www.uwbc.org

uwgalv.org

uwgcm.org

For information about disaster recovery resources, visit your local

United Way website.

Additional Resources:

United Way HelpLine: 211

FEMA : 1-800-621-3362 or www.DisasterAssistance.gov

American Red Cross: Local Houston Office - 1-866-526-8300

Volunteers are the cornerstone of NAMI Gulf Coast

You can help thousands of local families affected by mental illness.

Events

Attend our various Individual Support

Events, such as Summer Luau,

Thanksgiving Feast, & Crawfish Boil.

Help set up, oversee games, serve

food, and visit with individuals.

Second Chance Thrift Shop

Help sort donations, hang, tag, and

price items. Help keep store

organized and greet customers.

Newsletter Team

Each month: Fold, tape & label newsletters for

mail out

HelpLine & Resources

Provide callers with information and

referrals from NAMI GC Resource Manual.

Follow-up with individuals on past referrals.

Offer telephone support.

*Training is required & will be provided by

For more information on volunteering, visit

namigulfcoast.org/volunteer or call (281) 585-3100

Volunteers get $2.00

off every $10 spent

in Second Chance

Thrift Shop!

February 2018 The Official Newsletter of NAMI Gulf Coast

WEDNESDAY 2/21/18 Newsletter Folding NAMI GC Office - Alvin SATURDAY 2/24/18 NAMI Family & Friends Seminar St. Michael’s Episcopal Church - La Marque Saturday 3/24/18 NAMI GC Crawfish Boil Walter Hall Park - League City FRIDAY 5/4/18 NAMI GC Conference Nessler Center Texas City

Inside this issue:

Calendar:

CONTACT US!

281-585-3100

888-554-2264

namigc@namigulfcoast.org

www.namigulfcoast.org

PO Box 4096 Alvin, TX 77512

2206 N Gordon Alvin, TX 77511

The Voice for Mental Illness in Galveston and Brazoria Counties!

Page 2 - Upcoming Events; Monthly Support Groups and Conference Call Page 3 - NAMI GC Crawfish Boil Page 4 - Upcoming NAMI Family & Friends Seminar Pages 5 - Mental Health Education Conference Page 6 - 2018 Education Classes Page 7 - Second Chance Thrift Shop, February 2018 Sales

The Texas Legislature may not meet in full again until 2019, but the advocacy

work of the NAMI network in Texas never stops. We must continue to articulate

the need for the mental health reform that we (as people whose lives have

been affected by mental illness) know is sorely-needed.

On January 11th, NAMI National Board member Adrienne Kennedy provided

testimony at a joint hearing of the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of

Criminal Appeals. The hearing launched the Texas Judicial Commission on

Mental Health, which will be responsible for exploring the involvement of

individuals with mental illness in the court systems. With the right input from

mental health stakeholders, this body will be empowered with the insights and

influence to improve circumstances.

On the federal level, it has been more than 100 days since Congress failed to

extend full Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding. More than

400,000 Texas kids rely on CHIP for their care. Call your federal legislators at

(877) 233-9025 and tell them to immediately fund CHIP for five years.

Congress is expected to vote to fund the federal government; long-term CHIP

must be included when they do.

Texas has the earliest primary elections – March 6th – in the nation. Because

those in power hold the keys to mental health reform, we must be active

participants in democracy. You can look up your district information by visiting

“Who Represents Me” on the Texas Legislature Online website, as well as look

up the candidates by visiting “Who’s on the Texas primary ballots in 2018”,

which is an online publication of the Texas Tribune. Know where your

candidates stand on the issues so that you can make an informed choice.

The voter registration deadline is February 5th and early voting starts February

20th.

By Greg Hansch, LMSW

NAMI Texas Public Policy Director

Be an Advocate

National Alliance on Mental Illness

U P C O M I N G

E V E N

T S

Page 2

ALVIN INDIVIDUAL GROUP 3rd Thurs Every Month

Thursday, 2/15/18 4:00 - 5:30PM

Westover Cove

2200 Mustang—Alvin

LAKE JACKSON FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL GROUP

2nd Thurs Every Month

Thursday, 2/8/18 6:00 - 7:30PM

CHI St. Luke’s Health Care

100 Medical Drive—Lake Jackson

LA MARQUE FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL GROUP

2nd Mon Every Month

Monday, 2/12/18 6:00 - 7:30PM

St. Michael's Episcopal Church

1601 Lake Road—La Marque

GALVESTON FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL GROUP

1st Tues Every Month

Tuesday, 2/6/18 6:00 - 7:30PM

Moody Methodist Church

2803 53rd Street—Galveston

Looking for help?

Need Support?

Attend our Family and Individual Support Meetings

February 2018 Topic: Managing Anxiety

PHONE SUPPORT GROUP

3rd Thurs Every Month

Thursday, 2/15/18 6:00PM

Dial In Number: (641) 715-3570

Access Code: 453534

Sponsorship Opportunities Available for NAMI Gulf Coast’s Annual Crawfish Boil

Gold Sponsorship $3,000 Silver Sponsorship $1,500 Bronze Sponsorship $500 Supporter $250

All Crawfish Boil Sponsors will receive social media, newsletter, and website recognition. Additional benefits are also given to each sponsorship

level. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact the NAMI GC office at (281) 585-3100

National Alliance on Mental Illness Page 3

F U N D R A I S E R

CRAWFISH ● BEER ● CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT ● MUSIC ● FUN FOR KIDS ● SILENT AUCTION

Visit our website or call our office for ticket Information

www.namigulfcoast.org/upcoming-events/crawfish-boil-2018/

(281) 585-3100

100% of the funds raised benefit NAMI Gulf Coast, the National

Alliance on Mental Illness, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that

offers education, support and service advocacy to those affected by

mental illness in Galveston and Brazoria County.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Page 4

E D U C A T I O N

What is the NAMI Family & Friends Seminar?

