January 2012 NAMI Newsletter-Corrected

National Alliance on Mental Illness
555 Northgate Drive, #280
San Rafael, CA 94903
Marin’s Voice
On Mental Illness and Recovery
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 1-3 pm
415-444-0480, namimarinoffice@gmail.com www.namimarin.org
January 2012
PLANNING FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
NAMI Marin Calendar
By Rick Roose
At the NAMI October General
Meeting, Seth Friedrich and
Guinevere Westfall of Community
Action Marin (CAM) conducted a
workshop on developing individual
and family crisis plans using new
standardized forms that they have
developed. Working with
Community Mental Health Services
(CMHS), Friedrich and Westfall are
currently meeting with family
members and individuals in Marin
who are at risk of a mental health
crisis. They will help them complete
these individual and family crisis plan
forms and will meet wherever clients
and families feel most comfortable.
The target population for these crisis
plans includes existing CMHS and
Psychiatric Emergency Services
(PES) clients in Marin.
Seth Friedrich explained that their
overall goals in developing and
distributing these crisis plan forms are
to improve the community services
for mental health clients by
facilitating clearer communications
between mental health service
providers, clients, and their families
and to more effectively utilize all the
existing supports that a client may
have in place during a crisis.
“Ultimately, we hope to reduce
hospitalizations and increase
1st Monday
Board Meeting, 6:45 pm
555 Northgate Dr., San Rafael
5th Monday
General Meeting, 7-8:30 pm, see page 8.
1st Wednesday
Famfest, 6 pm, see page 8.
Seth Friedrich and Guinevere Westfall
4th Wednesday
Volunteer Lunch Meeting, 12-1:30pm,
NAMI Office in Conference Room
1st & 3rd Thursdays
Espanol Family Support Group, page 7.
awareness of the different
community mental health resources 2nd & 4th Tuesdays NAMI Marin
Family Support Group, see page 7.
that are available in Marin,” said
Family-to-Family 12 week course
Friedrich. As part of the process of Call office now to reserve a space for the
next session starting February 7, 7-9pm.
getting clients interested and
Classes fill quickly. See page 7.
invested in using these new crisis
plans, Friedrich and Westfall are
Save the Date- June 2
interviewing clients and explaining
the advantages of completing the
Client Crisis Plan form. For
example, by having completed crisis
forms on file, mental health service Also In This Issue
providers can better facilitate
How can we help our family
3
clients‟ preferred forms of treatment members with delusions?
By David Moss
and intervention during a crisis.
Providers can also ensure that
President’s Letter
4
By Barbara Alexander
clients get the help they need from
their family and support networks
Art Slam- Call for Entries
4
Deadline January 31, 2012 !!!
during a difficult time.
“We think an important part of
Community Resources
6
showing future benefits from this
project will be helping PES and
Help in a Crisis
7
CMHS communicate knowledgably
Community Court
with clients and family members
7
from a solid base of reliable
information and to do so early in the NAMI Marin Services
7
(Continued on page 2)
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 namimarinoffice@gmail.org
(Continued from page 1)
crisis process to better support clients,” said Friedrich.
The individual Client Crisis Plan is divided into
three parts. Part A contains personal care and request
information. This includes information about a
client‟s: medications, individual and family medical
history, current list of caregivers, signs and behaviors
that indicate a good level of personal functioning, and
requests to be made to a client‟s supporters when that
client is feeling symptomatic, or if symptoms escalate
to a crisis level.
Part B contains information on symptoms and
warning signs that indicate a client is headed toward a
crisis and who that client would like to make decisions
for them when their mental health crisis escalates.
There are a number of preferences where the client can
indicate choices for preferred intervention
medications, treatment facilities and home community
care/respite options. The client can also indicate if the
use of substances may have played a role in past
crises. This level and depth of information allows PES
and other mental health providers to quickly make
pertinent treatment decisions based upon relevant and
detailed information about a client in their care during
a crisis.
Part C of the form is an addendum for information
about the client‟s living situation including: children
and dependents, housing, monthly bills, place of
employment, finances, insurance, vehicles and pets.
In the case of extended hospitalization or rehabilitation
stays, this information can be used by caregivers to
make sure that the client‟s most important duties and
responsibilities are well taken care of by the client‟s
supporters and family members.
