INSIDE3394qh4fg22b3jpwm94480xg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp...some of the “Good to Great”concepts...

Summer 2007The State’s Voice on Mental Illness

INSIDE:� A Son’s Perspective

� NAMI Texas Good to Great

� Visions for Tomorrow

INSIDE:� A Son’s Perspective

� NAMI Texas Good to Great

� Visions for Tomorrow

2 NAMI TEXAS Summer 2007

contentsBoard PresidentREGION 5DirectorTerm: 2004-2007Lee Burns

Vice PresidentAt Large DirectorTerm: 2005-2008Donna Fisher

TreasurerREGION 7DirectorTerm: 2004-2007Bill Matthews

SecretaryREGION 1DirectorTerm: 2006 - 2009Angela Ellis

REGION 2DirectorTerm: 2005-2008Alice ClarkNAMI TexasConsumerRepresentative tothe NAMINationalConsumerCouncil

REGION 3DirectorTerm: 2006-2009Victor Ortiz

REGION 4DirectorTerm: 2005-2008Paul A. Jurek

REGION 8DirectorTerm: 2006-2009Mary Robins

REGION 6Director(Open)

REGION 9Director(Open)

At Large DirectorTerm: 2005-2008Roger Morin

At Large DirectorTerm: 2006-2009Patti Haynes

At Large DirectorTerm: 2006-2009Jerry Parker

At Large DirectorTerm: 2007*Karen M. Garber

At Large Director Term: 2007*Lisa M. Tomaka

ParliamentarianJackie Shannon

TCOOMMI (TexasCorrectionalOffice onOffenders withMedical or MentalImpairments)RepresentativeMaurice Dutton

* Appointed to fillBoard vacancies; willrun for election inOctober, 2007.

NAMI Texas Board of Directors2006 – 2007

To find a NAMI Texas affiliate in your area, please call 1-800-633-3760 or visit www.namitexas.org

�On the cover: Jason N.

Message from the Executive Director

NAMI Texas: Good to Great

Letter to the Editor

NAMI Texas: A Son’s Perspective

Affiliate Corner

Visions for Tomorrow and Family-To-Family:A Comparison

New NAMI Texas Board

Implementing Breaking the Silence in Austin ISD

Just Released!

Peer to Peer Classes Begin!

New Recovery Tool for Houstonians

Grants Update

Through My Window

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)

Texas Jail Diversion/Incarcerated Vets Committee

NAMI TEXAS Public Policy Priorities

Happy Anniversary, Recovery, Inc.!

NAMI Texas Staff

NAMI Awards Dr. Charles L. Bowden

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Robin PeysonExecutive Director, NAMI Texas

We are now taking the steps neededto help NAMI Texas survive andcontinue our important work in thisstate, through supporting the workdone by our Affiliates on the frontlines-providing education, support,and advocacy for individuals withmental illness and their families. In reality, we have an army ofdedicated volunteers across Texas,because our work is done throughall of your efforts! The job of NAMITexas is to do the very best we can to assist you in accomplishingour mission.

We have sent a survey to everyAffiliate President to ask them howwe can do a better job in being ofservice. The Board will use thesesurvey responses to develop anAffiliate leadership trainingprogram. NAMI Texas will thenhold an Affiliate LeadershipTraining on Sunday, October 7, theday after our Annual Conference onOctober 6, 2007. Both of theseevents will be held at the HyattRegency Hotel in Austin, Texas, aconvenient location to the NAMIAustin Walk, which will be held the

Ihave now been ExecutiveDirector of NAMI Texas forslightly over one year, and it has

been a year of challenges andopportunities. I and the Board havebeen busy examining where wehave been, where we need to go,and moving strongly in thatdirection. Please see this issues’column from Lee Burns, Presidentof our Board of Directors, for a moredetailed description of this processand the tools we are using toredefine our strategic priorities.

morning of October 6th, starting onTown Lake, next to the Hyatt Hotel.Our annual conference will be heldfollowing the NAMI Austin walk.

Our hope is that members of theExecutive Committees of everyAffiliate, as well as individuals whoare going to be assuming positionsof leadership in their Affiliate, willplan to participate in this trainingopportunity. NAMI Texas will be intouch with Affiliate Presidents toprovide invitations and additionaldetails in the coming months,following analyses of our surveyresponses.

So save these dates, and come joinus for these events! Thanks for allyour hard work and support.

Summer 2007 NAMI TEXAS 3

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR �

Astra Zeneca International

Pfizer, Inc.

ExpectRecovery.com

Tom and Carolyn Hamilton

Jacqueline Shannon

Swalm Foundation

Our Newsletter

Patrons

Dear NAMI Members,


� FEATURE

As an element of our renewalprocess, I introduced NAMITexas’ Board of Directors to

some of the “Good to Great” conceptsafter reading Jim Collins’ monograph,“Why Business Thinking is Not TheAnswer: Good to Greatand the Social Sectors”1

These concepts hit anerve with me for acouple of reasons.

First, I had heard a lot oftalk about NAMI Texashaving past leaders thatbelieved it should be runmore like a business andsome that felt like thegrass roots origin wouldbe lost or compromisedif it were run like abusiness. Secondly, Ibelieve NAMI is a goodorganization with a longand rich heritage, bringing hope to folksaffected by mental illness, but there isstill much to do. So, moving from goodto great seemed like a good idea to me.The NAMI Texas Board embraced “Good to Great” as a compass to keep us oncourse. The mission remains steady, buthow we make our decisions and how we measure success is being improved.

Jim Collins’ contention is thatnonprofit organizations are not wellserved by looking to business for a

model of success. The real issue is amatter of focusing on a few keyprinciples that successful social sectorsand business sectors have in common.His research was done in the businesssector, but he says that 60% of his

ongoing interactions occurwith social sector nonprofitorganizations.

Jim Collins used structuredinterviews and surveys ofmore than 100 non-profitorganizations to bringtogether five issues thatform the framework of“Good to Great” for SocialSectors. While there areother valuable principles inhis book, I believe one ofthe most helpful principlesfor NAMI Texas isframework called “thehedgehog.”

Mr. Collins says, “that the essence of aHedgehog Concept is to attain piercingclarity about how to produce the bestlong-term results, and then exercisingthe relentless discipline to say, ‘No,thank you’ to opportunities that fail thehedgehog test.”2

The hedgehog framework is best seen as the intersection of three circlesrepresenting “what you are deeplypassionate about, what you can be best

in the world at and what drives yourresource engine.” The hedgehogframework involves focusing onrecognizing, improving and makingdecisions based on these three keys to a nonprofit organization’s success. Iexpect that NAMI Texas will refine andfine-tune each of these over time as theorganization’s leadership learns moreabout the interaction of the three keys.

