NAMI NEW JERSEY programs

  NAMI NEW JERSEY coordinates a variety of programs to provide public education on mental   illness. These programs make it possible for families, consumers and the general public to   learn the facts about mental illness.


   EDUCATING THE EDUCATORS


  Educating the Educators (ETE) is a program developed by NAMI NEW JERSEY to enlighten/inform   educators about mental illness and present practical tools to help motivate children with social and   emotional disorders. NAMI NJ is registered with the NJ Department of Education as a provider of   Professional Development credit hours for ETE.
 


   EVERY MIND MATTERS


  "Every Mind Matters" (EMM) is a mental illness education program targeted to children in Grades 5-9.
  This program is designed to teach children the importance of taking care of their mental health, as
  well as their physical health. EMM explains the meaning of stigma and how we can stamp out stigma
  related to persons with disabilities. The program also teaches about famous people who have made
  great contributions to our society, despite their disabilities.
 


   EXPRESSIVE ARTS NETWORK


  The NAMI NEW JERSEY Expressive Arts Network emphasizes common interests in creative activities.   These common interests include networking, outreach, advocacy and community involvement. The   arts, as a common ground, provide opportunities for individuals to communicate through alternative   means of expression. The strengths of individuals revealed through art activity help to form a   supportive environment and relationships and/or opportunities based upon similar interests. Helping   to create art resources, as well as artistic expression, is another form of active involvement.

 


   FAMILY-TO-FAMILY EDUCATION


  Family-To-Family Education is a peer family education program designed to foster learning, healing   and empowerment among families of individuals with serious mental illness. The NAMI NEW JERSEY   Family-To-Family education (formerly the "Journey of Hope") course is a 12-week program for families   of individuals diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness. The curriculum focuses on three   major psychiatric illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression), and emphasizes   the clinical treatment of these illnesses. The curriculum also presents the knowledge and the skills   that family members need when faced with the problems of mental illness. There is no fee to   participants. NAMI NEW JERSEY provides the training for the NAMI NEW JERSEY Family Educator   volunteers and the funding for course materials.
 


   FREEDOM FROM STIGMA CAMPAIGN


  The NAMI NJ Freedom from Stigma Campaign was initiated to combat hurtful and negative   stereotypes perpetuated about people with mental illness and about serious mental illnesses   themselves. The 2004 NAMI Conference was devoted to the Freedom from Stigma theme, and   awards were presented to individuals and groups who have successfully fought stigma.
 

   HEARTS & MINDS

  Research has demonstrated that people living with severe psychiatric conditions may have an   increased risk of heart disease and related conditions. NAMI NJ's Hearts & Minds program seeks to   raise awareness and provide information on: diabetes, diet, exercise, and smoking.


   IN OUR OWN VOICE


  In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a NAMI program, designed to train individuals with serious mental   illnesses to give presentations about their illness and recovery. The program is a powerful tool for   community education and reducing stigma by putting a human face on an often misunderstood area   of human suffering. IOOV presenters are ready to present at scheduled affiliate meetings, Family-  
  to-Family Education Classes, religious institutions, high school and college classrooms, community or   service clubs, and human service or legal professional groups.
 


   LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION


  Each county affiliate has at least one NAMI liaison who can be called upon to teach a basic class in   mental illness awareness for law enforcement. The class can take from one half hour to two hours,   depending upon the needs of the audience. The class includes a brief history of the treatment of   mental illness, a 12 minute video about its biological nature, a review of symptoms and warning   signs, a discussion of the 1989 Psychiatric Emergency Screening Law and its significance for police   officers, and an explanation of the DOs and DON'Ts for law enforcement dealing with mental illness   crisis situations.

  

   MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK

  Every year, the first week of October is designated as a week to raise awareness about serious   mental illness. NAMI affiliates plan several events, including iris plantings, candlelight vigils, displays   in public libraries and other similar events.

   MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH

  As a self-help organization, NAMI NJ is especially sensitive to the concept of mutual caring and   responsibility implicit in family relationships and reaching out in that context to families from various   cultures that are affected by serious mental illness.

       SAMHAJ (South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey)
       CAMHOP-NJ (Chinese American Mental Health Outreach Program in New Jersey)
       NAMI NJ EN ESPAÑOL
       AACT-NOW! (African American Community Takes New Outreach Worldwide)
       "Documenting Our Presence: Multicultural Experiences of Mental Illness"

   NAMI BASICS EDUCATION PROGRAM

  NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and
  adolescents living with mental illnesses. The course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent
  or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of
  13 years. All instruction and course materials are free to class participants.

   NAMI NEW JERSEY AWARDS

  In commemoration of Governor Codey’s extraordinary courage and efforts in focusing our State’s   attention on improving the lives of those affected by mental illness and empowering mental health   consumers and their families, in 2005 NAMI New Jersey established a new annual award, the   Governor Richard J. Codey Mental Health Champion Award, in recognition for outstanding contribution to   improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

   NIMH OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP

  NAMI NJ is one of the 51 organizations partnering with the National Institute of Mental Health(NIMH)   to conduct mental health outreach and education for the public, health professionals, K-12 schools,   minorities and other populations such as youth and older adults using mental health-related   information provided by NIMH or other sources.

   NAMI NJ STORE

 

NAMI NEW JERSEY
1562 Route 130, North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902
Phone:732.940.0991 Fax:732.940.0355
E-mail: info@naminj.org
Web Address: www.naminj.org
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