GENERAL INFORMATION

Address:  P.O. BOX 1921  
                  Arvada, CO 80001

Contact:   Norman Bertelsen (President). . . 303-349-2563 Norm@NormanBertelsen.com

NAMI JEFFCO BOARD/CONTACTS

President: . . . . . . . . Norman Bertelsen . . . . 303-349-2563  Norm@NormanBertelsen.com

Vice President: . . . . Pam Sindorf Haynes . . 303-279-7661  pamhaynes@aol.com

Treasurer/Contributions: . . . .Tony Rodrigues

Secretary: . . . . . . . . Gloria Zann

Membership: . . . . . . For Information call Pam Haynes. . . .303-279-7661

Support Night: . . . . . For Information call Pam Haynes. . . .303-279-7661

Consumer Outreach: .Dennis Hofts . . . . . . . 303-421-8522  verden53@yahoo.com

Legislative/Advocacy: . ..Nita Bradford . . . . 303-232-5078  nitajohn@comcast.net

Filling the Gap: . . . . . Donna Grano. . . . . . . 303-420-2006   ftgdental@msn.com

(dental program)

Newsletters

• 2006 Summer Edition         • 2008 Winter Edition

• 2007 Winter Edition

• 2007 Summer Edition

Date:      1st Wednesday of every month

Time:       7:00 - 8:30 PM

Location: Jefferson Center for Mental Health (JCMH)

              CEDAR BUILDING: 9808 West Cedar Ave. Lakewood

(Cedar is one block north of Alameda at Alameda and Kipling St., across from the Federal Center)

Type:    Educational speakers, and/or videos; Presented for the benefit of both consumers & family members

Upcoming Scheduled Speakers/Presentations for 2007/2008:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER  5:  Jeff Lamontagne - Executive Director of Second Wind Fund

Jeff Lamontagne - Executive Director of Second Wind Fund as well as a therapist will be available to answer questions on the topic of depression and suicide prevention primarily in adolescent and teen-age children.  Mr. Lamontagne co-founded the Second Wind Fund, a nonprofit education foundation that works closely with the Jeffco Public Schools.  The fund does not discriminate on the basis of gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or national origin.   Since its creation following the tragic suicides of a number of students who attended Green Mountain High School a few years ago, over 53 students from GMHS, Alameda, Bear Creek, Lakewood, Jefferson, Wheat Ridge, Golden and McLain High Schools have been referred to the Second Wind Fund.  The fund is also open to students of Conifer and Evergreen High Schools.  In each case, the students have demonstrated behaviors consistent with serious depression or have talked about or attempted suicide, and have not been able to afford counseling given their financial needs.  This past school year alone, more than 360 kids at-risk for suicide were referred through the program for counseling.  This brings the all-time total to close to 700 kids from almost 200 different schools.   Mission:  To support Jeffco Public Schools in preparing all students for a successful future.  By creating strong alliances with businesses, civic groups and organizations that are the bedrock of Jeffco, the Foundation continues to bring the community together to support its most vital asset - the students of Jeffco Public Schools.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY  2, 2008: Special New Years Presentation! 

NAMI Jeffco is proud and pleased to present a panel discussion open to audience questions.

Join us in welcoming:

Ricky Kinney

Bryce Bowers

Jim O'Connell

Vladimir Perez

AND perhaps more peer counselors from Jefferson Center for Mental Health (JCMH), Cedar Building, Lakewood. 

We are honored to have these fine fellows and per chance ladies, discuss such matters as: 

- what they do in a typical week

- what diagnosis they have and how it has played out in their individual lives

- what are their job responsibilities

- how did they get their jobs

- any other items they feel important to discuss

- available to answer your questions!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2008:

James Dean, Attorney at Law will speak on Social Security matters so please, bring your questions!!!!!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2008: NAMI Jeffco proudly presents Dr. Richard Warner, Ed. Night guest speaker!!!  Join us!

Richard Warner, M.D., is the Director and Chief Psychiatrist of Colorado Recovery and Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at, University of Colorado Health Sciences. 

Colorado Recovery: Psychiatric diagnosis and residential care for schizophrenia/bipolar treatment located in Boulder, CO.   Recovery from mental illness like schizophrenia is about more than just getting rid of the symptoms. 

Colorado Recovery offers 24 hour care 7 days/week in its residential treatment facility and daily intensive outpatient services in Boulder, offering clients the ability to live productively with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders!  