In his famous essay “The Hedgehog andthe Fox,” Isaiah Berlin divided the worldinto hedgehogs and foxes, based uponan ancient Greek parable: “The foxknows many things, but the hedgehogknows one big thing.”3

More precisely, a Hedgehog Concept is asimple, crystalline concept that flows fromdeep understanding about the intersectionof the following three circles:

1. What you can be the best in the worldat (and, equally important, what youcannot be the best in the world at).This discerning standard goes farbeyond core competence. Just becauseyou possess a core competence doesn’tnecessarily mean you can be the bestin the world at it. Conversely, whatyou can be the best at might not evenbe something in which you arecurrently engaged.

2. What drives your economic engine. Allthe good-to-great companies attainedpiercing insight into how to mosteffectively generate sustained and

NAMI Texas:Good to Great By Lee Burns

Past President, Board of Directors, NAMI Texas

��

The hedgehog

framework involves

focusing on

recognizing,

improving and

making decisions…

1Good to Great and the Social Sectors by Jim Collins, 2005; 2Good to Great and the Social Sectors by Jim Collins, 2005, page 17.; 3Isaiah Berlin, The Hedgehog and the Fox(Chicago: Elephant Paperbacks, 1993).; 4To learn about the origin of the Hedgehog concept, go to: http://www.jimcollins.com


NAMI Texas Board memberresponsibilitiesApril 6, 2007

Last spring Robin Peyson and theBoard of Directors of NAMI Texasasked me to Chair a new Long-TermDevelopment Committee. Themission of this committee is to seekout and recruit high profile peoplein Texas to serve on an AdvisoryBoard, or even on the Board ofDirectors, and to actively lead theorganization in sustaining itselffinancially. This would involvemajor gifts and long-termsubstantial fund generation.

As Robin is aware, I have beendisappointed in the lack ofenthusiasm in members of NAMIand especially members of the Boardabout serving on this committee.

The difficulty in finding folkswilling to serve has led me toponder the mission of NAMI Texasand the organization andresponsibilities of the members ofthe Board of Directors.

It seems to me that the mission andprojects of NAMI Texas have notchanged substantially since February of 2006 when we learned we wereno longer to be included in thegrant monies provided by the TexasDepartment of State Health Services– the major funding source of NAMITexas. This loss of funds has sharplyreduced the ability to execute themission and complete the projects.

NAMI Texas is not the organizationthat it was in 2005. Therefore, it �

robust cash flow and profitability. Inparticular, they discovered the singledenominator—profit per x—that hadthe greatest impact on their economics.(It would be cash flow per x in thesocial sector.)

3. What you are deeply passionate about.The good-to-great companies focusedon those activities that ignited theirpassion. The idea here is not tostimulate passion but to discover what makes you passionate.4

WHAT YOU ARE DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUTSuccess for any organization, non-profitor for-profit, is measured by how well itfulfills the mission. Therefore,predictably the mission is the first key. Ihave been told the NAMI Texas missionis a three-legged stool of Support,Education and Advocacy. Or as I like tosay “bringing hope to Texans affectedby mental illness.” These concepts arenot new but they are simple tounderstand and easy for me to get enthusiastic about.

WHAT MAKES US BEST IN THE WORLDWhat NAMI Texas can be Best in TheWorld at is very similar to the areas

that our affiliates could be Best in theWorld. NAMI Texas can be best in theworld only through its affiliates orthrough support of its affiliates. If we dootherwise, we become like a big affiliate,which is not helpful to our localaffiliates, our members, or NAMI Texas.In fact, acting like a big affiliate createsconfusion, duplication of effort andwastes precious resources. Through eachof our affiliates, NAMI Texas providestraining for support groups, training fortrainers of our educational programsand training for advocacy on mentalillness. This does not mean that we donot do things directly like lobbying atthe state level, which is much moredifficult if an affiliate tried to do italone. More importantly, NAMI Texascan communicate which current bills in the legislature are relevant to ourorganization and how these bills wouldbenefit our members and encourageeach affiliate member to join together to speak in one voice.

WHAT DRIVES YOUR RESOURCE ENGINEThe resource engine of NAMI Texas hasto do with attracting the Time andMoney of our members and buildingthe NAMI Texas Brand so we can attractthe Time and Money of others in ourcommunity. NAMI Texas’ success ismuch dependent on how effectively wedeliver the education, support andadvocacy programs through ouraffiliates. This is how we are able to paythe expenses needed to “bring hope toTexans affected by mental illness.”

The NAMI Texas Board has approvedsome plans for implementing our ownhedgehog. I believe that debating andtalking through the importance offocusing our efforts on activities thatbuild all three circles is important to ourfuture: the passion we each have for�

CONTINUED…See Letter, page 18CONTINUED…See Good to Great, page 16

Letter tothe Editor

FEATURE �


� FEATURE

Below is a paper written by Tyler Clark fora college course he is taking (edited forlength.) I thought it was a great way to tellfolks about who we are and what we do. AsAlice Clark, who is a member of the NAMITexas Board of Directors and his Mom,said, “He really gets it!” Thanks, Tyler.—Robin Peyson

NAMI is dedicated to theeradication of mental illnessesand to the improvement of the

quality of life of all whose lives areaffected by these diseases. NAMI, theNational Alliance on Mental Illness, wasfounded in 1979. NAMI has become thenation’s voice on mental illness, anational organization including NAMIorganizations and affiliates in everystate and in over 1100 localcommunities across the country, whojoin together to meet the NAMI missionthrough advocacy, research, support,and education. NAMI is the nation’slargest grassroots mental healthorganization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with seriousmental illness and their families.

NAMI has advocated for the routineavailability of evidence-based practicesfor the treatment of severe mentalillness, such as assertive communitytreatment, which provides a full rangeof services to consumers around theclock in the community, rather thanhaving mental health services limited totreatment centers. NAMI is a grassrootsorganization, since it is run primarily

by volunteers. However, NAMI regularly receives funding from the pharmaceuticalindustry, which alsoroutinely dovetails itsmarketing messages withNAMI Affiliates inadvocating for thedestigmatization of mental illness.

One of NAMI’s main goalsis to bring awareness to thefact that people can recoverfrom even the most seriousand persistent mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression orbipolar disorder. Studies suggest that90% of individuals recover orsignificantly improve when providedthe appropriate treatments and support systems.

NAMI believes that our nation simplycannot afford to continue to fail ouryouth with mental disorders who needtreatment. The tragic consequences ofour failure to identify youth throughearly assessment and to intervene withappropriate mental health treatmentand services are well documented.About 3,000 youth die every year fromsuicide, 90% of those who commitsuicide have a diagnosable and treatablemental disorder. Screening for thehealth and well being of children is awell-established practice. Children arescreened for vision, lead poisoning,hearing, scoliosis, tuberculosis,

appropriate developmental progress andmore. NAMI believes that mental health

screening is essential toidentify mental illnesses inchildren. Research showsthat early identificationand intervention leads toimproved outcomes andmay lessen long-termdisability.

Dedicated NAMI members,leaders, and friends worktirelessly across all levelsto meet a shared NAMI

mission of support, education,advocacy, and research for people livingwith mental illness through variousactivities, including: public educationand information, family and consumerpeer education and support, advocacyon behalf of people living with mentalillness and for the health of ourcommunities, including visible publicevents that raise funds and awarenesswhile engaging the public.

