Peer to Peer

Peer to Peer classes are starting in OKC in March. Has anyone signed up yet?

Visions For Tomorrow

Are you a caregiver to a child or an adolescent with a brain disorder? Do you know someone who is? This spring, NAMI OKlahoma will be offering an 8-week class called Visions for Tomorrow. This is a family member-to-member course. Teachers of the program are trained family members who have experienced first-hand the rewards and challenges of raising children with brain disorders. The course offers caregivers an opportunity to share experiences and learn valuable lessons from one another. The class and all materials are offered free of charge.

In the class, you will learn more about specific brain disorders, but also other valuable lessons, such as Communication Skills, Coping, Self-Care, and Problem Management, just to name a few.

If you think this is something that you might be interested in, please contact me. I'll be glad to answer any questions that you might have, or even put you on our list to be contacted when we have dates and locations. Don't let this opportunity slip away!

Oklahoma's Innovation Center: An Important Player in Transformation

To help facilitate the transformation of Oklahoma's mental health and substance abuse system, the state created the Innovation Center. Housed in Oklahoma City with a satellite office in Tulsa, the Innovation Center is the incubator and connecting entity that is helping facilitate our state's transformation. For transformation to work, though, we cannot stand on the sidelines and expect the Innovation Center to do all the work. One of the fundamental objectives of transformation is to make the system consumer and family driven. This means we all have roles to play and believe me, there is plenty of work to do. Want to make a difference? Visit the Innovation Center. You can also contact me at NAMI Oklahoma and I'll help find a way to connect you to this exciting effort!

HR 4 Under Consideration by US House

The House will consider HR 4 by the end of this week as part of their 100 hour agenda. HR 4 would significantly change the Medicare Part D benefit by allowing the federal government to directly negotiate drug prices. Our national organization has put together a well-developed letter that outlines specific concerns with HR 4 (see the 1/10 issue of Mid Week Minute to access the letter). The cost of pharmaceuticals is a topic meritorious of debate; however, it is important to note that it is a complex issue and for every decision there are unanticipated consequences. Policy makers should remember that the people who rely upon these life-saving medications cannot become pawns in this game of economic chess. People experiencing chronic health conditions, whether they be related to mental illness or cancer, deserve access to therapies that work. As always, we welcome your thoughts!

Hope for Tomorrow

Hope for Tomorrow is off to a quick start in 2007. Over 260 schools in 33 Oklahoma counties will be receiving a preview DVD in the mail next week. This is a FREE program targeted at middle and high school students. It's 3 main areas are: Mental Disorders, Substance Abuse, and Eating Disorders. The purpose of it is to Erase the stigma of mental illness, Raise the awareness of mental illness, and Foster hope for our teens. This is for ALL students - not just those already suffering in any of these areas.

If you have questions about this program or know of a school or youth group that you think would benefit from Hope for Tomorrow, please contact me (or blog back) at NAMI Oklahoma. I would love to hear from you!