“The purpose of the form‟s Section C is to help
relieve the stress and anxiety clients may have about
essential duties,” said Guinevere Westfall. “For
example, clients want and need to know things like
who will be able to pick up the children from school,
take care of their housing, pay bills or provide pet care
when they are experiencing a mental health crisis.
Completed crisis forms will better allow clients to
January 2012
focus on their own recovery, without having to worry
about how things are being taken care of while they
are hospitalized,” she added.
Part D of the individual Client Crisis Plan form is
the client‟s Release of Information (ROI) page to be
signed by the client and witnessed by a person
familiar with their situation. “We try to encourage
all clients to allow CMHS to have this form on file,”
said Friedrich. “One of the main points of this
process is to encourage clients and CMHS to have an
open dialogue about their mental health situation,”
he added.
After explaining and reviewing the individual
Client Crisis Plan form, Friedrich and Westfall
conducted an interactive workshop with the audience
on the Family Crisis Plan form. This form allows a
family to list the warning signs that indicate that their
family is in crisis, along with the clinical and natural
supports and crisis contact information of people
who can provide help for their family during a crisis.
Friedrich and Westfall also recommended that
families complete and have on hand the Inmate
Mental Health Information Form. (See
namimarin.org to download form). This form is
designed to help staff and inmates at Marin County
Jail quickly communicate and clarify existing
information on clients‟ treatment history, medical
and mental health providers, diagnoses, medications
and other health-related information.
With the participation of all family members, both
crisis plan forms can be filled out with relevant
information that can be quickly utilized during a
crisis so that specific types of assistance and direct
interventions for a family with a member in crisis
can occur quickly, and most effectively. The forms
also allows family members to list the steps and
actions they need to carry out to care for themselves
during a crisis.
To make an appointment for a personal visit
contact Seth Friedrich 415-306-3289,
sfriedrich@camarin.org or Guinevere Westfall,
415-302-0753. gwestfall@camarin.org.
www.namimarin.org
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 namimarinoffice@gmail.org
How Can We Help Our Family Members
with Troublesome Delusions?
“There is no delusional idea
held by the mentally ill
which cannot be exceeded
in its absurdity by the
conviction of fanatics, either
individually or en mass.”
Hoche
By Dave Moss
Bi-polar author quote: “Not once had her „delusions‟ been
anything but the amplified truth that normal people could
deny, buffer, filter down to tolerable levels.”
Family members have asked me many times how to
confront, challenge, or change delusional thinking and
beliefs. As with most mental health issues, each individual
who is challenged with disturbing beliefs or “delusions” is
unique and requires creative problem solving with client,
family, psychiatrist, and team supporters. As a case
manager, my first intervention dealing with delusions is to
ask questions, and to listen to the client, family members
and team supporters describe how these “delusional”
beliefs affect the client and family member‟s feelings and
behaviors. It is not necessary for me to assess if the
“delusion” is right, wrong, absurd, sane or insane. My
questions and concerns for the client and family is simply:
Is the disturbing belief or “delusion” helpful or harmful for
positive growth in recovery and reaching life’s goals,
hopes and dreams? Any interventions and support are
assessed and evaluated from this simple question. The good
news is that recovery can and does happen even when
disturbing beliefs or “delusions” are very fixed and seem
intractable.
I don‟t have enough space to investigate the many
definitions, types and causes for this article. (Try a Google
search under delusions; definitions, types and causes.) The
DSM IV definition: (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders - "A false belief based on incorrect
inference about external reality that is firmly sustained
despite what almost everyone else believes and despite
what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or
evidence to the contrary.” Wikepedia definition: A
delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction
despite superior evidence.”
I feel these and other definitions of delusions promote
more judgmental stigma of mental illness in our society. Is
it not unjust, unfair and stigmatizing to label some beliefs
as a mental disorder and others as simply sound religious
beliefs to find comfort and meaning in life? I would argue
that many of the “delusions” experienced from a “mental
illness” diagnosis do provide life saving comfort and
meaning just as religious beliefs provide life saving