With the efforts put forth by the NAMImembers and leaders and their missionto support people living with mentalillness, my mom was able to get back onher feet. When my mom’s depressionfinally caught up with her, it took heraway from our family. With the supportof NAMI and its members, my mom wasable to get back on her feet and regainthe relationships she cherished with �

CONTINUED…See Perspective, page 16

NAMI Texas:A Son’s Perspective By Tyler Clark

�

�

NAMI

has become the

nation’s voice in

mental illness…


AFFILIATE CORNER �

NAMI Metropolitan Houston NAMIWalks Kickoff LuncheonMarch 14, 2007 at the Houston City Club

From left: Dan Skarke, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Judy Timson,NAMIWalks Regional Coordinator, Tom Hamilton, NAMIMetropolitan Houston, Warren Karmol, NAMIWalks Director andAshley Montondon, NAMI Metropolitan Houston

NAMI Rockport UpdateIn June NAMI Rockport will celebrating its 10th anniversaryin Aransas County. We are a small group, but a strong one for a town our size (8,500), with 20 paid up members/familiesand frequent guests. Though our meetings average about 15people, our member ratio exceeds that of NAMI’s in most bigTexas cities! We’ve become well known here in our town andget frequent calls from churches and community leaderslooking for help, information and referrals. We were a subsetof NAMI Corpus Christi for 7 years and became an affiliate in 2004.

Our motto is “Help, hope, and understanding for families,consumers and friends.” We also strive to add education andfun to this motto. We are participating in a local Health Fairthis month. We have several “Outings” per year just for recreation and have staged a major “Fun Walk for MentalHealth” together with the local MHMR for the past 9 yearswhich has become an accepted and welcomed event on thecommunity’s calendar. �

NAMI Johnson County EstablishedIn 2004, the Operation Blessing Bipolar Family Support Groupwas founded by our current President, Gloria Jones. Thegroup was the first attempt at meeting support needs forbipolar impacted families in Cleburne, Texas. In late summer2005, long-time NAMI members Faye and Tommy Johnsonmoved into the area. The group, having learned of NAMI, meton October 20, 2005 with Joe Lovelace, then the ExecutiveDirector of NAMI Texas, for a briefing. The meeting resultedin the decision to become a NAMI Affiliate.

Organizational work began at that time and work it was! Thegroup had much to learn about NAMI and also had muchmore to learn about incorporating as a 501(c)3 business entityin these post 9/11 times. November, December and January2006 were spent studying organizational requirementsutilizing the NAMI Affiliate Tool Kit.

Coincidentally, Robin Peyson had now become our newNAMI Texas Executive Director. Initial contact with Robinhelped us understand that we (the Affiliate candidate) wereresponsible for ensuring that the incorporation was achievedand that we fully comply with State and Federal laws andregulations. Organizational guidance was to be achieved withNAMI Texas support.

Even though Robin was new on the scene, she gave us a goodstart. The group soon realized that State/Federal requirementshad stiffened significantly, especially when we learned thatwe could not establish a bank account for the potentialcorporation until after it was formed and approved by the IRS.Figuring that out, we clumsily but resolutely marched on anddid achieve our full approval in October 2006. We wereformally accepted as a NAMI Affiliate at the October Boardmeeting of NAMI Texas.

We are now aware that there are even bigger challenges beforeus, as we struggle to improve and develop. However, for newAffiliates to come, we would recommend obtaining theservices of an Attorney (pro bono, hopefully) and some advicefrom a CPA. Further, state and federal filing fees will runabout $750.00 at the current rates. These tasks are not easy,but it is essential that it be properly done and maintained solong as the corporation is in existence.

NAMI Texas would like to welcome our newestAffiliate, NAMI Johnson County, to the NAMI family!

By Bill Roberts, President of NAMI Johnson County

CONTINUED…See Rockport Update, page 16


� EDUCATION

For years I have heard that theFamily To Family curriculum (FTF) and Visions For Tomorrow

(VFT) were similar in the informationprovided. I never thought much aboutthat since it was always explained to me that FTF was for families with adultchildren and VFT is for families withsmall children and adolescents. Thisseemed self-explanatory to me and Itruly did not give it a lot of thought.Since becoming responsible for the VFT program and the direction it isgoing, however, it occurred to me thatknowing the differences was importantto me and how well I performed my job.

So I sat down with a few of the VFTteachers who are also FTF teachers and I asked them to tell me what theythought – “Were there any differencesin the two curriculums and if so, whatare they?”

The answers were enlightening. Whileboth curriculums teach about braindisorders, FTF teaches schizophrenia,major depression, bipolar disorder(manic depression), panic disorder,obsessive-compulsive disorder, andborderline personality disorder. VFTteaches these disorders as well, alongwith ADHD, ODD, Conduct Disorder,RAD, Autism, Tourette’s Syndrome,Anxiety Disorders including PostTraumatic Stress Disorder and EatingDisorders. Along with the additionaldisorders, the symptoms in thesedisorders are much different at times foryoung children compared to adults andthe issues affect not just how successful

these children are in school but howthey develop mentally, socially andsometimes physically. These issues areaddressed in the VFT workshops.

Both curriculums teach about brainbiology, problem solving, have exercisesfor developing empathy andcommunications skills. VFT has aprogressive communication workshopthat incorporates Neuro-Linguistictechniques for additional communicationskills that are not featured in FTF.

VFT also addresses issues such as theJuvenile Justice System, schools, andtransition stages from childhood intoadolescents into adulthood. VFT alsohas Workshops that discuss not just the different types of therapies but also alternative methods of treatments.Not to forget the families’ needs, thereis a section not just for coping for theindividuals but also for the marriage itself.

After my conversations with theseteachers, I was reassured that FTF andVFT, while having common goals ofhelping the families and encouragingempathy and advocacy, have somemajor differences. The main reason forthis is the families have major needsthat are different because mental illness,while debilitating in all ages, affects �

Visions for Tomorrowand Family-To-Family:A ComparisonBy Deborah Rose, Visions for Tomorrow, National Program Director

CONTINUED…See Visions, page 18

New NAMITexas BoardMembersPlease welcome two new membersto the NAMI Texas Board.Appointed by the Board to fillvacancies, they will fill thesepositions now, and run for electionnext October.

Karen Garber is new to Texas,having moved here from Pensacola,Florida, last year. She has beeninvolved with NAMI for over 10years, and is a NAMI Family-to-Family State Trainer and Family-to-Family Provider Trainer. She is theoriginator of the NAMI Family-to-Family Overview for the Providercommunity. She is currentlyExecutive Director of the BrazosValley Community Action Agency,Inc. and lives in Bryan, Texas.

Lisa Tomaka is from El Paso and isnew to NAMI Texas. She wasDirector of the SAMHSA Systems ofCare Border Children’s MentalHealth Collaborative from 2003 to2006. Prior to that, she was theChildren’s Director of LifeManagement Center’s Child andAdolescent Mental Health Programin El Paso (MHMR.) She is aLicensed Professional Counselor,and is currently pursuing herMasters of Public Administration atthe University of Texas at El Paso.


