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  A BIG THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS

TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN

NAMI COLORADO'S WALK!!

WE ACHIEVED OUR GOAL OF $100,000!!! AND MORE!!

THERE IS STILL TIME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE OR SPONSOR A WALKER!!  DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH JULY 16, 2009. 

click here if you would like to donate or sponsor a walker


      Upcoming Events:

  

NAMI-Colorado Springs "Stars of Hope" WALK at Memorial Park: September 12, 2009

     View Announcements:

                                                           

                                                                                                                                

  HOME

NAMI* Colorado is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is

to give strength and hope to individuals with mental illness and their families.



At NAMI Colorado we give individuals and families, who are devastated by the diagnosis of

severe mental illness, hope for a better future for themselves and their loved ones.

We are working for a future time when persons with mental illness are well cared for, involved in meaningful work, and accepted as valuable members of their community.

NAMI Colorado is about hope and recovery. At NAMI Colorado we know that, given the right treatment and access to services, individuals with mental illness can live rich and fulfilling lives. Indeed, we strive to help individuals and families cope with the illness and improve their lives through various programs.


Click to Learn about Donation Thru Payroll Deduction


                 

   NAMI National

*National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI-Colorado Springs "Stars of Hope" WALK

September 12, 2009

 

Walker registration and more information about the WALK will be available on the website at www.namicoloradosprings.org as we get closer to the big day!

Click here to View WALK flyer

 

 

 

NAMI COLORADO WALK

MAY 16, 2009

Cheesman Park, Denver

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE, WE REACHED OUR GOAL!!!

 

We had a beautiful, sunny day for our WALK along with

great fun and camaraderie for all 500+ attending! 

We want to express our appreciation and gratitude to all of you who

participated in and donated to the WALK. It was YOU who were

responsible for our WALK's success!! 

We also want to express our gratitude to those who worked so tirelessly

behind the scenes to make this WALK happen, especially Greg Coleman

and Anne Weiher. Greg and Anne, you did an awesome job!!

     

For more information about this event, please contact:

 

                       Greg Coleman                                                     Anne Weiher

                                             Phone: 303-409-6045                                          Phone: 720-839-4139
                               gcoleman@denvercommercial.com
                       Anne.Weiher@gmail.com
        

 

                  Click Here to View Our Sponsors          Click Here to View WALK pictures

 

        

     


NEW 2009 Parity Brochure

Mental health parity became law in Colorado in 2008 making insurance coverage for treatment of fourteen mental health conditions equal to what is offered for physical conditions. Download the Mental Health Parity brochure for details about Colorado and Federal parity laws, conditions covered and resources to learn more about your rights as a consumer.

 


 

NAMI’s “Grading the States” Report

Published March 11, 2009

Colorado's Average Grade is a C

National Average is a D
14 States Improve Grades; 12 Fall Backwards

State Budget Crises Threaten Ruin


On Wednesday, March 11, NAMI published the Grading the States 2009: A Report on America’s Health Care System for Adults with Serious Mental Illness (GTS ’09). The national average grade was a D. The report provides the only comprehensive, ongoing assessment of the nation’s public mental health care system for adults. Fourteen states improved their grades since NAMI's last report card three years ago. Twelve states fell backwards.


Colorado was one of two states that did not participate in NAMI’s previous GTS study, which was conducted in 2006, therefore Colorado received a "U" in the 2006 GTS report. Three years later, transparency returned, and Colorado's mental health care system received an average grade of C on the 2009 GTS report.

In the 2006 study, the 48 participating states received an average grade of D, and only five states received Bs. Governors, legislators, state agencies, mental health professionals, consumer and family advocates, the news media, and taxpayers all sat up and took notice. GTS ’06 provided guidance and momentum for reform in many states.

In 2003, the presidential “New Freedom” Commission on Mental Health condemned the nation’s mental health care system as outmoded, fragmented, and often ineffective and called for “fundamental transformation.” One key to transformation is transparency and accountability, which this report provides. It also provides a common baseline against which progress can be measured over periods of years.


The report comes at a time when state budget cuts are threatening mental health care overall.

"Mental health care in America is in crisis," said NAMI executive director Michael J. Fitzpatrick. "Even states that have worked hard to build life-saving, recovery-oriented systems of care stand to see their progress wiped out."

"Ironically, state budget cuts occur during a time of economic crisis when mental heath services are needed even more urgently than before. It is a vicious cycle that can lead to ruin. States need to move forward, not retreat."

ABOUT THE REPORT:

The information on the 2009 GTS report was scored and weighted in four broad categories:
•  Health Promotion and Measurement
•  Financing and Core Treatment/Recovery Services
•  Consumer and Family Empowerment
•  Community Integration and Social Inclusion

Colorado's Grades by Category, View Detailed Score Card (PDF)

  1. Health Promotion and Measurement: F (25% of Total Grade)
    Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices, emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
  2. Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: B (45% of Total Grade)
    A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
  3. Consumer & Family Empowerment: C (15% of Total Grade)
    Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
  4. Community Integration and Social Inclusion: D (15% of Total Grade)
    Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.

Innovations

  • "Data dashboard" initiative
  • Connection to benefits legislation
  • Expansion of parity legislation

Urgent Needs

  • Crisis services
  • Alternatives to incarceration
  • Interagency health information systems
  • Non-Medicaid mental health services

Information Sources

The primary source of data for GTS ’09 was a survey of state mental health agencies (SMHAs). Additional information was collected through secondary sources, including but not limited to:

• A Web-based survey of consumer and family experiences with state mental health services conducted in September 2008.