comfort and meaning for their flock.
January 2012
Here is a list of some tools, helpful ideas and
interventions that have been helpful with clients and
families in the past who are struggling with troublesome
delusions.
1. Always be respectful and kind - Listen with an open
mind, ask questions about how the belief may be
helpful or harmful to their feelings, behaviors and goals
in their life. (Belief in Santa Claus should not be too
harmful?)
2. Validate the experience and reassure hope and healing.
Validate and reassure over and over again. Keep
validating and reassuring!
3. Offer outside therapy referrals such as: CBT
(Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT (Dialectical
Behavioral Therapy, and ACT (Acceptance,
Commitment Therapy).
4. Support and offer referrals for understanding
psychiatrists for medication therapy. Many of my
clients with insight state that medications help quiet
and soften the “delusions and voices” so they don‟t
drive and control their behaviors. They are able to live
a meaningful life in recovery despite living with very
fixed delusions.
5. Not helpful to attempt to argue a delusion away.
6. Utilize LEAP methods - “Listen, Empathize, Agree and
Partner.” (From the book I Am Not Sick, I Don‟t Need
Help by Xavior Amador.)
7. Be honest. Admit that you don‟t recognize,
understand, or agree with the belief, as it is out of your
scope of experience or understanding.
8. Behavioral experiments such as: “reality
testing” (challenge with questions on reality such as:
Where is the physical proof of your stalkers?);
“redirection” (try and redirect subject to present
moment environment, such as: We are safe and calm
here at the coffee shop; and “imaginal
interactions” (role play with different outcomes using
trusted friends, family, loved ones and supporters).
www.namimarin.org
(Continued on page 4)
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 namimarinoffice@gmail.org
January 2012
President’s Letter
Art Slam 2012 - Call for Entries
Happy New Year to all NAMI Marin families and
friends. We hope that 2012 will see an improvement in
the economic situation not only in our country but
throughout the world. Here in Marin it is disheartening to
learn of more and more reductions in services and support
for our family members. Since the only thing we can
count on is change, we know that this downturn can‟t last
forever….so we hang on by our teeth, if necessary. We
must continue to be vigilant and willing to advocate for
the services we need.
NAMI Marin presses on no matter what the economic
climate, thanks to our committed volunteers, all 57 of
them. We could not do what we do without them!
Thank you all so very much. The next time you see or
talk to a NAMI Marin volunteer, please thank them for
their dedication and service to our community.
This year we hope to continue our NAMI Marin programs: Family-to- Family; Family Support Group; Family Support Group en Espanol; General Education Meetings; FamFest Dinners; Library; Gift of Time Companion
Program; Healthy Lunch; Help Line; In Our Own Voice;
and Peer to Peer. Continuation of these programs is dependent on membership dues so if your membership has
lapsed please bring your membership up to date and if
you are not yet a member of NAMI Marin, please join.
A big change is coming in 2012, as Marin Health and
Human Services combines Mental Health and Alcohol
and Drug departments into one unit, to be called Mental
Health & Substance Use Services (MHSUS). This has
been a long time coming to Marin. Many counties in
California converted to the MHSUS model years ago and
have been successful in providing integrated services to
people who have co-occurring disorders (both mental
health and drug and alcohol issues). Both departments
have been working on learning about the other department‟s clientele for the last year. Using Mental Health
Services Act funds, mental health and drug and alcohol
staff have attended workshops and follow-up meetings.
The staff seem to be excited about learning new skills to
help them help their clients. Look for updates in our
newsletter over the next few months
NAMI Marin continues to be involved in safeguarding
the Family Partnership Policy and family participation in
all levels of service. We will continue to partner with
Community Mental Health to provide family skills classes
such as Nonviolent Communication and L.E.A.P, thanks
to State Proposition 63 – Workforce, Education and
Training funds.
If you have any concerns, please call the NAMI Marin
office. 2012 will be full of change….but we can handle
it!
(Continued from page 3)
Barbara Alexander
Slide Exhibition of Art by Artists with Disabilities
Artists are asked to address the theme Disability: Experience, Feelings, Politics, Realities. Art Slam 2012 will
be shown in the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum on Saturday, March 31 during the Access Advisors
Open House and Disability Arts Festival.
How to Enter: If you would like help and would like to