EDUCATION �

Stigma is a major obstacle to people seeking and receivingtreatment. This is especially true for children andadolescents with mental illness. However, in any given

year, less than 1 in 5 of these children receive needed treatment.

In addition, mental illness in adolescents is linked to suicide,alcohol and drug use, and school violence. Yet mental illness isthe least understood topic in classrooms today. Often, schoolpersonnel lack information on the importance of earlyidentification and treatment; when children and adolescents getearly treatment, recovery is accelerated and the brain isprotected from further harm related to the course of a mentalillness. With a better understanding of mental illness, we canreduce the incidence of these problems.

In response to these needs, three veteran teachers from NewYork, who are also mothers of children with serious mentalillness, conceived the idea of developing lesson plans to teachstudents about serious mental illness. In 1991, along withcommittee members from their local NAMI Affiliate, theycreated lessons that grew out of their personal experience bothas parents and teachers, for use in schools with teachers andcounselors.

In the summer of 2006, NAMI Texas approached NAMI Austinand the Austin Independent School Districts Director of SpecialEducation to collaborate on a grant proposal to bring Breakingthe Silence to all school counselors, special education staff, aswell as staff from Communities in Schools. When the grantproposal was not funded, Catherine Weaver, President of NAMIAustin, and the AISD stepped up to the plate, providing supportfor the adage “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

As a result, in November, 2006, with funding from NAMIAustin, Sondra Helweg and I, both members of NAMI Austin,provided training to all middle and high school AISD counselorsin Breaking the Silence during a school in-service. Sondra is acounselor at Bowie High School, AISD, as well as being a teacherof the NAMI education programs, Family-To-Family, and Visionsfor Tomorrow. She has also been honored as the Counselor ofthe Year at Bowie High School. She brings passion andcommitment to her work, and also serves on the NAMI Austin’sEducation Committee.

Breaking the Silence was well received and counselors attendingengaged in enthusiastic dialogue on how to use this program intheir schools. They identified many creative ways to use thesematerials with their students, and are excited about theexpected impact. The hope is that this training will continueannually, establishing this education as an integral part ofAISD’s in-service training. �

Implementing Breaking the Silence in Austin ISDBy Norma Bangs, Family Education Coordinator

Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families,Patients, and Providers(5th Edition)

Since its first publication in 1983, Surviving Schizophreniahas helped thousands understand this complex and oftenstigmatized illness. In clear, sympathetic language, thisdefinitive book describes the nature, causes, symptoms,and history of schizophrenia, taking readers inside theminds of those living with the disease.

This completely updated fifth edition includes the latest research findings, information about the newesttreatments, and answers to the questions most oftenasked by families, patients, and providers.

“A comprehensive, realistic, and compassionateapproach… Should be of tremendous value to anyonewho must confront these questions.” – Psychology Times

“E. Fuller Torrey is a brilliant writer. There is no onewriting on psychology today whom I would rather read.”– Los Angeles Times

Just Released!


� EDUCATION

Peer to Peer Classes in Austin, Houstonand Monahans began this year!

Peer-to-Peer is a unique, experientiallearning program for people with anyserious mental illness who are interestedin establishing and maintaining theirwellness and recovery.

The course was written by KathrynCohan McNulty, a person with apsychiatric disability who is also a formerprovider and manager in the mentalhealth field and a longtime mutualsupport group member and facilitator.

An advisory board comprised of NAMIconsumer members, in consultation withJoyce Burland, Ph.D., author of thesuccessful NAMI Family-to-FamilyEducation program, helped guide thecurriculum’s development.

Since 2005, NAMI’s Peer-to-Peer RecoveryProgram has been supported byAstraZeneca.

Peer-to-Peer consists of nine two-hourunits and is taught by a team of threetrained “Mentors” who are personallyexperienced at living well with mentalillness.

Mentors are trained in weekend-longtraining sessions, supplied with teachingmanuals, and are paid a stipend for eachcourse they teach.

Participants come away from the coursewith a binder of hand-out materials, aswell as many other tangible resources: anadvance directive; a “relapse preventionplan” to help identify tell-tale feelings,thoughts, behavior, or events that maywarn of impending relapse and toorganize for intervention; mindfulnessexercises to help focus and calmthinking; and survival skills for workingwith providers and the general public.

By Ashley MontondonPeer to Peer Mentor and State Trainer

Houston’s first ever NAMI Peer-to-PeerRecovery Education Course for consumersjust wrapped up in April, 2007. Over anine week period, participants in theclass shared common experiences,developed personalized relapseprevention plans, and learned copingstrategies and relationship skills.

This first class brought together adiverse group of consumers, who haveexperienced a wide range of mentalillnesses, from all over the Houstonarea. As class members related theirstories, they recognized and discussedthe trauma they had experienced as aresult of their illnesses. This sharing

opportunity created a unique bond, and participants were able to share theirinsights, perspectives, and compassionwith one another. As class membersconnected, everyone helped lift andsupport each other to a higher level of recovery.

Our goal at NAMI MetropolitanHouston is to extend this education and support to anyone who wants todevelop skills and tools for recovery.The next Peer-to-Peer course will beginin May, and we want registrants! Justcall NAMI Metro Houston at 713-970-3455 or Ashley Montondon at 281-441-1312 for more details and to get on thelist of class attendees. Expect Recovery!with NAMI Metropolitan Houston’s newPeer-to-Peer class.

Peer to Peer Classes Begin!

New Recovery Tool for Houstonians

Grants UpdateTEXAS CENTER FOR THE JUDICIARYNAMI Texas submitted a proposal to theTexas Center for the Judiciary in January,and it has been accepted. We are honoredto be sponsoring a mental health track atthe next annual judicial training, held inGalveston every September.

Presenters and their topics will be BrianShannon, speaking on criminalcompetency proceedings and the insanitydefense; Judge Polly Jackson Spencer,speaking on the Mental Health CrisisIntervention model implemented in SanAntonio; Judge Nancy Hohengarten,speaking on the experience of TravisCounty as a Mental Health Learning Sitethrough the GAINS Center for JailDiversion and as a test site for the MentalHealth Cost Simulation Tool through theCouncil on State Governments, and JohnSnook from the Treatment AdvocacyCenter, discussing Texas laws and assistedoutpatient treatment, and what otherstates are doing in this area. This trainingis being made possible through thesupport of the Swalm Foundation.

INCLUSION GRANTNAMI Texas also submitted a proposal, in collaboration with NAMI SanAntonio and NAMI MetropolitanHouston, to NAMI National for anInclusion Grant. Our grant wasaccepted, and will provide financialsupport to these Affiliates to continueimplementation of their faith-basedoutreach efforts, which began in 2006.

This grant will also provide start-up minigrants to up to five additional Affiliates inTexas who are ready to implement faith-based outreach efforts in theircommunities. Interested Affiliates havebeen asked to submit applications toNAMI Texas for review and evaluation bya committee made up of representativesof Affiliates and the Executive Director ofNAMI Texas. Successful applicants will benotified by May 1, 2007.


