NAMI Barrington Area is pleased to announce that Charles P. Fox, a Chicago attorney specializing in Special Education Law, will be the featured speaker.  Fox, himself the parent of a special needs child, represents parents in their pursuit of an appropriate public education for their child.  He also serves as a consultant to schools, advising them on compliance to state and federal mandates.
 
This free presentation, which will include a question and answer period, will be held Thursday, May 10, 2007 from 6:30 - 8:30 at the Barrington Area Library (505 N. Northwest Highway, Barrington, IL) in the Zimmerman Room.  For more information, contact Marci Suelzer at 815-355-5395.

Monday May 7.    NAMI Cook County North chapter presents Governmental Aid for the Mentally Ill: What You Need To Know at the Kenton-Knox Conference Center at Rush North Shore Medical Center, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Revita DeChalus, public aid specialist at Alexian will discuss income payments (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), health care benefits (Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Part D and Illinois Cares Rx), food stamps, property tax assistance, and programs encouraging beneficiaries to work without losing their financial assistance and health care benefits. No charge. For information call 847-724-1460.

Tuesday, May 8, 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.

Wednesday, May 9. Mental Health Rally Day in Springfield. NAMI Illinois will sponsor their annual day to meet with state legislators. The message is that Illinois deserves a mental health system that is marked “Grade A,” rather than our current "F." Call NAMI Illinois at 217-522-1403 for information.

Thursday, May 10. 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.

Monday, May 14. 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, May 16. The Thresholds Theater Group presents "A Life Interrupted: Can You Dream Us Now?" in a special encore performance at Am Shalom, 840 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe. The program features original monologues, music, scenes, stories, improvisation and role-play by local actors on the theme of mental illness. A discussion and reception follows. For RESERVATIONS call (773) 435-3536.

Wednesday, May 16. 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.

Thursday, May 17. NAMI Barrington Area presents "Illinois special education law: What parents need to know." (See description above.) 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Barrington Area Library. No charge, no advanced registration.

Thursday, May 17. 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.

Friday, May 18. Children's Conference Call with Dr. Ken Duckworth. Dr. John Curry, Professor and Director of Clinical Psychology at the Duke Child and Family Study Center, will discuss Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an effective intervention for adolescent depression. 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. To hear the conference, phone 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918#. There is no charge for the session or the call.

Friday, May 25. Adult Issues Conference Call with Dr. Ken Duckworth & Guest Dr. Charles Schulz. Dr. Schulz is head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota.  He will be discussing borderline personality disorder. 11:00am -12:30 Eastern Time on Friday, May 25th.  To hear the conference, phone 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918.  No charge.
 

Tuesday, June 12, 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, June 14. 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.

Monday, June 18. 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, June 20. 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.

Thursday, June 21. 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.

These NAMI classes, starting again in the summer, 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.

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.

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

I’m sharing all this with you because I want you to see that even though I teach stress management, I am far from perfect at managing my own all the time.  You will be too!  But if you can pay attention, see when you are out of sorts and then get yourself back on track – you will still be much better off.  As any good vacationer would, I came back resolved to do better, and I have!  I have already pushed several big things off my plate and there are a couple more to come.  I have taken on several new projects that are really things I love and that is always fun.  At home we just keep moving forward regardless of what else is going on in our lives.

Tip for the month:

Some reminders about how to reduce your stress:
Dance as if no one is watching (sing and yell too).
Dig in your garden on these beautiful days.
Listen to your favorite music – whatever that is for the day.
Swing in a hammock.
Look at the bright side of things and focus on the positives in your life.
Be a child again and PLAY at life!

And above all-
Never give up!

Wishing you grace, love and patience.

Dr. Barbara Grace
The Grace Center for Mind, Body, and Spiritual Healing
118 Barrington Commons Plaza, Suite 227, Barrington, IL  60010
847-382-3232
BRGrace8@comcast.net
www.BarbaraGrace.com

The first meeting of the NAMI Barrington Area fundraising committee took place on May 1, 2007.  Currently, there are three active members with plenty of room for more. We have three initiatives under way and could use your help:

1. We will soon begin shop-and-share days at area grocery stores.  These can be very effective if each member makes a real effort to stock up on the given day and to encourage family and friends to do the same. 

2. There is also a possibility of selling vouchers to a Barrington Pizza restaurant which would net us $6 per pizza sold. 

3. Our most concerted effort will be to participate in the National NAMI Walks in September.  Look for more information on each of these plans in future Newsletters. 

Family to Family and Visions alums…an opportunity to give back

The cost of classes is the largest part of the chapter’s budget—especially since we offer these classes at no cost to our students.

Would you be willing to sponsor a Leader Scholarship or supply the cost of materials for a future student?  What a wonderful way to “pay it forward!” 

One binder for one class member------$30.00
Training for one class leader----------$300.00
Value to one family-------------------Priceless

Simply make a check out to NAMI Barrington Area and note that it is to be applied to Education.  You will be making a direct and positive impact on the quality of life for families in our community.  Checks may be sent to NAMI c/o B. Kreski, Fundraising Chairperson, 606 S. Louis Street, Mt. Prospect, IL   60056

SPAN USA: The Suicide Prevention Action Network.

Freedom from Fear: This week is National Anxiety & Depression Awareness Week.

The Older Women's League: Older American's Mental Health Week is May 21-27.

National Schizophrenia Foundation. Schizophrenia Awareness Week is May 20-26.

"The massacre at Virginia Tech brings back dual terrible memories. A year ago my stepson, 50, with a long record of mental illness, was able to purchase a gun and committed suicide...I was unable to help [my first husband] and keep my family intact because the civil rights laws regarding mental illness were against me..." Read "Laws on mentally ill endanger the rest of us" from the Chicago Sun Times

"Karen Gherardini has a mentally ill relative who isn't taking his medications, a man in a downward spiral walking around with a gun. 'We're terrified," said Gherardini..."We're so tired of not being able to help him, of getting the door slammed in our face. But what can we do?' ... Now a bill moving through the state legislature would make it easier to get a court-ordered medical evaluation for someone suffering from severe psychiatric issues. Read "Mental care reform eyed" from the Chicago Tribune.

(You may need to register at each paper to see these articles. There is no charge to do so.)

NAMI provides comprehensive training for instructors plus materials for the classes, so we don't need experienced teachers. Instead, we're looking for caring people who able to share experiences and facilitate discussion.

Call Maryrose at 847-382-6623.

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.

If you think you might be able to help, please use our volunteer form to let us know what you're able to do. You'll need to print it, fill it out and mail it to the address on the form. Or you could just call Maryrose, our volunteer coordinator at 847-382-6623.

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

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