Welcome to NAMI Central Iowa
NAMI CI is a support group made up of those with mental illness, their friends, families, and members of their communities in Ames, Story County, and the surrounding Iowa area. Our goal is to make a better life for people affected by mental illness through support, education, and advocacy. We serve as a source of understanding and encouragement for all who face mental health issues or have a loved one with mental illness.
Recovery Through the Arts in April
NAMI Central Iowa will present it's third annual Recovery Through the Arts program.
When: Tuesday, April 17 at 7:00pm
Where:Farwell T. Brown Auditorium at the Ames Public Library
515 Douglas Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
Individuals living with mental illness who participate in NAMI's arts programs will share their stories through art and cretive writing. Come and be inspired!
New NAMI Connection Group
Being diagnosed with a mental illness, such as depression or schizophrenia, can be an isolating experience. NAMI Connection support groups offer a place where people living with mental illness can share their challenges and successes. NAMI Connection is a recovery support group that is led by trained volunteers who have also experienced mental illness. Connection meets weekly, and there is no charge or registration - just show up! The group is a great place to go when you feel like you need someone to talk to, or when you just want to be around other people who understand what you are going through.
A NAMI Connection group is currently being held:
When: Thursdays from 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Where:Mental Health Wellness Center
416 Douglas Avenue, Suite 100
Ames, IA 50010
A second Connection group will be starting April 2nd. This group will meet:
When: Mondays from 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Where:Mental Health Wellness Center
416 Douglas Avenue, Suite 100
Ames, IA 50010
The Monday evening group will be a great option for people who are unable to attend a daytime group. Again, NAMI Connection groups are free and open to anyone living with mental illness.
Family-to-Family New Teacher Training in Des Moines
Please contact the NAMI CI office if you are interested in attending training to become a volunteer teacher for our Family-to-Family class. The training will be held April 27 - April 29.
Write-a-Thon Fundraiser
The Mental Health Wellness Center will hold a Write-aThon Fundraiser on May 1st from 9:00am - 5:00pm. Writers will complete a combined total of 24 hours of writing. Members of the center will be writing on topics of the sponsor's choice.
The suggested donation is $10, but any amount will be greatly appreciated. Sponsors will be able to select up to three words or topics, which will be included in a written piece. Poems for Mother's Day, Father's Day, or other special events can also be requested.
Forms will be available at the April monthly meeting, at the NAMI/Wellness Center Office, or by calling (515) 292-9400. Funds will be used for art supplies and glass fusion. Please help us make our first Write-a-Thon a success.
Director of NAMI Iowa to Speak in May
Nancy Hale, director of NAMI Iowa, will be the speaker at our May meeting.
This will also be our annual members' meeting where the election of the 2012-2013 Board of Directors will take place.
New Class Offered - NAMI Basics
A new educational class for parents and caretakers of children up to age 18 who have a mental illness or emotional disorder is being rolled out in Iowa. If you would like to be trained to teach this course, or if you would like to be on a list to take it, please contact our office at (515) 292-9400.
Carolyn Cared
Our December Creative Arts Day was jewelry making thanks to the generous donation of many boxes of beads, jewelry findings, tools, and instruction books. We called our day, "Carolyn Cared" because of a lovely woman named, Carolyn Nielsen. She learned of our art days and our love of jewelry making and, also, our knitting and crocheting classes. Sadly, Carolyn passed away this summer, but asked that our group be given all of her many bags of yarn and a large basket of needles and booklets, in addtion to her beautiful collection of jewerly making supplies. Carolyn was a very creative and gifted artist with a very generous heart. "Thank you so much, Carolyn"
We will be having another "Carolyn Cared" art day in the near future to share the yarn and knitting/crocheting supplies.
Wellness Center Update
This year, we received one holiday gift a little early. At an awards ceremony at ReimanGardens on November 9, Story County Community Foundation (SCCF) awarded NAMI Central Iowa a grant of $20,000.00 to continue the work of the Mental Health Wellness Center. The pilot project that was funded by United Way of Story County endowment funds ends on January 31, 2012.
The Wellness Center has been a great success so far, with around 200 visits each month, thanks to the hard work of our coordinator Linda Sawer and her core of volunteers. The $20,000.00 will cover rent, utilities, supplies, and salary for the coordinator through June 30, 2012.
It also will allow us to find a permanent location and refurbish it to fit the ongoing programs of the center. We are deeply grateful to SCCF for this money which will help people living with mental illness have a space of their own to learn new skills, set goals for a healthy lifestyle, socialize, and reach out to help others. This is definitely a gift that will keep on giving!
NAMI CI Annual Awards
NAMI Central Iowa gave out its annual awards at its educational meeting on November 15. Royce Ann Stockton received the Outstanding Volunteer award for her many hours of volunteering at the Mental Health Wellness Center and for facilitating the NAMI Connection support groups. Jean Kresse accepted the Stick Your Neck Out award on behalf of United Way of Story County, which has provided funding for many NAMI Central Iowa programs as well as the Mental Health Wellness Center pilot project.
Volunteers Nedded!
In order to do the work of NAMI Central Iowa more efficiently, the board is asking for volunteers to serve on several new committees. Each committee will be chaired by a member of the board. Volunteers should expect to give at most 1-2 hours of time each month.
The committees and their chairs are:
- Program committee: Deb Niehof
- Fund Raising: Willow McLaughlin Hill
- Public Relations: Michael Gluesing
- Finance committee: Jim Peake
- Membership: Wendie Cooper
Please contact the office at (515)292-9400 if you are willing to help in one of these crucial areas.
Iowa Mental Health and Disability System Redesign
Last Spring, the Iowa Legislature mandated the complete redesign of Iowa's current system of delivering mental health and disability services, including eligibility requirements, the core services that should be available to all who are eligible, provider requirements, and quality assurance. The Legislature expressed it's intent that the current county-run system should be replaced by regional entities, which will be charged with management of the system and with building provider capacity to respond to the needs of their service populations. Senate File 525 directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to oversee this process and the Director Chuck Palmer has appointed workgroups to address core services and delivery systems. At the end of this process, DHS will submit a final report to legislators due in early December. - from the Iowa Training Consortium website
Find more information: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/Partners/MHDSRedesign.html
Send in your input: DHS-MHSRedesign@dhs.state.ia.us