THROUGH MY WINDOW �

Why can’t life…By Stacie K.

Why can’t life be just

daises and butterflies

A nice drive down an

old country road

in an old pick up truck

Why can’t the weather

be cold in the winter and

springtime in the summer

I’d like to just go somewhere

Anywhere

I’d like to take a canoe

across a nice quiet lake

Feel the grass under my feet

without the worry of

spiders and snakes

A hot air balloon ride

over rolling hills

And just why can’t we

have our cake and eat it too

Who made up all the rules

Why must we do so much

to travel such a short distance

Why can’t we all get along

and dance through out the streets

Why must we drink,

smoke or take a pill

just to take on the daily rigors of life

I wait, not so patiently,

to have a daises and butterflies life

One where we get along

One in which we don’t

need assistance

taking on life’s bumble bees

Maybe one day

Maybe in another life

or in another dimension

these will be our daily life

and then again… maybe not

Boots drawing �

by JerleneKennedy

By Jeanine Hayes Director of the Iris Place Singers

I am so proud of the consumers whohave joined together to expressthemselves through music. The Iris PlaceSingers is a group of volunteers fromPLAN of North Texas, Inc. who havebeen asked to sing at many differentfunctions such as NAMI, Dallas, PLANannual meetings, conferences, EddieDeen’s Celebration for Recovery, DallasCity Hall and The Meyerson.

We are always looking for new memberswho love music and who want to be partof a supportive group. As consumers, weshare a common bond and use our musicto communicate our feelings, thoughtsand messages of hope for all. �

Music is Food for the Soul Recovery

By Kinike Bermudez

Recovery Nowis living in the PresentReleasing the Past.

Recovery meansPutting into actionReleasing all Fears.

Recovery GrowsEach time I leave my comfort zone,Releasing all Doubts.

Recovery soars When I find joy and comfort.Releasing all Hope.

Recovery lifts me highbeyond my expectationsRemoving all Barriers.

CONTINUED…See Music, page 17

Phot

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Llo

yd W

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Crazy: A Father’s Search ThroughAmerica’s Mental Health Madness

NAMI Austin, in cooperation with The University of Texas School of SocialWork, is pleased to announce an upcoming event you won’t want to miss.Mark your calendar and make plans to join us on Sunday afternoon, May 6, to hear author/journalist Pete Earley speak about the state of our nation’smental health system. A panel discussion will follow Earley’s presentation.Panelists include Charles L. Bowden, MD, Karren Professor of Psychiatry,The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; Susan Stone,MD, JD, a general and forensic psychiatrist in private practice and also anattorney/consultant; and Joe Vesowate, Assistant Commissioner for MentalHealth Substance Abuse Services, Texas Department of State Health Services.

This program is open to the public at no charge but seating is limited. Toreserve a seat, please call the NAMI Austin office at (512) 420-9810 today.

NAMI Texas, Austin Area MHC, Inc., Austin State Hospital, Austin TravisCounty MHMR Center, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Texas,Mental Health America in Texas, PLAN of Central Texas, Seton Shoal CreekHospital, St. David’s Community Health Foundation, Texas Mental HealthConsumers, and The Texas Federation of Psychiatry are event co-sponsors.

When Pete Earley’s son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it sent him on an effort not only to get his son properly diagnosed and treated, but tounderstand the nation’s mental health system. Earley’s book about the expe-rience is Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness.

“I had no idea what it was like to be on the inside looking out…until my son,Mike, was declared mentally ill” said Earley.

“The jacket of Pete Earley’s book Crazy is dramatic and desperate: a facelessyoung man hunches in the fetal position under the words of the subtitle.

Earley, a seasoned former investigative reporter for the Washington Post, drew inspiration for Crazy fromhis experiences with his son Mike’s evolving bipolaraffective disorder. The already embattled mentalhealth system may assume that Crazy will be yetanother attack on treatment providers, who face a near-impossible mission when confronted by exigencies such as limited insurance coverage anddeclining inpatient bed space. Nothing could befurther from the truth. In Crazy, Earley provides aremarkable and fresh look at the US mental healthsystem. He does so in a balanced, honest, self-reflective, and informed way. ” – The Journal of theAmerican Medical Association

In June 2006, Pete answeredquestions and discussed thefindings in his book during a twohour session at the NAMI NationalConvention in Washington D.C.

“People with severe mental disor-ders should not have to becomecriminals in order to get meaning-ful treatment,” Earley declared.

He warned the audience that300,000 persons with severe mental disorders are currentlybeing held in jails and prisons,another 500,000 are on probation,and 700,000 go through the courtsystem each year.

He called on NAMI membersnationwide to help demandreforms that would stop jails andprisons from being used as ournew mental asylums.

Visit Pete Earley’s website to readthe first chapter from his book,hear an audio interview, and learnmore about the impact his book is having on the nation.

Website: www.peteearley.com

Sunday, May 6, 2007 at 3 pmThompson Conference Center AuditoriumThe University of Texas at AustinSW Corner of Dean Keeton & Red RiverVisit www.namiaustin.org for more information.

NAMI Austin (National Alliance on Mental Illness) – offering support, education and advocacy for mental health recoveryMailing Address: P.O. Box 50434, Austin, Texas 78763 | Phone: 512.420.9810 | Website: www.namiaustin.org


ADVOCACY �

In most states, treatment interventions are no longer limitedto inpatient hospitalization. Most jurisdictions now permitassisted outpatient treatment (AOT). Assisted outpatient

treatment is court ordered treatment (including medication) forindividuals who have a history of medication noncompliance,as a condition of remaining in the community. Typically,violation of the court-ordered conditions can result in theindividual being hospitalized for further treatment.

Forty-two state statutes permit assisted outpatient treatment.(Only Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, NewJersey, New Mexico, Nevada, and Tennessee do not.) Studies andreal-world implementation show that AOT reduces arrests,incarcerations, violence, and homelessness. It also reduceshospitalization and improves treatment compliance.

AOT reduces hospitalization. A randomized controlledstudy in North Carolina demonstrated that intensive routineoutpatient services alone, without a court order, did not reducehospital admission. When the same level of services (at leastthree outpatient visits per month with a median of 7.5 visits permonth) were combined with long-term AOT (six months ormore), hospital admissions for those with schizophreniaand their psychotic disorders were reduced 72 percentand length of hospital stay by 28 days compared withindividuals without court-ordered treatment. The participants inthe North Carolina study were from both urban and ruralcommunities and “generally did not view themselves asmentally ill or in need of treatment.” Data from the New YorkOffice of Mental Health on the first five years ofimplementation of Kendra’s Law indicate that of thoseparticipating, 77 percent fewer experiencedhospitalization.