enter your work with the Enterprise Resource Center, call
Barbara Coley 415-721-2232. There is no entry fee. Unjuried review process open to artists with disabilities, at
least 18 years old. Work accepted in order it is received.
Media: 2-dimensional and 3- dimensional visual art.
Artwork may be sent in two ways:
a. Preferred: digital image, JPG format, scan at 4x6 in.
and 300 dpi. Send electronically to
artslam2012@famfest.org.
b. Send 4x6 or 5x7 in glossy print. Digital camera: JPG
setting, 300 dpi.. Send glossy print to Art Slam 2012,
de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., San
Francisco, CA 94118.
Entry must include entry form that includes name of artist,
year work was created, medium and dimensions. Deadline:
Tuesday, January 31, 2012. If you have questions contact
tbrown@famsf.org or 415-750-7645 or Barbara Coley.
One must be knowledgeable and very careful with
these behavioral experiments especially with
persecutory or command delusions. Get help with
these interventions.
9. Utilize “the empathy model” of communicating by
Richard Lakeman. (This is a model for responding to
“disturbing beliefs” by using a structured outline of
empathetic and therapeutic questions and responses).
10. Continue to meet and consult with support team
(family, friends, and mental health professionals).
Work together to problem solve solutions, helpful
interventions, and re-evaluate plans.
11. Ask for outside consultation for another objective point
of view on the delusional problem/situation at hand.
In summary, I want to reassure families that recovery is
possible while fixed and challenging deep beliefs or
“delusions” remain fixed and persistent in their family
member. It is only necessary to challenge or intervene
when the “fixed delusion” adversely affects healing,
growth, recovery, and personal goals in life. It takes a team
approach utilizing client, family members, psychiatrist,
case manager, therapist and other team supporters to
problem solve together intervention ideas to promote
change with debilitating and harmful delusions.
Please call Dave Moss Case Management services at
415-215-1938 for help or questions regarding delusions,
and for more information and sources for this article.
www.namimarin.org
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 namimarinoffice@gmail.org
January 2012
Thank You
NAMI Marin
Volunteers
Blair Gray Honored
Blair received special
recognition at the November Holiday party from
the NAMI Board of
Directors for her extraordinary devotion to NAMI Marin. Blair
and her husband, Art Gray who was our
affiliate President for many years, were
two of our original board members. As
Blair says, she volunteered “from the
beginning.” Several members including
Nancy Takahashi, Elaine Goldman and
Beverlee Kell reminisced about working
with Blair and acknowledged her grace,
insight and intelligence. Always gracious, reliable and extremely competent,
NAMI Marin has been blessed to have
Blair help us all these years.
Newsletter L to R: Beverlee Kell, Karen Illich, Kay Browne, Judy Finn, Sue Roberts,
Jim Finn, Penny Labourdette (newsletter editor), Rick Roose, Barbara Alexander
(President).(Not pictured: Jill Owen, David Moss, David Illich, Leslie Roberts).
Family-to-Family teachers L to R:
Carrie Morgan, Chaja Kirsch.
Not pictured: Kay Blackwill, Peg Super,
Ellie Baldrick
General Speaker Meetings L to R: Beverlee Kell
(coordinator), Paula Lucchesi, Sue Roberts,
Scott McGowan
In Our Own Voice L to R: Jim Finn, Scott
McGowan, Clytie Mills. Not pictured: Kay
Browne, Kay Blackwill, Barbara Coley,
Ron Corral, Pat Carollon, Karen Balsamico
Volunteers - NAMI Services
Healthy Lunch: Judy & Jim Finn,
George & Lois McBride.
Gift of Time: Beverly Dresden, John Fox,
Marian Ostlier, Nona Kaufman
Advocacy: Barbara Alexander,
Cynthia Jackson, Jim Finn,
Penny Labourdette, Beverlee Kell
Family Support: Kay Browne,
Maria Craft-Neto.
FamFest: Kay Blackwill,
Paula Lucchesi, John Fox
Peer to Peer: Leah Fagundes,
Cheryl August, Scott McGowan
NAMI Walk Leadership:
Rik and Peg Super, Sue Roberts.
Family to Family Espanol: Peg Super,
Esmeralda Garcia, Carla Mock-Ketcham.
Espanol Family Support Group:
Kay Browne, Rosa Lopez,
Carla Mock-Ketcham, Elena Sanchez.
Helpline L to R back row: Joan Busby, Chaja Kirsch, Judy Finn, Elaine Goldman,
Front row: Cynthia Yamoto, Blair Gray, Iris King.
Not pictured: Peg Super (coordinator), Kay Blackwill, Joan Busby, Carol Fairchild, Marilyn Geary,
Eleanor Hanseli, Jill Owen, Jeanne Radtke, Mike Smith, Gail Spencer, Debra Ziegler.
www.namimarin.org
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 namimarinoffice@gmail.org
Community Resources
Buckelew Programs
Marin General Hospital-Behavioral
Health Outpatient Services
415 Area Code
250 Bon Air, Greenbrae (main hospital)
isolation, depression & anxiety. Two
Most Insurances & Medicare/Medi-Cal comgroups forming Tues. 6-7:30pm & Wed. 6- bination Larry Cunniffe 925-7674.
900 Fifth Ave.#150, San Rafael, 457-6964
www.buckelew.org

