|
NAMI Family-to-Family Classes Offered in Fall 2019
 Starting this September, one of NAMI's flagship programs is again being offered in Santa Rosa and Cloverdale. The Family-to-Family class is a free, 12-session education program for adult (18+) family members and friends of people living with a serious mental illness, and is taught by trained family members with lived experience.
Santa Rosa:
Mondays, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Begins September 9, 2019
Cloverdale:
Thursdays, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Begins September 12, 2019
The course is designed to help participants understand and support their loved one while maintaining their own well-being. The class includes information on illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder and others.
To learn more, visit namisoco.org/family-to-family. To register, please email info@namisoco.org to request an application.
|
|
|
|
Proposed 2019-2020 Sonoma County MHSA Expenditures
 The County's Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) draft Annual Plan Update, outlining proposed programs and expenditures, has been posted for public review. Email feedback is welcome at mhsa@sonoma-county.org or in person at the Sonoma County Mental Health Board meeting on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, 5:00 - 7:00 PM, at the Finley Community Center (2060 W College Avenue, Santa Rosa).
The meeting is facilitated by the Sonoma County Behavioral Health Division. Each person will have a maximum of three minutes to contribute remarks at this public meeting.
For more information, contact Melissa Ladrech, MHSA Coordinator, at melissa.ladrech@sonoma-county.org.
|
|
|
|
New 16-Bed Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF)
Planned for Sonoma County
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services Behavioral Health Division has worked with Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc., a private mental health services provider in California, for several years on plans to open a new acute Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) in Sonoma County. On July 31st, a Community Meeting was held to share an overview of the facility's site plans, services and programs. Located at 7025 Corline Court in Sebastopol, the facility will occupy a site that until early 2018 housed a facility caring for the elderly.
The new PHF will be a locked unit designed to provide acute psychiatric care to individuals aged 18 to 64 years of age, primarily MediCal-eligible. The project will be a joint project with Marin County, with 14 beds dedicated to Sonoma County clients and 2 beds to Marin County clients. Services will include assessment, stabilization, recovery-focused, trauma-informed treatment, and a return to the community as soon as possible. Crestwood projects an opening in late Summer or early Fall of 2020, once renovations are complete. A public meeting is being planned for the evening of August 27th by the City of Sebastopol Planning Commission.
For more information, please contact mfwalsh@namisoco.org.
|
|
|
|
Civil Grand Jury Reports: Sonoma County Behavioral Health Division Services & Health Services in the Sonoma County Jail
 The Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury recently released two reports related to their review of the County's Behavioral Health Division (BHD) 2018-2019 budget and an inspection of the Jail's Main Adult Detention Facility (MADF) health care resources and services.
The jury commended the Sheriff's Office for doing a job "it was not designed to do and doing so competently." This includes providing inmates with opportunities for adult education and implementing a Jail-Based Competency Restoration program. Health care-related concerns include: a need for improved treatment of certain communicable diseases, increased nursing staffing in the booking area and better discharge coordination with health care providers. They serve an inmate population that is older, sicker and/or more likely to live with a mental illness.
This is a partial consequence of California's 2011 Realignment Bill, which shifted some responsibilities for individuals convicted of low-level felonies from the state to counties. As a result, the needs for medical, dental, mental health and substance use care have dramatically increased within the MADF. The Grand Jury noted that the MADF was scheduled for inspection in May 2019.
 The jury reported that the BHD's current leadership is making substantial efforts to address these factors; state and federal funding remain insufficient to meet needs; and despite the circumstances requiring serious staffing reductions, BHD employees continue to provide quality services.The Grand Jury examined the BHD original $19M budget shortfall for 2018-2019 (eventually reduced to $10m) which led to a reduction in staffing and identified the following contributing factors: a lack of budgeting, auditing and oversight policies and procedures; an incomplete electronic medical billing and claim system resulting in lost revenues; and operational costs at the Crisis Stabilization Unit that exceeded revenues.
The jury made several policy recommendations for both the Behavioral Health Division and the Jail.
To read the full report, visit sonomagrandjury.org.
|
|
|
|
New Study Finds NAMI Homefront Beneficial
 According to a study published in Psychiatric Services, a journal of the American Psychological Association, the NAMI Homefront program produces significant benefits for participants. NAMI Homefront, available online in Sonoma County, is a six-session adaptation of the NAMI Family-to-Family program. It is designed to address the unique needs of family, caregivers and friends of military service members and veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other mental health conditions.
Tegister for an online NAMI Homefront class at NAMI.org/homefront.
|
|
|
|
Free Webinar on Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)
On Monday, August 5, 2019 at 9:30am PT, a SAMSHA-sponsored webinar, "Evolution of Assisted Outpatient Treatment," will provide information and resources on AOT and its evolution over the years. Dr. Marvin Swartz of Duke University will discuss different approaches across the country, the qualities that make AOT programs successful, and resource gaps that can lead to ineffective treatment. The webinar will also discuss types of AOT statutes, the American Psychiatric Association’s position on AOT, and key findings of studies.
If you are interested in attending the webinar, please register by visiting the official event page.
|
|
|
|
SMART Train & Community Mental Health Organizations
To Boost Suicide Prevention Efforts in Marin & Sonoma
 On July 17, 2019, the SMART board of directors pledged to spearhead a suicide prevention awareness campaign in response to several train-related fatalities and community concerns raised in response. Representing community mental health services and programs at this public meeting, the board heard from Bill Carter, Division Director - Sonoma County Behavioral Health, Mary-Frances Walsh, Executive Director, NAMI Sonoma County, and Chris Kughn and Kara Connors, from Buckelew Programs. Along with input from a broad coalition of community-based mental health, health care and public service organizations, efforts to raise community awareness of mental health and suicide prevention resources. |
|
|
|
Research Opportunity
 Researchers at Elon University, in conjunction with NAMI North Carolina, are conducting a study about the ways in which people with mental health conditions seek help, and how family and friends influence and support them. Participants will complete a survey, with separate questions for people with a mental health condition and for families and friends. The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete. Participants must be aged 18 or older.
To access the survey, follow this link. If you would like more information, you may contact the researchers directly.
|
|
|
|
Task Force Developing LGBTQ+ Mental Health Advocacy
 #Out4MentalHealth is a California-based project designed to engage LGBTQ+ individuals in developing a mental health equity agenda as well as offer tools and resources to address disparities. Five task forces across the state — in Shasta, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and now Sonoma County — support local community members and organizations with engaging in LGBTQ+ mental health advocacy. Task forces are open to anyone interested in advocating for LGBTQ+ mental health equity.
To learn more, contact Positive Images at (707) 568-5830 or email info@posimages.org. |
|
|
|
ABLE Accounts Available in California
 ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings and investment accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families, created as a result of the 2014 federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act. These accounts benefit individuals who become disabled before the age of 26, without losing eligibility for certain means-tested public benefit programs like Medi-Cal and Social Security Income (SSI).
|
|
|
|
|
