. (For more information, see the Ocala Star-Banner , March 22, 2018 "County ups funding for problem-solving court programs.") NAMI Marion has worked very closely with the Court Diversion Program to coordinate our support groups and educational programs with their work and we are delighted to see that the Marion County Commissioners recognize the value of this program. More great news! NAMI Marion partnered with the Circuit 5 Court Diversion Program and Lutheran Services Florida on a Dept. of Children & Families Criminal Justice Mental Health and Substance Abuse grant. The Court Diversion Program received notice of award on a $1.198 million grant! The bulk of the funding will be used to enable the Court Diversion Programs to expand. A portion provides funding for NAMI Marion to offer even more support group and educational services. We are happy to celebrate this funding with our colleagues in Circuit 5. Shown above are some of the staff we will be working with: Regina Lewis, Court Alternatives Administrative Manager; Carolyn Weldon, Court Assistant; Judge Thomas P. Thompson III, presiding judge over Mental Health Court; and Gerry Brent, NAMI Marion Executive Director.

NAMI Marion news about Circuit 5 Court Diversion Program liaisons! NAMI Marion thanks volunteer Vince Hain for his service to the Marion County Veterans' Treatment Court Program. His future focus will be the Marion County Mental Health Court plus instructing future peer education classes. We appreciate his mentoring and the relationships he is building. Vince is shown here accepting a Certificate of Appreciation from Judge James McCune.

A new Mental Health Court Liaison.... and so much more! Dorothy Conway Comeau is on the NAMI Marion Board of Directors. * She leads our Family Support Group at First United Methodist Church. * She responds to all of the inquiries on the warm line (352-368-2405). * She responds to the inquiries that come into [email protected] * She took on the job of mentoring the new NAMI Marion Executive Director (Gerry Brent). Dottie is a valuable resource. Now...in addition to all of that, Dottie (as she likes to be called) will be our liaison to the Circuit 5 Veterans' Treatment Court.  Thank you Dottie for all of your support.

NAMI SUPPORT GROUPS Support groups are free, confidential, respectful and supportive. No registration is necessary for support groups. The Connection Recovery Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for adults living with mental illness. It meets at First United Methodist Church on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. in the Old Fellowship Hall on the northwest side of the campus (downstairs). The NAMI Family Support Group meet every first and third Tuesday of the month at First United Methodist Church of Ocala, Room #31, 1126 E. Silver Springs Blvd, at 7:00 p.m. in Building G. There is another NAMI Family Recovery Support Group in Lady Lake. They meet on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in St. Timothy's RC Church Hall, Room #7 , 1351 Paige Place. IMPORTANT! The NAMI Family-to-Family Class (caregiver education) will also be starting again soon. Registration is needed for the Family-to-Family Class. For more information, call (352) 368-2405, go to www.namiocala.org or e-mail to [email protected]

VISIT THE NAMI MARION COUNTY FACEBOOK PAGE AND "LIKE" US V We will keep you up-to-date on services, education and support groups. Stay up-to-date on our efforts to remove the stigma from mental illness and about advocacy efforts in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. Visit our website to keep up-to-date on NAMi services and activities, and to join, update or renew your membership at www.namiocala.orgMembership fees are $40 individual, $60 household, or the open door membership is $5.

Upcoming Events! April 6 - The Centers' "Be You Walk" at Citizen's Circle @ 5:30 p.m. NAMI Marion is participating in this with The Centers. Mayor Kent Guinn will be recognizing the Olympians from Ocala in the same area around 6:00 p.m. Come visit NAMI Marion's booth for information or just to say "hi."

May - Mental Health Month - May 17, 2018 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at The Vines Hospital, 3130 SW 27th Avenue, Ocala 34471. Join us as we work together to #STOPTHESTIGMA. Mind Your Health 2018 - a community health event will include vendors, free depression screenings and education programs. Buy a "Stop the Stigma" bracelet! All proceeds will benefit NAMI Marion. Keep updated on MInd Your Health on our website and Facebook page. For more information on becoming a vendor and/or a sponsor: Call Meridith Johnson at (352) 671-3130 ext. 3014 or email: [email protected]

NAMI 2018 NATIONAL CONVENTION The NAMI National Convention connects people affected by mental illness who are looking for resources, research and support. Our collective voice spreads hope that recovery is possible and families can be whole again. The convention will be at the  Sheraton New Orleans  on Canal St. in the heart of New Orleans www.nami.org/convention

Registration is now open for NAMI Homefront NAMI Homefront is a free, six-session class for family, friends and significant others of Military Service Members and Veterans. The class helps families comprehend what the Military Service Member/Veteran is experiencing related to trauma, combat stress, civilian life, PTSD and other mental health conditions. Topics covered include mental health, communication, handling crises, treatment and recovery. The program is designed to help family members understand and support their Service Member/Veteran while maintaining their own well-being. NAMI Homefront leaders have personal experience with mental health conditions impacting their Service Member/ Veteran. The class is free but you are expected to attend all six sessions. Now offered online! We understand that attending an in-person class can be difficult for busy individuals and families. We now offer NAMI Homefront Online. Online classes meet weekly in a virtual classroom, so participants experience the same level of interaction and learning as traditional in-person classes. You must have access to a laptop, PC or tablet with a stable internet connection to participate. Audio will be via telephone line, a headset is recommended. Registration is open to NAMI members at no charge. USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO REGISTER* https://www.research.net/r/homefrontonline   *All participants are screened to ensure this class is appropriate for their needs.