If you'd be willing get more involved, we'd love to have you.  Just give Maryrose a call at 847-496-1415. Thanks

Wednesday, November 3, 7-8:30 p.m. The NAMI Criminal Justice Action Committee, part of NAMI BA, meets the first Wednesday of every month, and we'd love to have your help and support. We meet at the Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane-Suite #114, Arlington Heights.  For more information, email Joseph M. Jason or phone him at (847) 537-3009. Help us make a difference.

Friday, November 5, 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m.  Growing Place Empowerment Conference to celebrate staying recovered and healthy living.  At Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson Blvd in Forest Park.  Registration required by Nov 1.  Call Lucy Sadjak at (708) 484-7646.  Lunch is $2.00. 

Sunday, November 7, 2 p.m.  The Depression and Bipolar Disorder Support Alliance (DBSA) will inaugurate and organize a new consumer youth group in Arlington Heights. Parents or others are welcome to stay for a separate group to chat. Come meet friends you didn't know you had! Call Leah Nakamura at 847-541-7754 for details & location.

Monday, November 8, 7-8:30p.m.  NAMI CCNS hosts a speaker meeting on Mental Health Courts.  Come hear from Albert J. Pizza, a clinical supervisor for the Cook County Illinois Mental Health Court Program.  He'll discuss what a mental health court is and who can participate.  At Kenton-Knox Conference Center (at NorthShore University HealthSystem), 9701 N. Knox, Skokie.  For more info call NAMI CCNS at (847) 716-2252. Free! and open to the public.

Tuesday, November 9, 8:00am to 4:00pm: Suburban-Chicago Interfaith Mental Health Coalition Conference Mental Health Needs of Your Faith Community, How to Recognize, Respond, and Refer.  At Second Baptist Church in Elgin.  $30 fee, registration required.  For more details and registration form, go to www.scimc.org. For more information call Bob Skrocki at (630) 682-7979 ext 7986, or e-mail him at bskrocki@dupagehealth.org.

Saturday, November 13, 1 - 3 p.m. NAMI Chicago Read FUNdraiser and Open House. Learn about the life-changing work done at this state psychiatric hospital. Music, tours and short speeches by Dan Wasmer and Virginia Goldrick of Region 1 and Jay Corr of NAMI Advocates for Patients of Chicago Read. At 4200 N Oak Park Avenue, Chicago. No charge, no reservation. For information, call Jay Corr at 847-692-6476 or Celeste Januszewski at 773-794-3758.

Tuesday, November 16 Downers Grove area and Tuesday, November 30 Hines, IL. The Self Employment Resource Network (SERN) will offer training in accessing small business development assistance in Illinois. For those thinking of starting a business. Registration required. Call or email Gene Oulvey at (217) 785-7771 or Gene.Oulvey@illinois.gov for details and to register.

Friday, November 19, 6:00p.m. New Foundation Center Member Art Show.  At Open Studio Project, 903 Sherman, Evanston.  $20 per person.  RSVP to mgallagher@newfoundationcenter.org or call (847) 501-2879.

Wednesday, December 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m. NAMI NAMI Northwest Suburban invites you to our Annual Potluck Dinner. Join us in celebrating our gratitude for friends and family. NAMI NWS will supply roast chicken - if you would like to bring a side dish or dessert, please let us know. At the Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arl. Hts.  R.S.V.P. by Nov. 28th by email or phone 847.899.0195.

Wednesday, December 1, 7-8:30 p.m. The NAMI Criminal Justice Action Committee, part of NAMI BA, meets the first Wednesday of every month, and we'd love to have your help and support. We meet at the Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane-Suite #114, Arlington Heights.  For more information, email Joseph M. Jason or phone him at (847) 537-3009. Help us make a difference.

Wednesday, December 15 Rock Island area. The Self Employment Resource Network (SERN) will offer training in accessing small business development assistance in Illinois. For those thinking of starting a business. Registration required. Call or email Gene Oulvey at (217) 785-7771 or Gene.Oulvey@illinois.gov for details and to register.

Our Family to Family classes in Barrington and at Northwest Community Hospital are filled to capacity and both off to a great start. As evidenced in our very high in attendance, there is a huge need for this type of education and support with these illnesses.

Both classes reached maximum attendance weeks before the first day of class, so if you are interested in attending our January classes it is not too early to register.  Call Maryrose at 847-496-1415

Family to Family, a series of 12 weekly classes structured to help you understand and support individuals with mental disorders while maintaining your own well being, will soon begin.

These NAMI classes 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 skills-training with emotional support, self care and empowerment."

There is no cost to participate in a Family to Family class, you don't need to be a NAMI member, and it doesn't matter if you live in a particular chapter's area to attend a class. Just pick out a date and location that's convenient. Please note, however, that registration is necessary as class size is limited.
 

Your Help Needed for Arlington Site
Housing Update by Hugh Brady
 

If you're willing to help the Housing Task Force build a 30-unit permanent supportive housing apartment in Arlington Heights - now's the time.

