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April 2017
Dear members and friends of NAMI Glendale, 

Welcome to the April 2017 Glendale newsletter. 

Send your comments and suggestions for articles to namiglendalenewsletter@gmail.com

Thank you,

Sylvia
Newsletter editor

Affiliate President Letty Baldaro's Message
 We Will Remember...

Dustin Baldaro - January 28, 1981 - March 16, 2017
 
Dear NAMI Glendale,

It's with sadness that I share my family news of my son, Dustin Baldaro passing.
 
Dustin was bright, funny, talented and caring.  He cared for others even when he had so little, he fed people, he shared his clothes and looked out for those around him.  Since Dustin was 8 he was diagnosed with ADD, later when he was 12 symptoms of depression and mania and Bipolar Illness were part of his diagnosis.
 
As Dustin grew older he had his ups and downs and many detours in the path of life and recovery.  He held many jobs, could always get a job working at the theater, at a fish store, selling phones in a mall. The longest was working in a nursing home assisting the recreation department giving out his smiles and kindness to the elderly.  His favorite position however and his true passion, was working as an electrician apprentice with our dear friend Wil.  He always loved wires, lights, plugs, tools and using his hands.
 
One of the symptoms for Dustin's bipolar illness was times of feeling "normal" and going off his medication and choosing to self-medicate with street drugs which led him down the path of addiction.  This now became the battle of staying on the path to recovery.  Dustin married in February 2010 to Almond and together they were on this path to addiction and their mental illness.  In November 2015 Almond passed away due to an overdose.
 
Dustin had stretches with recovery and staying clean. In 2016, as some of you know, we had 8 glorious months of enjoying this time with him. Attending meetings, working the steps, being med compliant, going to a day program and living in a caring sober living community of guys. However, this past October Dustin relapsed, hospitalized many times due to his addiction, grief from his late wife, depression and hopelessness consumed him.  Addiction won.
 
We will be holding a Celebration of Dustin's Life on Saturday, April 8th at Glendale Church of Christ, 2021 W. Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale 91208 at 11:00am. Click here for a map .  We welcome our NAMI family to join us.
 
Dustin was the one who handed us the NAMI Glendale brochure back in 1999 urging us to attend a meeting as he was leaving therapy appointment at Verdugo Mental Health, which is now Didi Hirsch.  It took us 6 years to find NAMI after Dustin's diagnosis at 12 years old and we have just kept on coming for education, support and moving onto advocacy. Now our NAMI family is there again calling, sending cards, messages, sending flowers, bringing food and thinking and praying for us.   
 
Dustin attended the NAMIWalks with us when he could over the last decade.  He knew the work NAMI does and that it was important to our family. If you would like to share a memory or post something on Dustin's walk page you can by going to: www.namiwalks.org/participant/Dustinb
 
On behalf of Dustin's family, we thank you for being there, caring and holding us up.  
 
The Baldaro Family
News from Social Security Administration

Click here for full size version
Trainings
Basics Refresher

Has it been a while since you were trained as a Basics teacher? Did you receive your new updated manual? Attend a one day Basics refresher course to receive your 2016 manual and practice teaching techniques. In Los Angeles on June 3 for English and June 4 for Spanish. For more information and an application contact sylvia@namilaccc.org

Familia a Familia teacher

New date for Familia a Familia Teacher training. May 20-21 in Torrance.  For information and an application contact Rick at rick@namilaccc.org
 DMH Friends of Family



Save the date-Upcoming events
May is Mental Health Month Arts & Crafts Social
Saturday May 13, 10 am - 3 pm

Join your friends for an Arts & Crafts social where we will be decorating personal bags/pouches to keep. We will be re-purposing old jeans to make the bag/pouch. There will also be coloring, knitting/crocheting and basic clothing repairs like repairing seams. So please save the date & bring a pair of jeans that you would like to re-purpose. We will also be collecting donations of toiletries for a local homeless shelter. Please contact Eliana Lopez at elopez1407@gmail.com to RSVP and for any questions.

Is there an event you would like to see to celebrate May is Mental Health Month? Send your ideas to namiglendalenewsletter.
NAMI Glendale Mission Statement
NAMI-Glendale is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness serving Greater Glendale including the adjacent communities of Burbank, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, Garvanza, Glendale, Highland Park, Hollywood, Montrose, North Hollywood, Shadow Hills, Silver Lake, Sunland, and Tujunga.

Our mission is to provide FREE education, support, and advocacy to people with mental illness and their families. We also work to raise awareness about mental illness issues and put an end to stigma.

We recognize that mental illnesses are brain disorders, medical conditions from which recovery is possible.  The trauma of mental illness directly impacts the family, friends and loved ones of the person who has an illness, and these people, too, need help  and can play a pivotal supporting role in an individual's recovery.

Our Goal is to ensure that every person who has a mental illness has adequate access to medical care, medications, therapy, reliable-accurate information, and a supportive community of assistance.

We understand that coping with mental illness can be overwhelming.

We know. We've been there. We can help!
For many of us, finding NAMI-Glendale was the beginning of hope and recovery. NAMI-Glendale provides hope and help through education, support and advocacy.
Fundraising
Amazon Smile

If you shop at Amazon.com you can help out NAMI Glendale as well. Just choose NAMI Glendale as your charity of choice and we get a percentage of everything you spend. Support NAMI Glendale while doing your regular shopping. What could be easier?
Quick Links
NAMI Glendale new phone number!
Effective immediately NAMI Glendale has a new phone number. Call 213-797-0494 for affiliate information. 
Book Review
One Family's Story of Mental Illness and What Came After
Mental illness in the news



NAMI Glendale 2017 Board of Directors 
President-Letty Baldaro
Vice President-Suzanne Dewalt
Treasurer-Barbara Knighton
Recording Secretary-Margaret Siegel
Person with Lived Experience-Eliana Lopez
Corresponding Secretary- Open position

Contact any of the board members at namiglendale@gmail.com


Board meeting calendar
NAMI Glendale Board and Committee Chair Meeting

Please join us and help be a part of committees our affiliate would like to work on in this next year.
 

 

Monday, Apr. 30, 2017

 

May board meeting pre-empted for May is Mental Health Month event-more info coming soon

 

Monday, Jun. 25, 2017

 

Time: 6:30 - 9:00pm

 

Location: Glendale Adventist Hospital 

1509 Wilson Terrace

Glendale CA 91206

(street map)

 

Cafeteria (Ground Floor)

 

Parking: There is a charge for parking during the week in the main garage.  Or you can park on Vallejo Dr. (street parking - do not park in rehab parking lot)  and come through the entrance of the Rehabilitation Center, make right to the elevators. Take elevator to ground floor, Cafeteria entrance just around the corner from elevator.

Volunteer opportunities
NAMI Glendale is grateful to our volunteers. 

If you are interested in volunteering there are many opportunities throughout the year. Want to volunteer for the NAMI Walks or train to be a Family to Family teacher or Family Support Group facilitator? 
Contact Kim at 
 


Membership
Join or renew your membership

If you'd like to support NAMI Glendale's efforts join or renew your membership.  Print out the  Membership form and mail it with your payment to 
NAMI Glendale 
c/o Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
1540 E. Colorado St. 
Glendale, CA 91205

Not sure when your membership expires? Contact Suzanne
NAMI Glendale | namiglendalenewsletter@gmail.com | http://www.namiglendale.org
1540 E. Colorado St.
Glendale, CA 91205