AOT improves treatment compliance. In New York, thenumber of individuals exhibiting good service engagementincreased by 51 percent, and the number of individualsexhibiting good adherence to medication increased by103 percent. In North Carolina, only 30 percent of patients onAOT orders refused medication during a six-month periodcompared to 66 percent of patients not on AOT orders. In Ohio,AOT increased compliance with outpatient psychiatricappointments from 5.7 to 13.0 per year; it also increased

attendance at day treatment sessions from 23 to 60 per year.AOT also promotes long-term voluntary treatment compliance.In Arizona, “71 percent [of AOT patients]… voluntarilymaintained treatment contacts six months after theirorders expired” compared with “almost no patients” whowere not court ordered to outpatient treatment. In Iowa “itappears as though outpatient commitment promotes treatmentcompliance in about 80 percent of patients while they are onoutpatient commitment. After commitment is terminated,about three-quarters of that group remained in treatment on avoluntary basis.” �

Assisted OutpatientTreatment (AOT)Reprinted from the Spring 2006 issue of Catalyst,

Treatment Advocacy Center

The purpose of the Texas Jail Diversion/Incarcerated VetsCommittee is “to seek means and methods of collaborationbetween the agencies and organizations of the VeteransHealth Care System and the agencies and organizations of thestate of Texas in order to improve the treatment of themedically and mentally ill, those individuals with traumaticbrain injuries, and/or substance abusers who come in contactwith the Texas Criminal justice System”. Special attention isbeing given to collaborative efforts between the VeteransHealth Care System and the Texas Correctional Office onOffenders with Medical and Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI)and with the local MHMR Jail Diversion Committeesmandated under HB 2292.

The Committee is hosted and facilitated by NAMI Texas. Itsmembership is made up of representatives from the VeteransHealth Care System, TCOOMMI, the Texas Department ofState Health Services, University of Houston School of PublicHealth, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Corporation forNational & Community Services, Texas TBI Advisory Council,NAMI National Board, and NAMI Texas.The Committee firstmet on October 25, 2005 and continues to meet on a regularbasis.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between theVeterans Health Care System VISN 16, VISN 17 and VISN 18and TCOOMMI has been approved. This MOU allows forappropriate information to be shared between the VA and�

Texas Jail Diversion/Incarcerated VetsCommitteeBy Maurice Dutton, TCOOMMI Representative

CONTINUED…See Jail, page 16


� ADVOCACY

• 250 Probation Residential andTreatment Beds: $5.6 million (peryear) to local probation departments(CSCDs) for 250 additional residentialtreatment/mentally ill beds. Theseadditional residentialtreatment/mentally ill offender bedswill serve 625 offenders per year. Thebeds are divided into 125 residentialtreatment beds for substance abuseoffenders and 125 residential beds foroffenders with mental illness. Theadditional treatment and residentialoptions would provide judges withmore alternatives to incarceration,both as a sentencing option and analternative to revocation.

In addition, NAMI Texas has developedPublic Policy Positions on the following:• Transportation of Psychiatric

Patients• Assisted Outpatient Treatment• Scope of Practice and the

Treatment of PsychiatricPatients

• Death Penalty Issues

Due to our current limited resources,NAMI Texas has not been as active thisLegislative session. However, throughclose collaboration with other advocacyorganizations, including Mental HealthAmerica in Texas, Depression BipolarSupport Alliance, Texas Society ofPsychiatric Physicians and Advocacy,Inc, our voices are being heard.

• Support the Health and HumanServices Commission exceptionalitems for $31.5 Million: to reduceprogram waiting lists and fund forpopulation growth for adults andchildren seeking mental healthservices and supports additionalfunding of $60,000,000 to increase by1% the number of eligible Adults andChildren served by Resiliency andDisease Management.

• Support additional funding forcommunity based treatment of thementally ill offender who has come incontact with the Texas CriminalJustice System.

NAMI Texas also supports theexceptional items of the TexasDepartment of Criminal Justice, asfollows:

• Mental Health – Pre-Trial andJail Diversions: $5 million (per year)through TCOOMMI to providemental health services, medications,and continuity of care to defendantsin local jails. Art. 17.032, Texas Codeof Criminal Procedure, requiresmagistrates to release certain allegedoffenders with mental illness onpersonal bond pending furthercriminal proceedings. The release ismandatory unless “good cause isshown otherwise.” Many magistratesare reluctant to release those chargedwith non-violent felonies unless post-release treatment is assured. Thedollars will fund services for 1500offenders a year who have a mentalillness, are charged with a non-violentfelony and are in jail.

• The Legislative AppropriationRequest by the Department ofState Health Services: As the firstpriority, NAMI Texas will support theDSHS LAR and the request for CrisesRedesign funding, after reinstating the10% reduction to the budget.

• Insurance Parity for MentalIllnesses: NAMI Texas will supportthe efforts to achieve Mental HealthInsurance Equity.

• Amending the Insanity Defense:During past legislative sessions,various “fixes” have been undertakento bolster the NGRI Insanity Defense.Two important issues remain thatwould make the defense muchstronger and provide some additionalsafeguards for both the jury and thedefendant: 1) Informing the jury ofthe consequences of a person beingjudged NGRI, and 2) changing thewording of “know” to “appreciate.”(Under the present insanity defense,juries are only allowed to considerwhether the defendant understoodthat his or her actions were legallywrong at the time of the offense. Thisstandard does not allow considerationof the fact that a person with a severemental illness may be aware thatfamily or society would consider hisor her behavior illegal, but may notbe able to appreciate the moral aspectof the behavior and/or conform his orher behavior to the requirements ofthe law.) A Law Review article is being published by Texas Tech Schoolof Law that will be distributed tolegislators.

NAMI TEXAS Public Policy Priorities for the Legislative Session

May is not only Mental Health month,it is also the 70th anniversary ofRecovery, Inc.

Since 1937, Recovery, Inc. (RI), hasprovided a self-help mental healthMethod that has helped peoplethroughout North America and abroad.(RI) is an international, non-profitcommunity service organization thatwas founded by the late Abraham Low,M.D., who developed the self-helpmethod after many years of research,study and treatment of patients.

People from all walks of life come toRecovery meetings because they share acommon problem: nervous symptomsand fears. Some are under the care ofdoctors or other health care providers,while others simply have read or heardabout us from a friend or relative.

RI's practical coping techniques canhelp people struggling with nervoussymptoms that include depression,anxiety, anger or stress. Many peoplealso get help for symptoms such asheart palpitations, dizziness, shortnessof breath, sweats, fatigue, headaches,numbness, chest pressure and sleepproblems. Some people have fears ofbeing alone or of crowds or people,traveling, closed or open spaces, eating,chocking and especially fear of makingmistakes. Others have obsessions,compulsions, phobias or unsettlingthoughts or sensations.

At the weekly meetings, members learnhow to identify and manage negativethoughts, reactions, beliefs andbehaviors that lead to emotional pain

and disturbing physical complaintswhich have no physical cause. You canlearn the Method by attending groupmeetings regularly; studying Dr. Low'sauthoritative works, and practicing theRecovery principles in your daily life.

The organization has been completelymember-managed since 1952. Volunteerleaders, who are experienced membersof the group and have receivedleadership training, are our groupleaders. The Method can be used on itsown, or in conjunction withprofessional help or medication.