We're asking NAMI members and supporters, consumers and family members as well as well as area mental health professionals to contact the Arlington Heights Village Board and urge them to change their vote to "yes!"

Letters of support have arriving in substantial numbers, but many more are needed.  If you'd like to help, here's a sample letter and the contact information for the Arlington Heights Village Board members.

There's also some good news on housing you might like to read!

Volunteer Group Visits Jails
 

by Joseph M. Jason

Thanks to another NAMI member, I learned about a wonderful organization, the John Howard Association of Illinois (JHA), whose staff and volunteers visit and inspect jails, prisons and juvenile facilities several times a month.

The group's Long Term Prisoner Policy Project leads efforts on behalf of inmates who, due to quirks in Illinois sentencing laws, are confined in prison longer than was anticipated when they were originally sentenced. The Project is working to establish training and rehabilitative programs for those who have been forgotten by most people.

JHA also promotes reforms in sentencing and corrections policy, including reforms in juvenile corrections through Illinois' new Department of Juvenile Justice, the reestablishment of rehabilitating programs and education for prisoners, and a thorough, fact-based review of the situation for Illinois' long term prisoners.

I encourage all who are interested in this to volunteer.  Citizen volunteers are the eyes and the ears of the public inside Illinois' correctional institutions. You need  to be interviewed  and have a background check for this important work.    Lean more.

Vote on Supportive Housing Pending
Legislative Alert by Hugh Brady
 

A bill to provide additional and better supportive housing for individuals with disabilities, including mental illness, has just been approved by a Senate committee. The bill, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010 (S.1481), will improve HUD's Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program.

The legislation will greatly increase the number of affordable apartments to be built for very low-income renters with disabilities, including mental illness, and integrated into other apartment buildings so as not to be identifiable as "disabled housing."   The legislation will also provide for the supportive services residents may need. 
 

An identical bill passed the House of Representatives last year, so the next step is a vote on the Senate floor where supporters hope the bill passes in November. 
 

What You Can Do

Given strong bipartisan congressional support for the bill, there is reason to hope that it will easily pass the Senate.  You can help ensure passage by contacting Illinois two Senators, Roland Burris and Richard Durbin, and asking them to vote "yes" on S. 1481 when Congress reconvenes after the election.

Read more about this bill or read the Bazelon Center's Policy Reporter

Dan is also a trained support group leader and very active in our advocacy efforts. Dan's enthusiasm for the work we do is contagious--we always know we can count on his help/guidance when the need arises.

New Light on Brain Research
Research Update by Hugh Brady
 

Amazing!

The current issue of Scientific American has an article on brain research using genetics, fiber optics and light impulses, a technique he calls optogenetics.  What the author is learning is nothing short of astounding.

The technique allows researchers to see what types of cells, producing what types of impulses, cause what times of responses in other areas of the brain. In other words, they have a very accurate way to map brain cell function and interconnectivity. 

Among other things, they're using this technique to shed light on what goes wrong in schizophrenia. Of course once they know what's going wrong, they may be able to correct it.

Read more.

Brain Researchers Try to Pinpoint Bipolar Genes
 

An interesting article in the Trib: Researchers are getting closer to identifying the genes that cause bipolar disorder, as well as the triggers that might cause it to flare up.

That's good news to those who suffer from the condition, as well as their children and grandchildren.  The illness may be detected earlier, managed more effectively, perhaps even prevented altogether. The piece also outlines some newer treatment strategies.
 

Read the article.
 

NAMI Conference Recap
 

by Barb Finch and Gina Badal  

This year's NAMI Illinois Conference "Learning Together. . . Changing Minds" was informative and enlightening.

We heard a powerful keynote by Clarence Jordan speaking on recovery, a general session focused on Individual Placement Support and Supported Employment, which are both evidence- based practices promoting recovery. There were many other interesting presenters and topics.

Read a full report

Clinical Research Opportunities
 

Clinical research very often presents people with renewed hope and the possibility that something different may be available for them. Eligible participants may receive medical and psychiatric evaluations along with medication provided at no cost. Compensation for time and travel may also be available. 

The Alexian Brothers Center for Psychiatric Research is currently enrolling participants in a number of clinical studies on autism, ADHD, depression, depression with pain, Bipolar I with acute manic or mixed episode, schizophrenia and schizophrenia - recently released from jail. If you or someone you know may be interested, please call 847-230-3591 for a free phone screening or learn more here. 

The Center for Cognitive Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago is conducting  research to better understand genetic and biological traits associated with risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  This program is for patients and their first-degree family members.  Eligibility: ages 15-65; an individual with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective or Bipolar I disorder and at least one first degree full biological family member (i.e., parent, full sibling, or child) who may or may not have a psychiatric illness.  Participants must be medically stable and will be compensated.  Please call: (312) 355-5549 or visit www.ccm.psych.uic.edu.

The Schizophrenia Research Group at the Northwestern University Department of Psychiatry is looking for individuals with schizophrenia and family members to participate in several studies. Participants are compensated up to $25 per hour for their time. For information email Jeevan Abraham or call 773-543-9215.