Website        About MHA AZ       Contact Us
In This Issue
Donate

Donate

Shop Amazon

When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to MHA AZ. Just click on the image above and start shopping!

Upcoming Events

Center of Applied Behavioral Health Policy Events

Clinical Supervision Refresher Course 
Friday, December 16, 2016 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Downtown Phoenix Campus- The Westward Ho
618 N Central Avenue #100
Phoenix, AZ 85004 
602-496-1470



Clinical Supervision Foundations - Phoenix - February 2017 
Friday, February 3, 2017
9:00 AM- Saturday, February 4, 2017 4:00 PM
Westward Ho - Concho Room
602-496-1470



Arizona Opiod Summit: Turning the Tide
  January 9th 2017
For more info  CLICK HERE


C ommunity Calendars
 
Cenpatico Integrated Care AZ Community Events
  
Mercy Maricopa of Integrated Care Community Events 
  
Health Choice Integrated Care Community Events 
  
AZ Center for Applied Behavioral Health  Events

Arizona Trauma Institute Trainings 
  
NAMI AZ Calendar
  
Sign up here for a Mental Health First Aid class near you!




2016 Board of Directors 
 
Michael Shafer, Ph.D. Chair  
Joshua Mozell, J.D., Vice Chair  
Jason Bernstein, C.P.A., Treasurer

Kathy Bashor, M.C.
Sheri George
Charles Goldstein, M.D
Laurie Goldstein

Emily Jenkins, J.D.
Marcus Johnson , M.P.H.
Charles Montgomery
Karen Pitico, M.P.H.
Mohamed Ramadan, M.D. 
Clarke Romans, Ph.D.
Charlene Smith
December 14, 2016

 

Hello MHA of AZ Supporters. The December Newsletter is filled with a multitude of information, events, initiatives from MHA and other great non-profit organizations. Enjoy!
 

TO OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS
CHUCK MONTGOMERY


  I have had the privilege and honor to serve the citizens of the Valley of the Sun
 as both a firefighter and paramedic for the past 35 years, most of his adult life. My current position allows me to work in all areas of public safety training as the capacity of director at a regional training academy. I look forward to serving with MHA of AZ to help reduce stigma and to connect community resources to optimize the services currently provided in our state.
CHARLENE NORKUS


  Between wrangling two young ladies and a household of pets, I've always found peace with volunteering majority of my life. Which led me to being a proud recipient of a Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Many people that know me would call me a humanitarian, a great advocate, and a Jane of Trades. My advocating journey began 15 years ago, as a CASA, but it was being an SMI consumer that ignited my passion in the mental health field.
 I myself was trapped in a broken system while being judged, rights violated, and with no help or voice being heard. I presently am a volunteer on MMIC family/peer advocacy committee, Wings of Peace, Higher Praise Church, and advocating for several SMI consumers that are unable to advocate for themselves presently. I'm taking art classes to be able to open a eco art(upcycling) store; under my Flavor 4 Lyfe LLC, to benefit mental health consumers and Mother Earth at the same time. 
In my perfect world there would be no barriers preventing proper mental health care or stigmas related to it anymore.  Also there would be more Whole Health Awareness (Mind, Body, Spirit). I give thanks to my Creator for the time, energy, and skills for the challenges ahead to make as many changes and improvements in my lifetime as possible. My involvement as a board director of MHA of AZ will make it easier for me to make positve changes in other's lives as well as my own.

KATHY BASHOR



I serve as a Manager of the Office of Individual and Family Affairs at the Arizona Department of Health-Behavioral Health Services.  I earned a Master of Counseling degree from Arizona State University and holds a B.S. in Sociology from the University of Kentucky.  I am a Certified Practitioner Trainer  - Psychiatric Rehabilitation Model through Boston University and trained in Critical Incident Stress Management-Group Crisis Intervention.  I am founder of Arizona Dialogues, which is designed to reduce stigma and increase community inclusion of persons having behavioral health challenges. 

Kathy is a staunch advocate of peer and family driven-care in the behavioral health system.  Her can-do spirit has resulted in the strengthening of peer/family voice, access to care and choice in services throughout the system.  Kathy has presented at numerous state and national conferences and is a recognized community and peer leader.
 
It's official! The President signed the CR, which included $500 million dollars to fight the opioid epidemic. The Senate passed the CR in a vote of 63-to-36, funding the federal government through April 28, 2017. 

Thank you all for your amazing teamwork to get this over the finish line.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

AND FURTHER INFORMATION SCROLL DOWN BELOW!!

Event Management Services Request for Proposal 2017 Conference Planner
 
Mental Health America of Arizona (MHA AZ) announces a Request for Proposal (RFP) for conference planning, coordination, management and implementation of their Annual - 2017 SEEDS Conference.



Pictures from SEEDS Conference 2016

       

TOGETHER WE CAN REDUCE STIGMA:
GIVING TUESDAY

MHA of AZ Giving Tuesday
MHA of AZ -Kristina Sabetta, Executive Consultant

DID YOU KNOW?

Mental illness is real and common -
1 in 4 people will experience mental illness.
 
Mental illness is treatable -
rates of treatment are as high as 90%.
 
So why aren't people getting the help they need?
Stigma and lack of access.
 
With someone dying from suicide every 15 minutes,
it is time we act!


 

You can be part of the answer by donating to Mental Health America of Arizona or getting involved in our efforts. To make a donation cick on the picture below . To give some of your time, contact us at 
info@mhaarizona.org.

DONATIONS GREATLY APPRECIATED

 Every dollar you donate will go towards Mental Health America of Arizona's 2017 efforts to decrease stigma in our community.

Together, we can make an impact. Together, we can save lives.

 To view our highlights from 2016 and better understand what we do, visit our Website.

HOUSE PASSES THE 21ST CENTURY CURES ACT 

Congratulations to Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18), for your great work along with your staff, other legislators and the many individuals and families who have been affected by schizophrenia spectrum brain illnesses who have struggled tirelessly to achieve the passage of this bill-now to the Senate





AND THEN SENATE PASSES

On Wednesday, December 7th, the Senate passed the 21st Century Cures Act in a 94-to-5 vote, and the #CuresAct is headed to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act will help provide a comprehensive response to address substance abuse use disorders and authorizes $1 billion dollars to fight the opiod epidemic.

Click HERE to tweet "Thank you!" to your Senators and Representative who voted in favor of this life-saving legislation.


PLEASE READ! SENATE PASSED THE HELPING FAMILIES IN MENTAL CRISIS ACT! 


"MHA and mental health advocates around the nation are celebrating the passage of the most comprehensive mental health systems reform legislation in more than 50 years! 
We applaud thee bipartisan action of the Congress, the support of the President, and the commitment of our elected officials to improving mental health services and supports in our nation." 

~ Paul Gionfriddo, President and CEO on the passage of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE





We invite your participation and sharing of this newsletter by forwarding to your friends and colleagues.  If they wish to receive the newsletter, encourage them to simply click on the link  here.  Let's share the word.  Time to get involved.
 
Sincerely, 
 
Jamie Willett - MHA Intern
Kristina Sabetta, LMSW - Executive Consultant