ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. DHS BUDGET FORUM
2. LEGISLATION WOULD AID SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS
3. N.J. OFFERS HOMELESS VETERANS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
4. DOLPHINS' WR BRANDON MARSHALL TALKS MENTAL HEALTH
5. N.J. RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES DESERVE A CHANCE TO WORK
6. RAISING AWARENESS FOR MENTAL ILLNESS
7. GUIDE TO NEW JERSEY DENTAL CLINICS
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DHS Budget Forum
The New Jersey Department of Human Services is hosting its Fall Budget Forum. This is an opportunity to advocate directly with the Department on the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. This year the budget forum will be held at the Division of Developmental Disabilities at Gateway 195, 5 Commerce Way, Suite 100 Hamilton Township, NJ 08691 on Friday, December 9 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Oral presentations strictly limited to 3 minutes.
For more information: Call 609-292-3703 or email Sandra.Graves@dhs.state.nj.us
More information:
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/documents/Regional%20Budget%20forum%202013%20flyer.pdf
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LEGISLATION WOULD AID SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS
Assembly bill A-3659 is currently in the legislative pipeline that charges New Jersey’s commissioner of Children and Families with developing a statewide youth suicide prevention plan. The intent of the bill is to create greater public awareness about youth suicide prevention programs and to identify any existing barriers to accessing mental health and substance abuse services. There are no easy solutions in addressing mental health issues. But it is critical for the public to know there is help for those who are in deep despair and anguish.
Read Assemblywoman Angelini’sletter to the Asbury Park Press
http://www.app.com/article/20111023/NJOPINION06/310230020/Legislation-would-aid-suicide-prevention-efforts
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N.J. OFFERS HOMELESS VETERANS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
New Jersey has about 200 beds in transitional homes set aside for veterans, far fewer than what is needed, according to the National Council for Homeless Veterans. Last week, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place at Veterans Haven in Winslow, nearly doubling its capacity to 99 beds. It is the only New Jersey transitional home run by the state, though it operates similar to Care House and Community Hope in Lyons, a private non-profit that contracts with the U.S. Veterans Administration.
Lt. Gov.Kim Guadagno said New Jersey is looking into a new transitional home in the northern part of the state.
See the full story:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/nj_veterans_haven_expands_its.html
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DOLPHINS' WR BRANDON MARSHALL TALKS MENTAL HEALTH
On Monday night one week ago, Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Brandon Marshall was in New York, going one-on-one with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis on national television. But this Monday night, Marshall was going head-to-head with a very different demographic—Harvard students, whom he spoke to about his personal experience with borderline personality disorder. The receiver’s speech, titled “Mental Illness Isn’t a Game Stopper,” addressed his experiences with BPD, which he said prevented him from appreciating his life.
Read more:
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/10/25/NFL-mental-health/
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N.J. RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES DESERVE A CHANCE TO WORK
Building upon the public/private initiative called DiscoverAbility NJ, the Department of Human Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, in collaboration with nonprofit agencies and hundreds of businesses statewide, are strengthening the services and training necessary for individuals with disabilities to prepare for and find employment. The department has many opportunities for supported education and employment programs in its divisions of Disability Services, Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health and Addiction Services. Additionally, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services solicits private nonprofit and for-profit companies to facilitate work training, employment counseling, educational advancement, assistive technologies and job placement services.
Read Commissioner Velez’s opinion piece:
http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2011/10/opinion_nj_residents_with_disa.html
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RAISING AWARENESS FOR MENTAL ILLNESS
Dr. Sanjay Gupta shares the story of a young woman with paranoid schizophrenia, on a mission to educate others. View NAMI In Our Own Voice presenter Ashley Smith coverage on CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2011/11/01/human-factor-ashley-smith.cnn
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GUIDE TO NEW JERSEY DENTAL CLINICS
Listed below is a link to a county guide prepared by the NJ Division of Family Health Services that lists New Jersey Dental Clinics. The guide may be used to assist people who have difficulty accessing appropriate dental care due to insurance or financial issues.
http://nj.gov/health/fhs/newborn/documents/dental_directory.pdf