Buckelew Employment Services
Free orientation meeting 12pm every Tuesday, 3270 Kerner Blvd., Bldg. A, San
Rafael. For information call Amy Rogers
456-9350 X 106, or amy@buckelew.org

Buckelew Housing
Rene Mendez-Penate 473-6804.

PATH Program for Transitional Age
Youth (TAY) Provides mental health
services for young adults 16 to 26 years old.
Kathy Eagle, Director, 460-2167. Parental
support call Nellrose Graham 336-6644.

The Vine (detox center) 492-0818
A 26 bed co-ed residential program.
Provides recovery services for individuals
with alcohol and drug addiction issues, as
well as co-occurring psychiatric problems.

Family and Friends Case Management
Respite care and case management services.
Private pay. Call Mia 526-0411

mia@buckelew.org
Senior Case Management in collaboration
with Marin Housing Authority. Contact
Bernadette Stuart 491-2554.
Community Mental Health Services
http://www.marin.networkofcare.org


Adult Medication Clinic 473-6835

Case Management & Housing
Rene Mendez-Penate 473-6804.

Family Partner Adult System of Care
Monday-Friday 9-5pm Nellrose Graham
Office:473-4382 Cell: 336-6644

Family Support Group facilitated by
CMHS staff, every Thursday 7-8:30 pm,
CMHS, 250 Bon Air, Greenbrae, 1st Floor
Conference Room. Drop-in group,
Kathy Chestnut 473-6805 (free).

HOPE Program for seniors over age of 60
who suffer from mental illness 473-4306

Marin County Jail Criminal Justice
Team 473-6648.

Odyssey Team- Homeless Outreach
Program - Chris Kughn 473-2879.