All you need to do to get started is toattend a meeting. There is noregistration, appointment or waitingnecessary. If you wish, you may bring asupportive friend or relative with you tothe meeting. There is no fee to attendmeetings. A voluntary collection istaken at each meeting and annualmemberships are available.

We're in the phone book, or you canwrite to RI's International Headquartersat 802 North Dearborn Street, Chicao,Illinois 60610 or call (312) 337-5661.For N. Texas, contact Sarah Grant Reid:(972) 243-6748. Other information anda complete list of group meeting placescan also be found by visiting our website at www.recovery-inc.org.

For 70 years, Recovery, Inc. has helpedmillions of people to get well and staywell – to live a balanced life. �

Happy Anniversary,Recovery, Inc.!By Sarah Grant Reid


Executive Director ..................Robin Peyson

Consumer Education Coordinator ..............................Diana Kern

Family Education Coordinator ..........................Norma Bangs

Office Manager, Membership Coordinator ........Kelly Jeschke

Office Assistant ......................Kristalle Jaime

The NAMI Texas News is published two timesa year by the National Alliance on MentalIllness of Texas, Fountain Park Plaza III, 2800South IH 35, Ste. 140, Austin, TX 78704.Phone: (512) 693-2000.

Managing Editor ........................Diana Kern

Art Director ..........................Donna BrownBella Graphic Design, Inc.

This newsletter does not offer medical advice.Readers should seek advice from qualifiedprofessionals.

NAMI Texas is a grassroots, family and consumerself-help, support, education and advocacyorganization dedicated to improving the lives ofpersons with serious mental illness. Serious mentalillnesses are biologically based brain disorders thatcan profoundly disrupt a person’s ability to think,feel and relate to their environment and others.

NAMITexas Staff


JAIL continued

TCOOMMI so that veterans can be referred from the TexasCriminal Justice System to the Veterans Health Care System forservices (continuity of care). The Department of State HealthServices also has issued a memo to all Regional MHMR Centersrecommending that they invite representatives from VA HealthCare Centers and Clinics to be members of their local JailDiversion Committees. A memo also has been sent by VISN 17to all of their Health Care Centers and Clinics recommendingthat they send representatives to the local Jail DiversionCommittees.

Five VA pilot sites have been set up to work with TCOOMMIand the local Jail Diversion committees. They are located inDallas, Waco, San Antonio, Houston and El Paso. They are todevelop appropriate policies and procedures that can be refinedand used as “best practices” for other locations to emulate. TheVA sites also will identify contact individuals and services to beprovided to the veterans who come in contact with the TexasCriminal Justice System. �

For additional information, please contact Maurice Dutton [email protected].

ROCKPORT UPDATE continued

We didn’t get where we are without lots of support fromNAMI Corpus Christi, our community and Coastal PlainsMHMR. We were encouraged by ACCESS, a local non-profitcounseling service, the Chamber of Commerce, and given lotsof help by Coastal Plains MHMR & our local clinic. They helpus by letting us run copies, enable mailings and solveproblems as they arise. Without Charles Sportsman, GeorgeMarriott, Kay Pickett and Andrea Tippett we would beswimming in icy waters! MHMR staff and management andlocal counselors frequently speak at out meetings. Withouttheir support we couldn’t make it.

Our group is made up of people with lots of enthusiasm andget up and go – well distributed among consumers and familymembers. Our meetings are well attended – we have a callingcommittee of two who make calls before each gathering; wehave 6 board members who put in lots of hours and are therewhen needed. Last summer Jowell Hearn and Lou Ann Garciawere trained to give IOOV presentations (In Our Own Voice)and have made 7 to date. Lou Ann participated in making aNAMI National’s radio commercial that has now been releasednationally.

By Nina Shannon, President of NAMI Rockport

PERSPECTIVE continued

her family. What makes the NAMI organization so successfulis the way it takes the people it once helped and encouragesthem to help people that have the same problems they do.

My mom now teaches classes at support groups and providesresources for people with the same problems she once had.NAMI gave my mom a chance to get her life together andwithout NAMI, I wouldn’t have the same mom I have today.My mom always tells me that she doesn’t regret all the badthings that have happened to her while fighting herdepression, because she finally found what her calling in lifewas and that’s helping people. Helping people like my momgain back control of their life is the reward of all the hardwork and time that the leaders and members of NAMIsacrifice. Mental illnesses will never be fully curable, but withthe help of NAMI, life for people with a mental illness will bea more productive one. �

GOOD TO GREAT continued

people affected by mental illness; the training, tools andinfrastructure to support our mission effectively with themost accomplished for the invested funds; and finally theresources necessary as the input needed to make it all work.The time, money and brand are just like the gas in our cars.Gas is needed to get the car running but once running youcan go places and accomplish things. The time, money andbrand allow NAMI Texas to accomplish our mission, andwhen the resources allow us to perform the activities thatdrive the passion of our members and community, it drawsmore resources. More resources allow more to be done forthose that can not do for themselves.

With the focus, I believe that NAMI Texas will be successfulon its path to renewal. �

Lee Burns served as Board President from October 2006 to April 14th, 2007.


NAMI awards Dr. Charles L. BowdenMental Health Research Award

For his research on Bipolar Disorder, Professor Dr. CharlesL. Bowden received a $50,000 award from the NationalAlliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at the Second AnnualNAMI Research Gala on October 18, 2006 in WashingtonDC. The award was presented to Dr. Bowden fromAcademy Award winning actress Patty Duke.

The 2006 Mind of America Scientific Research Awardrecognizes a scientist whose research has led to a greaterunderstanding of mental illness. Dr. Bowden is a world-

renowned professor, researcher and doctor, authoring and editing more than300 publications, publishing seven textbooks, and serving as the principalinvestigator for over 70 studies. His work focuses mainly on the symptoms andcharacteristics of bipolar disorder and the effectiveness of mood stabilizingmedication.

“Dr. Bowden is a leader in his field and we hope that by giving him this award,it will inspire other researchers to follow his example in helping to forge auniversal understanding and acknowledgment of mental illness,” said AnnPincus, co-chair of the NAMI 2006 Research Gala. Other co-chairs of the eventwere Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA), and KayRedfield Jamison. Patty Duke was the Honorary Chair of the event.

Dr. Bowden is the Nancy U. Karren Professor in the Department of Psychiatry atthe University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio. He is active innumerous professional societies and on editorial boards including those for the‘Journal of Bipolar Disorder and Essential Psychopharmacology’.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Bowden thanked the Advisory Committee, stating,“This is just the beginning of where we need to be for mental health research – Ihope that someday, mental health research will be a top priority for our nation.”

In addition to being a member of the Board of Trustees of the AmericanPsychiatric Association, Dr. Bowden is also editor-in-chief of “Medscape MentalHealth”, part of Medscape, Inc., the most referenced electronic medicaldatabase in the world. Dr. Bowden is listed among the “Best Doctors in theU.S.” in the area of mood disorders.