Beginning in 1995, Dr. Warner helped direct Open the Doors, a global campaign of the World Psychiatric Association to combat the stigma of schizophrenia.  Dr. Warner lectures and consults in several countries around the world on a regular basis.  He was closely involved in two of the anti-stigma program.  He has visiting faculty appointments at two universities in Great Britain and is on the editorial boards of professional journals in four countries; and...He earned the “Heroes in the Fight” aware from NAMI Colorado 2005, the Nancy Roeske Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Medical Student Education of the American Psychiatric Association in 2002.  He has been listed in Best Doctors in America since 1996.

Dr. Warner is the author of a number of books, translated into seven languages, including:

Recovery from Schizophrenia (third edition: Brunner-Routledge, 2004)

The Environment of Schizophrenia (Brunner-Routledge, 2000)

Alternatives to the Hospital for Acute Psychiatric Treatment (American Psychiatric Press, 1995)

Co-author with Julian Leff: Social Inclusion of People with Mental Illness ( Cambridge University Press 2006)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL , 2008: We will be showing Canvas, the acclaimed movie on small screen!  Written and directed by NAMI member Joe Greco, the film is inspired by his family’s experience with mental illness. It stars Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden, Emmy-winner Joe Pantaliano, and Devon Gearhart.

Synopsis: A father and young son contend with the mother’s battle against schizophrenia. Hope alternates with frustration, while love overcomes stigma. After the mother is hospitalized, the father begins to build a sailboat that recalls a happier time in his life, while the son comes of age and finds relationships transformed. Marcia Gaye Harden plays the role of the mother and wife who has schizophrenia, which permeates the family’s daily lives. 

“Canvas is one of the few dramatic films that are authentic in their depiction of schizophrenia,” said NAMI executive director Mike Fitzpatrick, after it received an emotional standing ovation at the convention. ”It is both heart-breaking and heart-warming.”

***Movie's runtime is One Hour and Forty-One minutes—please arrive right at 7 p.m.***

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008:

The Foothills Behavioral Health's (FBH) Medicaid contract is up for bid again this year!  FBH and Jefferson Center for Mental Health would like to ask the community for input as part of their outreach program to Medicaid members and their families in our community. 

The following points will be open for discussion:     

- Ask "How are we doing?"     

- Answer any questions about the bidding process    

- Find out where there may be gaps in services or barriers to service    

- Learn what other services or areas of focus the community sees as a focus to look at    

- Talk about some of FBH ideas for new and innovative services in the coming years

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008: A speaker will address the issues relating to Dual Diagnosis

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual Diagnosis refers to co-occurring Mental Illness, Drug Addiction and/or Alcoholism in various combinations.  Despite much research that supports its success, integrated treatment is till not widely available to consumers.  Integrated treatment requires the recognition that substance abuse counseling and traditional mental health counseling are different approaches that MUST be reconciled to treat co-occurring disorders.  

According to NAMI:

- Roughly 50% of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse

- 37% of alcohol abusers and 53% of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental  

   illness

- Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29% abuse either drugs or alcohol 

With continued education on co-occurring disorders, hopefully, better understanding and more treatments are on the way.

Contact:     Pam Haynes   303-279-7661

Date:          3rd Wednesday of each month

Time:        7:00 - 8:30 P.M.

Location:    Jefferson Center for Mental Health (JCMH)

                    CEDAR BUILDING: 9808 West Cedar Ave. Lakewood (Cedar is one block

                    north of Alameda at Alameda and Kipling St., across from the Federal Center)

Type:  Informal meeting for both consumers & family members for sharing and support

Date:       2nd Wednesday of each month

Time:       7:00 - 8:30 P.M.

Location: Jefferson Center for Mental Health (JCMH)

                CEDAR BUILDING: 9808 West Cedar Ave. Lakewood (Cedar is one block

                north of Alameda at Alameda and Kipling St., across from the Federal Center)

For information on board activities and/or board membership, call Norman Bertelsen (President) at 303-349-2563 , or email him at Norm@NormanBertelsen.com.

FILLING THE GAP dental program for consumers

Contact Person: Donna Grano 303-420-2006, email: ftgdental@msn.com

FAMILY-TO-FAMILY EDUCATION CLASSES - FREE Education classes for families and caregivers of adults living with mental illness; Coordinator: Pam Haynes 303-279-7661, email: pamhaynes@aol.com

COLORADO VISIONS CLASSES - FREE Education classes for families and caregivers of children/adolescents living with mental illness; Contact Person: Cheri Bishop at 303-697-6808, email: cbishopnami@aol.com

2008

PICNIC, AUGUST (Details coming soon)

  3RD ANNUAL NAMI COLORADO WALK, DATE & LOCATION TBA

CHRISTMAS PARTY, DECEMBER, DATE AND LOCATION TBA