STAR After Release Program
Ziya Dikman 473-2725
Marin Mental Health Plan 473-4271
Authorizes Medi-Cal services for CMHS
and other services in the community.
Community Institute for
Psychotherapy
1330 Lincoln Ave., Suite 201, San Rafael,
459-5999. Provides individual, family and couples counseling. Sliding scale and Medi-Cal
accepted. www.cipmarin.org

Interpersonal Psychotherapy Group for
men and women struggling with social
January 2012
7:30 pm. Call X450 to register.

Mindfulness Group, increase awareness of
the relationship between thoughts and feelings, expand choices for more empowerment
in your life. Six week sessions ongoing
Fridays 5-6 pm. Call X405 to register.
Enterprise Resource Center (ERC)

Partial Hospitalization Services Structured
treatment 4-5 days per week , 5 hrs per day,
between 8am & 4:30pm, for 1-6 weeks,
returning home each night. Program includes
DBT, CBT, Life Skills, Psychotherapy &
Planning Groups.
 Intensive Outpatient Services Often next
3270 Kerner Blvd. Bldg. A, Suite C
step after Partial Hospital Program. Similar
San Rafael, CA 94901 415-457-4554.
to Partial program structure only less
Open M-F, 9-4pm, Sat-Sun, 10am-4pm
frequent (2-3 days per week).
See ERC Newsletter www.camentalhealth.net Other Community Resources
for listing of classes and activities
AD/HD (attention disorders) parent and adult
support/education groups by CHADD
789-9464 www.chaddnorcal.org
Family Service Agency
555 Northgate Dr., San Rafael, 491-5700
 Alano Club - Dual Recovery Anonymous
(491-5720 en espanol). Individual and group
Mondays 4 to 5pm; Thursdays 8 to 9 pm
counseling services. Medi-Cal/sliding scale.
Call Matt 532-6445 for information.
Office also in Sausalito, 3000 Bridgeway Dr,
 Beyond Hunger Program for Eating
Suite 205, 332-3129.
Disorders 459-2270
 Adult Dialectical Behavior Therapy
www.beyoondhunger.org
(DBT) skills training groups . Call

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) &
X5728 for information and to sign up.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
 Parenting Apart Education and support for
Dr. Kari Wolman & David Fish, 459-5206
co-parenting after separation or divorce.
www.dbtmarin.com/events.html
Wednesdays 11-12:30pm & 6-7:30pm. Call
 College of Marin Supportive services for
X5723 for information.
students recovering from mental health
 Recovery and Wellness for Women Usissues Learning Ctr, Rm 115 485-9406.
ing Seeking Safety Model. Fridays 1:152:45pm. For women with trauma,
ad-  Community Court- Legal Aid of Marin,
diction, & mental health issues.
See page 7.
Contact Debra Collins, MFT X5713.
 Kaiser Psychiatric Services Advice and
 TeenScreen Individual screening of teens
education, 820 Las Gallinas, San Rafael
and young adults to identify early signs of
444-3522.
mental illness. Esme Gordon, MFT, X2051