• A “Consumer and Family Test Drive” of state Web site and telephone information sources conducted by NAMI volunteers.

• Public information such as state community mental health services block grant applications, agency and academic reports, newspaper articles, and other sources.

• Secondary data sources including: the number of adults living with serious mental illnesses, mental health workforce shortages, and hospital-based inpatient psychiatric bed capacity.

Sixty-five criteria were used in the grading process. Each one was weighted to reflect its relative importance. State grades—both overall and for each of the four categories—are based on these weighted scores. The nation’s grade was calculated by averaging the weighted state scores.

This new report is the first report card since the initial measurement in 2006—in which GTS ’09 will help determine whether or not states have improved or lost ground in the past three years; whether the national average has increased, decreased, or stayed the same; and what strengths, innovative trends, or urgent needs can be identified in each state and nationally. GTS ’09 will be an installment in continuing public dialogue about what is working or not working in America as we seek to build a mental health care system that is evidence-based, recovery-focused, and consumer- and family-driven.

The report can be viewed at www.nami.org/grades09 or in printed report form can be purchased from the NAMI store at www.nami.org/store.


 

NAMI Colorado is very proud to announce that Catherine Benavidez Clayton, our Director of Multicultural Services, was chosen by the National Association of Hispanic Nurses-Colorado Chapter, to receive the award of "Outstanding Colorado Nursing Leader". 

Catherine has been NAMI Colorado's Director of Multicultural Services for over 4 years. She is a bi-lingual/bi-cultural healthcare clinician/nurse practitioner with experience in the creation and delivery of innovative health care services for underserved, ethnic minority populations, with emphasis on Latinos with expertise in grassroots organizing, network development, and health advocacy. She is an accomplished health care manager with a history of outstanding leadership achievements throughout a wide spectrum of health care missions, cultures, and initiatives and has a long term commitment to narrowing the health disparities gap in the Latino population. Catherine also serves as NAMI Colorado's Coordinator and facilitator for the Caminantes Family Education Program, which is a series of classes designed specifically to educate and support Latino families living with mental illness.   


                                                                                                                                                               

NAMI Colorado is proud to announce that Lacey Berumen, NAMI Colorado's Executive Director, has received a "One of Denver's 150" award from Mayor Hickenlooper and the City of Denver, and the 2009 "Outstanding Volunteer Award" from Governor Ritter.

The "One of Denver's 150" award is a special honor as it recognizes ordinary citizens who are making extraordinary contributions to the Mile High City.  Denver’s 150 was created to celebrate the City’s 150th birthday and to honor 150 of its citizens as “unsung heroes” – people like Lacey who are making Denver a better place for this and future generations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join NAMI - $35 for membership in national, state & local levels


Members Only Forum

We are pleased to introduce the “Members Only” portion of our website which includes access to our NAMI Colorado Forum.  You can also renew your membership online from the “Members Only” section.

To access the NAMI Colorado Forum:

  • Click on the "Membership" link in the left column
  • Next click on "Members Only"
  • Enter the username and password listed on your membership card
  • Click on the Forum link and sign up for Forum access

 

You will then be able to access our 3 forums (message boards). The "Family-to-Family" and "Colorado Visions" forums offer families, caregivers, and significant others of individuals with mental illness, the opportunity to share information, ask questions, and find support. The "Community News, Sharing and Events" forum offers the latest information on what's happening at NAMI Colorado, and provides information on NAMI Connection, a consumer support group.

Don’t forget to visit the new NAMI Colorado Store on our website.  We are offering several NAMI Colorado branded items at reasonable prices.  Members are eligible for a 10% discount.

We are excited about these new additions and look forward to expanding the member services offered through our website as we continue to grow.


 

This handsome 12 x 12" wall-hang calendar which provides inspired artwork and messages of hope and recovery was designed by Drew Anneberg for The Carson J Spencer Foundation. The calendar features photography and art works by such well known Colorado artists as John Fielder, Jon Sheppard, Tona Ortega and others. 

  

For an order form (each calendar is just $12 plus shipping) click here.

To order online (using a credit card) click here.


NAMI CONNECTION RECOVERY

SUPPORT GROUPS

NAMI Connection is a recovery support group program for adults living with mental illness that is expanding in communities throughout the country. These groups provide a place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope. NAMI Connection groups offer a casual and relaxed approach to sharing the challenges and successes of coping with mental illness. All groups are confidential - participants can share as much or as little personal information as they wish.

Click here to learn more about NAMI Connections and to view all NAMI Colorado Connection meeting locations


A New Research Study on Sleep Habits of Children Needs Your Help!

A research team at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, led by Dr. Richard Frye, is conducting a new research study on the sleep habits of children, with or without mental illness.

The study is in online survey format for maximum convenience and anonymity, and measures have been taken to ensure theprivacy and security of survey takers. In it, we ask questions about the child's sleep habits and previous medical history.

Click here to take our survey

View letter to parents

View sleep Survey Protocol


   NAMI Colorado Photo Gallery


The new "Ticket to Work" regulations have been published and will go into effect on July 21, 2008. 

Click here for more information 


 

Help Change a Life!!

"Colorado Bands Together for Hope" CD

A compilation of Colorado Artists who have offered their talents in a combined effort to help transform the lives of the forgotten, the mentally and physically ill, the lonely, the unloved, and the people in pain. NAMI Colorado is a beneficiary organization for a portion of the proceeds from the CD sales !!!  100% of the proceeds go to charity  

Click here for more details or to buy ($15) 

Sponsored by Home Health Care Professionals


 


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