NAMI Family & Friends is a free, 4-hour seminar that informs and

supports family members, partners, friends and significant others

who have loved ones with a mental health condition. Participants

learn about diagnoses, treatment, recovery, communication

strategies, crisis preparation and NAMI resources. Seminar

leaders are also family members and know what it is like to have

a loved one with a mental health condition.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church—1601 Lake Rd, La

Marque, TX 77568

* Light lunch will be provided

“It doesn’t matter

how big and how

long my tunnel is...

I can see the light at

the end. But if I

walk looking at my

shoes, I cannot see

the light.”

—Carlos A., NAMI

Family to Family

teacher trainee, 2011

To register for this event, visit

www.namigulfcoast.org/upcoming-events/

or call (281) 585-3100

National Alliance on Mental Illness Page 5

S A V E

T H E

D A T E

Register online at www.namigulfcoast.org/mental-health-

education-conference-2018/

or call our office at (281) 585-3100

Mental Health Education Conference 2018

Join us for NAMI Gulf Coast’s 6th annual mental health education

conference, Never Give Up HOPE! Experienced speakers will

present 20 topics on 4 tracks: Individuals and Families, General

Community, Professional, and Faith-Based Communities.

Friday, May 4, 2018 Friday, May 4, 2018

Nessler Center Nessler Center

Texas City, TXTexas City, TX

Never Give Up Never Give Up

HOPEHOPE

Keynote Presenters

Elizabeth McIngvale, Ph.D Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale

National Alliance on Mental Illness

E D U C A T I O N

Page 6

In Our Own Voice Gain a better understanding of what it is like to live with mental

health conditions and stay in recovery from the perspective of persons who currently live with a mental health condition (Major

Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bi-Polar Disorder, or

Schizophrenia).

NAMI Provider Education NAMI Provider Education introduces

mental health professionals to the unique perspectives of individuals living with mental illness and their

families in this 4-hour seminar taught by a team consisting of an adult with mental illness, a family member, and

a mental health professional.

Psychological First Aid (PFA)

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a program developed to assist those recovering from a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Harvey. PFA is

an evidence-based modular approach for assisting people in

the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism: to reduce

initial distress, and to foster short- and long-term

adaptive functioning.

NAMI Basics NAMI Basics helps parents and

caregivers of children to understand the illnesses that are causing the

behavioral difficulties, and the critical role families play in the treatment of

those illnesses. The program is taught by trained teachers who are

also the parents or family caregivers of individuals who experienced

emotional or behavioral difficulties prior to age 13.

ASK Suicide Prevention ASK About Suicide to Save a Life

is a best practice gatekeeper training that teaches how to ask if someone is considering suicide,

how to respond, and to know when and how to refer the individual to

the appropriate resources.

Partnerships Family Education

Partnerships is an educational workshop that

provides information to families, mental health professionals and the

community about: Depression, Bipolar Disorder (Manic

Depression) and Schizophrenia.

For more information on

these or other NAMI Gulf

Coast programs,

call (281) 585-3100

or visit

namigulfcoast.org

*All NAMI Gulf Coast classes are offered at no charge to the community*

National Alliance on Mental Illness

T H R I F T

S H O P

Page 7

2206 N. Gordon (Bus . 35)

Alvin, Texas 77511 281-585-3100

Store Hours: Wednesday - Friday 10am - 3pm

Happy Valentine’s Day!

New Daily Specials! Wednesday– 50% OFF Boutique Clothing

Thursday– 50% OFF All Shoes & Purses

Friday-$10.00 Fill-a-Bag

Mardi Gras Galveston

Feb. 2-13 We have beads!

Get your RODEO Gear Here! Jeans &

Pearl Snaps in the Shop!

HLSR Feb 27-March 18

Wednesday, February 14th

2017 Board of Directors President: Irene Stone Treasurer: Dean Price Secretary: Mary Ferree Board Members: Andrea Hazlitt Eddie Karbowski Reathea Alexander Shawn Lewis Tricia Garza Regina Lewis

Executive Director: Jan Melis Emeritus: Carolyn Karbowski Staff: Jan Melis Executive Director jmelis@namigulfcoast.org Amber Torres Director of Finance & Development development@namigulfcoast.org Kyle Funderburk Director of Administration admin@namigulfcoast.org Alicia Karbowski 2nd Chance Thrift Shop Manager namigcresale@namigulfcoast.org Crystal Lewis Education Coordinator supportstaff@namigulfcoast.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness

February 2018

P.O. Box 4096

Alvin, TX 77512

281-585-3100

409-944-4328

1-888-554-2264

www.namigulfcoast.org

NON-PROFIT ORG

U S POSTAGE

PAID

Friendswood, TX

Permit #4096

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

It is the mission of NAMI Gulf Coast to provide support, education, and

service advocacy for families and individuals affected by mental illness.

Eliminating the stigma of mental illness is the primary goal for NAMI Gulf

Coast. The hope is that one day mental illness will be treated with the same

compassion and understanding as any other illness.