Also in attendance at the Gala were Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), MichaelFitzpatrick, NAMI Executive Director, author Kay Redfield Jamison, formerfootball star Ken Harvey, Al Hunt, artist Judy Collins, and the director of theNational Institute of Mental Health, Thomas Insel.

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated toimproving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and theirfamilies. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mentalillness, a national organization including NAMI organizations in every state andin over 1100 local communities across the country who join together to meetthe NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education.

MUSIC continued

I personally have been able to draw onmy experience with music. It challengesand sustains me. I began taking pianolessons when I was six and continuedthrough college. The onset off my illnessbegan at age 24 and my life changeddramatically. Music was put on hold formany years. That’s why I’m glad to use itnow. I feel like I am waking up musically.

Music is the window to the world. It canbe very moving. I have found over theyears that music is extremely therapeutic.Music helps people with a mental illnessto feel free to express themselves. Evenwith psychosis, music seems to lift theveil of confusion and pain of oneexperiences. Music is a language. It is away to communicate to others. I soothesthe most stressful situations. There is acalming, less anxious, less anxiety filledmotivation. The music directs us. It tellsus what to do and how to do it.

I feel so grateful to be able to work withfriends, colleagues, and fellowconsumers. We live with this mentalillness but it does not have to get usdown. Anything is possible and I haveseen some wonderful results from peoplewho have something to say and whocare. I feel excited about our Iris PlaceSingers. They have come a very long wayand I am proud of them.

As we go through life’s journey, may westop, listen and hear the harmony fromwithin. It will help to open our heartsand minds in educating, empoweringand erasing once and for all the stigmaof mental illness.

We can accomplish this together!


LETTER continued

is my belief that the make-up and the responsibilities of theBoard of Directors must change to reflect the current needs ofthe organization.

Members of the Board of Directors must, today and in the future, be very sensitive to and aggressive in meetingthe challenges facing the organization. No longer can Boardmembers be passive in their service, coming to Boardmeetings, when convenient, and not actively serving on thecommittees that must do the work of the organization.

I feel that at least one or two Board members need notnecessarily be family members or Consumers. Rather, theyshould be high profile Texans who are familiar with anddedicated to sustaining the financial strength of NAMI Texas.As you have said, more and more foundations will not fundnon-profits who do not have community leaders on theirboards.

In the future, NAMI Texas should be careful about seekingBoard members from those who are actively leading LocalAffiliates. We must always remember, the Local Affiliate is thebackbone of NAMI and NAMI Texas. NAMI Texas should notweaken Local Affiliates by recruiting their leadership withoutmaking sure qualified people are left to replace them. LocalAffiliates should be encouraged to train future leaders – muchlike Dallas did a few years ago and Austin is starting to do.

Leaders of NAMI Texas must understand and be willing todevote the time and talent required of the positions for whichthey agree to serve.

You wrote, “Being a leader of our organization at this criticaljuncture is a major responsibility and not one to be enteredinto lightly.” I could not agree more. I urge the NominatingCommittee to seek the type of leadership that NAMI Texas sorichly deserves and urgently need.

Sincerely, Ed Kuny

VISIONS continued

people differently depending on their age. And while childrenare young and living in the home, you have the issues ofsiblings and their needs, schools and how to help the child besuccessful, then how to help the child transition intoadulthood. All the while, you are trying to keep the familyintact and see to the needs of everyone, not forgetting that thefamily did not give up it’s life as individuals or as a unit.

I think it is obvious that FTF and VFT BOTH provide a much-needed service in similar arenas. Many of the teachers agreeand are so dedicated they are now volunteering to teach bothcurriculums. These teachers represent to me the hope of thefuture as they bring to our younger families their wisdom and joy of living. In the meantime, let’s get the families thehelp they need that is best suited to them. There is a need formore than one curriculum any place there is mental illness. If you have families with young children who are in need, we can help. �

For more information, please visit: http://www.namitexasvft.com/

Save the Dates!NAMI Dallas NAMIWalksMay 5, 2007Band Shell, Fair Park

NAMI Metropolitan Houston NAMIWalksMay 5, 2006Sam Houston Park

NAMI Austin NAMIWalks October 6, 2007Auditorium Shores

NAMI Texas will hold our ANNUALCONFERENCE on Saturday, October 6, 2007,after the NAMI Austin Walk! Look for moredetails in the coming months on our website at www.namitexas.org. We will have a one dayconference this year.

On Sunday, October 7, 2007, we will hold anAffiliate Leadership Training, so stay tuned foradditional information on this excitingopportunity.

ANNOUNCES OUR FIRST ANNUAL FUNDRAISER JUNE JEWELRY EXTRAVAGANZA!!

--------------------------------------------------------------- Who: THE NAMI TEXAS FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE IS

HAVING A JEWELRY AUCTION ON eBAY

What: WE ARE COLLECTING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S JEWELRY – SEMIPRECIOUS STONES, SILVER, GOLD, ANTIQUE, COSTUME, RETRO, AND HANDMADE WATCHES, RINGS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES, EARINGS AND CUFF LINKS

Where: FROM EVERYWHERE, FROM ANYONE – YOU, YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR CO-WORKERS, MEMBERS OF YOUR FAITH

COMMUNITY AND YOUR SUPPORT GROUPS - YOU SEND IT IN – WE’LL DO THE WORK

When: WE ARE COLLECTING JEWELRY BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 7TH. DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE WE WILL

AUCTION THE JEWELRY ON eBAY

Why: TO RAISE MONEY WHICH WILL ENABLE NAMI TEXAS TO CONTINUE TO BRING HOPE AND RECOVERY THROUGH EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY TO TO TEXANS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS

How: GO TO www.namitexas.org, DOWNLOAD THE DONATION FORM, SIGN IT AND SEND IT WITH YOUR JEWELRY DONATION. YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD DIRECTIONS ON “HOW TO BID ON eBAY” FROM THE NAMI TEXAS WEBSITE

SEND ALL JEWELRY TO: PATTI HAYNES 3718 DRAKESTONE AVE ROWLETT, TX 75088

For questions, contact Patti at [email protected] or 972-475-4786

ALL JEWELRY MUST BE SENT TO PATTI HAYNES BY MAY 7, 2007 DON’T FORGET TO BID ON THE JEWELRY DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE ON eBAY!!

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE PAID

AUSTIN, TXPERMIT NO. 3441Fountain Park Plaza III

2800 S. IH35, Suite 140Austin, TX 78704

To find a NAMI Texas affiliate in your area, call 1-800-633-3760 or visit www.namitexas.org

The State’s Voice on Mental Illness

NAMI TEXAS DEPENDS UPON

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

Check choice or fill in your own amount:

� $1,000 or more � $500 � $250 � $100

� $50 � $25 � Other .

$ In memory of

From

$ In memory of

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$ In memory of

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MEMBERSHIPS� Family/Individual $35

� Professional $75 � Corporate $1,000

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Phone

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Send your Membership/Contribution to:NAMI Texas

2800 South IH 35, Suite 140Austin, TX 78704

Also, you can go to www.namitexas.orgto make a donation and/or to join NAMI Texas

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