Life Skills Group . Fridays 1:30 to 3 pm,
In-Home Services
Elpida House in San Rafael.
 APPLE Family Works Therapy and LifeDr. Laura McCormick 499-8613. X 2.
skills Center. Adjustable fees 492- 0720.
 Managing Voices and Negative Thoughts
 Dave Moss Case Management Services,
is lead by Robin Buccheri , Hilary
LLC. Private mental health and addiction
Spaulding, and Christie Coats, 2nd Tuesday,
recovery services. Questions? Call Dave at
Noon to 1 pm, CMHS, 250 Bon Air,
215-1938 or email mossluck@yahoo.com..
Greenbrae, 1st Floor Conference Room
bucherir@usfca.edu or 422-6498.
 Elpida InHome Case Management,
Contact Laura McCormick,
 Matrix Parent Network & Resource Ctr
Executive Director,499-8613, X2.
Provides information and support groups for
Marin Community Clinics
families of children with disabilities. Visit
In Greenbrae, Novato & San Rafael. Daytime &
www.matrixparents.org or
evening appointments available Monday-Friday.
call 1-800-578-2592.
Same-day appointments & walk-ins welcome.
 Recovery Connections Center Screening
www.marinclinic.org
&Assessment for alcohol, tobacco, other
Medical Appointments 415-448-1500
drug problems and mental health issues.
Dental Appointments 415-526-8555
Group meets at ERC, Tuesdays @ 3pm.
Accept: Medi-Cal, Medicare, CMSP, Family
For referral and assistance with admission to
PACT, CHDP, & CaliforniaKids. Counselors
appropriate treatment call 755-2345.
will assist you in applying for programs. Bring
proof of income. Sliding scale/$30 or more per
visit based on income, family size, and financial
resources.
www.namimarin.org
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 namimarinoffice@gmail.org
Help in a Crisis (415 Area Code)
24 Hour Crisis Lines








NAMI Marin Services
(415 Area Code)
Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) 499-6666
Suicide Prevention & Community Counseling 499-1100
Grief Counseling 499-1195
Marin General Emergency Room 925-7200
Novato Community Hospital Emergency Room 209-1350
Kaiser Medical Center Emergency Room 444-2400
Center for Domestic Peace - (Former home of Marin Abused Women‟s
Services). Call: English 924-6616; Spanish 924-3456: Men 924-1070
www.centerfordomesticpeace.org
Urgent Care
 C.A.R.E. Team 847-1266 Mobile outreach program for mentally ill





