These NAMI classes, starting on Sunday, February 11 (5 - 8 p.m.), are for family members, partners, and friends of individuals with serious mental illness. "This course is a wonderful experience," said one student. "It balances basic education and skill-training with emotional support, self care and empowerment."

There is no cost to participate, but registration is necessary as class size is limited.

There is no charge for the course, but please call Marci to register now.

Every Friday in February, NAMI Elk Grove Chapter’s C.A.R.E. consumer support group meets at 7 p.m. For anyone with a mental illness and a family member (18 and older). Alexian Brothers Behavioral Hospital,1650 Moon Lake Blvd Hoffman Estates. For information, call Carol at 847-352-6708 or Ruth at 630-497-9737.

Thursday, February 8. NAMI Elk Grove presents "What it's like to live with mental illness." Consumers and family members offer rare insights and share their stories of recovery. A required extra-curricular for the Harper College Nurses program, the presentation is open to student nurses and others in the community. (Will be repeated in March and April.) Call Sue for more information: 630-529-3037.

Thursday, February 8. The NAMI Elk Grove Chapter family support group meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:45 p.m. at the Kenneth Young Center, 1001 Rohlwing Rd., Elk Grove. Family, friends, and recovered consumers are welcome Call Sue at 630- 529-3037 or Gina at 630 302 2530 for more information.

Starting Sunday, February 11. NAMI Barrington Area Family to Family class. For families of adults with brain disorders. A 12-week class starting the 11th from 5 - 8 p.m. No charge. Registration required. Call Mary at 847-381-6919.

Tuesday, February 13, NAMI Barrington Area Chapter family support group, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Barrington Area Library. (No charge, no reservation needed.) Call Mary at 847-381-6919 for information.

Thursday, February 15. NAMI McHenry County Chapter family support group meets the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the McHenry County Mental Health Board Building, 620 Dakota St., Crystal Lake. Call 815-444-9991 for information.

Wednesday, February 21. NAMI Barrington Area board meeting in the Barrington Area Library, Large Meeting Room B, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Drop in and learn what's going on in the chapter!

Wednesday, February 21. NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter family support group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights. Call Star at 847-899-0195 for details.

Wednesday, February 28. NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter presents Bill Karstenson on Trusts and Estate Planning (no reservation, no charge). 7 p.m. at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights. Email NAMINWSub@aol. com or call  847-899-0195 for details.

Every Friday in March, NAMI Elk Grove Chapter’s C.A.R.E. consumer support group meets at 7 p.m. For anyone with a mental illness and a family member (18 and older). Alexian Brothers Behavioral Hospital,1650 Moon Lake Blvd Hoffman Estates. For information, call Carol at 847-352-6708 or Ruth at 630-497-9737.

Starting Wednesday, March 7. The U of I College of Medicine's Annual Multi-Disciplinary Certificate Program in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Six all-day sessions meant for a wide range of professionals who work with children and adolescents. Offered every other Wednesday through May 16 at the Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows. College and continuing education credit offered. Tuition: $450 if register by March 1. Call 217-443- 8777 for details.

Thursday, March 8. NAMI Elk Grove presents "What it's like to live with mental illness." Consumers and family members offer rare insights and share their stories of recovery. A required extra-curricular for the Harper College Nurses program, the presentation is open to student nurses and others in the community. (Will be repeated in April.) Call Sue for more information: 630-529-3037.

Thursday, March 8. The NAMI Elk Grove Chapter family support group meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:45 p.m. at the Kenneth Young Center, 1001 Rohlwing Rd., Elk Grove. Family, friends, and recovered consumers are welcome Call Sue at 630- 529-3037 or Gina at 630 302 2530 for more information.

Tuesday, March 13, NAMI Barrington Area Chapter family support group, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Barrington Area Library. (No charge, no reservation needed.) Call Mary at 847-381-6919 for information.

Thursday, March 15. NAMI McHenry County Chapter family support group meets the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the McHenry County Mental Health Board Building, 620 Dakota St., Crystal Lake. Call 815-444-9991 for information.

Tuesday, March 20. NAMI Barrington Area board meeting in the Barrington Area Library, Large Meeting Room B, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Join us and find out what's going on in the chapter!

Wednesday, March 21. NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter family support group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights. Call Star at 847- 899-0195 for details.

The NAMI “PEER-to-PEER” (P2P) Course is taught by teams of 3 trained “mentors” or peer-teachers who are themselves experienced at living well with mental illness.

Who can take the course?  The course is designed to offer an opportunity for growth to any individual who experiences mental illness.

Call Fred at 847-304-4212 for a confidential, one-on-one discussion of your needs and the program’s potential value for you and your well-being.

Last month I shared some of my resolutions and the way I work on creating new things in my life by thinking positive thoughts about them.  This month I will expand more on what I mean by “wishing things into your life.”

Many studies support the idea that what we think about things—the words, thoughts, and the pictures we paint in our minds—can have a major influence on what happens to us. Sometimes things just seem to "fall into place" when there's actually a lot more going on behind the scenes. Whether we realize it or not, there's a thought that goes with every feeling and a lot of action that follows that thought. If we focus on the positive, many more positive things will happen to us and to our loved ones.

As you read this, Governor Blagojevich is preparing his budget to present to the General Assembly.

You can have a big influence on what that budget contains. According to representative Kathy Ryg, as few as 10 letters or emails are enough to have a major influence on legislation in Illinois. For that reason, NAMI Barrington Area and the Mental Health Forum are urging all their members to contact Governor Blagojevich and their state senators and representatives to urge increased funding for mental health services, and especially assisted housing, in Illinois. 

We'd like to make this easy for you. I've prepared a sample letter and a link to a website where you can look up your representatives' names and addresses. Please, spend a few minutes. Illinois can do a lot better on mental health issues. Our government just needs to know how important it is to us.

I have to tell you, I'm surprised by how much our new chapter has been able to accomplish in just a few months. We have Family to Family, Visions for tomorrow and Peer to Peer classes running plus support groups, a website and a newsletter—we even have a grant application in the works to provide scattered-site housing for mental health consumers.

It's been great to be involved with this group. I'm having fun, I'm learning a tremendous amount about how to help my daughter, and I feel like I'm helping accomplish some good in the world.

Still, like many volunteer groups, NAMI Barrington Area is a little short on funds and especially short on people to implement our programs. I'd like to ask you to step forward to help out. Our biggest needs right now are for people for fundraising, outreach, and to help organize social events.

If you think you might be able to help, either call me at 847-749-2424 (days or evenings), or come to our next board meeting. (You can kind of sit in the back and check us out while you decide if you'd like to get involved.) We're meeting Wednesday, February 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Barrington Area Library (meeting room B on the first floor by the entrance).

Have some fun—make a difference—and help your loved one!

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