NAMI Alameda County
GOALS
TO PROVIDE...group support for families and friends, sharing experience and knowledge, enabling families to maintain control of their lives and to assist their ill family members.
TO EDUCATE...families and others about the nature of mental illnesses, and to encourage research into their causes and treatment.
TO OFFER...information on community resources, mental health law, and the mental health service system.
TO ENCOURAGE...inclusion of familiy members in planning for the care and treatment of their relatives.
TO ADVOCATE...for improved services for persons with disabling mental illness, and to suggest and support legislative efforts and address their needs.
TO ERADICATE...stigma, remove prejudice, and attain community acceptance of mental disorders as serious illness-rather than failings of character.
PROGRAMS
MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Authorative speakers provide information on such topics as: medications, research, schizophrenia, bipolar illness, housing options, family coping techniques, social security benefits.
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS meet in different parts of Alameda County. These are generally small groups, which allow families to share experiencs and provide mutual support.
THE FAMILIES ADVOCATE NEWSLETTER is sent to all members monthly, and includes the announcement of the general meeting speaker and topic.
A LIBRARY of books, pamphlets, articles and tapes is availabe for loan, at the Mental Health Association office.
STATE AND NATIONAL NETWORK members of the Family Alliance are enrolled as NAMI California and NAMI National and receive their newsletters.
INFORMATION AND REFERRALS are provided to anyone trying to help a mentally ill relative or friend through the Families Information and Referral Service Telephone (FIRST).
The Family Alliance on Mental Illness is affiliated with NAMI California and NAMI National. NAMI California maintains an office in Sacramento, links together support groups throughout the State, educates the public about mental illness, and monitors mental health legislation.
NAMI National, with offices in Virginia, coordinates the work of the family groups nationally. NAMI National monitors legislation, provides an national newsletter, educational materials and engages in public education education programs to improve services for mentally ill persons and to eradicate stigma.
For more information, write or call the Family Alliance on Mental Illness, Alameda County, 954-60th Street, Suite 10, Oakland CA 94608. Telephone: 510-835-5010.