January 2012
people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
Family Partner Adult System of Care 473-4382 or 336-6644
Family Partner Children’s System of Care 473-7814
Child and Family Services (formerly CPS) 473-7153
NAMI Marin Helpline 444-0480, 1-3 pm. Monday-Friday
Warm Line 459-6330 Phone support for peers. Operated by peers through
the Enterprise Resource Center.
Phone number of your local police department. Ask for a Crisis Intervention Team Officer (CIT) and request a 5150 evaluation. Stay Calm and
Be Prepared. (See Planning for a Mental Health Crisis, page 1).
Community Court
NAMI Marin Services are free. Our office is open
Monday through Friday, 1-3pm and is located at
555 Northgate Dr. #280, San Rafael, 444-0480.
namimarinoffice@gmail.com, www.namimarin.org
 General Meetings, open to the public. Expert
speaker topics.
 Family-to-Family Course, Twelve week class
structured to help caregivers understand and
support individuals with serious mental illness
while maintaining their own well being. Open to
family members, caregivers, partners and friends.
Meets in NAMI office conference room,
Tuesdays, February 7 to April 24, 7-9:30pm.
 Family Support Group, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays,
6-7:30pm, ERC, Kay Browne, MD (drop-in).
 Espanol Family Support Group, 1st & 3rd
Thursdays, 7-8:30pm, ERC, with Rosa Lopez
240-6920. (Made possible by a generous
donation from the Marika Anne Critelli Fund).
 FamFest Dinners, 1st Wednesday, 6-7:30pm.
Clients & family connection. Scholarships are
available.
 Help Line, Call 444-0480, press 0, 1-3 pm
weekdays for support/resource info.
 Library, located in our office. Members may
borrow from an extensive collection of resources.
 Speakers Bureau family and consumer speakers
available for events free of charge 444-0480, Ext.
242. In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique
public education program in which trained
speakers share compelling personal stories about
living with mental illness and achieving
recovery. IOOV presentations are given free of
charge. Call the office to book a date.
 Gift of Time, volunteer and consumer matched
for companionship 925-0875. Volunteers are
needed.
 Healthy Lunch Program, provides lunch one
day a week at the ERC Center. If you can help
please call Judy /Jim Finn 892-5135.
Community Court is a program that started in the spring of 2011 to
help Marin residents deal with lifestyle infractions such as sleeping
outside or in a vehicle. Community Court is open to people who are
homeless or in transitional housing, are extremely low-income, or who
are unable to access the traditional court system due to a barrier such as a
mental health issue. The program can only assist with infractions issued
in Marin County. Court sessions are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month,
from 3-5pm at St. Vincent de Paul Free Dining Hall (820 B St., San
Rafael). Participants must sign up at least one week in advance. Referral
forms to sign up for the program are available at various service agencies
throughout the county such as Legal Aid of Marin, St. Vincent‟s, Ritter
Center, Adopt-a-Family, and Homeward Bound, among others.
The most important things for people to know are that COMMUNITY
COURT CANNOT DEAL WITH PARKING TICKETS, CRIMINAL
CASES, OR WALK-INS. Signups must be done in advance.
C.A.R.E. Team Wish List
Most clients living with mental illness will likely be eligible, even if
Needs clothing & other items for men and
women such as:
they are not homeless, because their mental health may prevent them
sleeping bags, shoes, socks, tents, camping
from successfully going through regular traffic court procedures. If a
equipment, underwear, waterproof jackets,
client or his/her family can afford to just pay the fines, we prefer they
coats, rain gear,
toiletries,
comfortable clothing.
just do that so as to leave room in Community Court for people who are
Cold weather items: gloves, hats, warm socks,
really in need.
scarves.
You can send the referral form to Maura Prendiville, Staff Attorney,
Please drop off at the
Enterprise Resource Center
Legal Aid of Marin, 30 N. San Pedro Rd., Suite 220, San Rafael, CA
3270 Kerner Blvd. Bldg. A, Suite C,
94903 or send fax to (415) 492-0947, or call 492-0230, X303, for more
San Rafael
information . Remember to sign up at least one week in advance.
415-457-4554
www.namimarin.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
San Rafael, CA
Permit No. 641
National Alliance on Mental Illness
555 Northgate Drive, #280
San Rafael, CA 94903
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
THIS MATERIAL IS TIME RELATED
January 2012
NAMI Marin
Board of Directors
President
Barbara Alexander
Vice–President
Peg Super
Treasurer
Beverlee Kell
Secretary
Penny Labourdette
Directors
Sue Roberts,
Kay Browne, MD
Matt Tasley
Rick Roose
Thank you Gaspares Pizza
200 Merrydale Rd., San Rafael, 472-7101
for donating pizzas for our holiday party!
Time to Renew NAMI Membership?
The expiration date is on the label of this newsletter.
Instructions of how to renew or join online visit www.nami.org
NAMI Marin General Meeting
5th Monday, January 30 7:00-8:30 pm
Note New Location !
Center for Nonprofit Leadership
555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael
Ground Floor Conference Room
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Come early for social time. Park in the lot
behind the building or across the street in the Sears Tire Lot.
NAMI programs are free and open to the public.
Update on Client Work/Training
Opportunities
Learn about the latest programs and future plans:
 Dan Daniels, Buckelew Employment Services
 Irene Birch, Integrated Community Services
 Chris Schultz, College of Marin DSP & S
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NAMI Marin is an affiliate of NAMI CA and NAMI National.
Annual membership is $35 for a family or individual. Reduced
membership fee available upon request. With your membership
you will receive this newsletter (9 times a year) along with State
& National publications and access to our extensive mental
health library.
Newsletter Editor: Penny Labourdette, pennyal@aol.com.
Circulation: Karen Illich & David Illich, Sue Roberts, labels
You are invited to the next
FamFest
Wednesday, January 4 at 6 pm
Bangkok Express
857 Fourth St., San Rafael
Clients, family, friends, and support staff, all welcome.
No Host. Walk ins are welcome. For those who have difficulty paying the usual $10, NAMI offers partial assistance.
Wednesday, February 1 at 6 pm
The Crepevine
908 Fourth St., San Rafael
Call Paula 479-4290 if you have any questions.