January 5, 2009
Family Perspectives: A Candid Talk with Rosa Warder, MFA, BHCS Family Relations Manager
Rosa will give an informal presentation focused on the family role and mental illness. There will be a brief overview of the Office of Family Relations, her personal story, talk about how mental illness affects the entire family including challenges with co-occurring disorders. Other areas that will be covered including defining what "evidence-based" practices is, wellness integration as well as mental illness/SED in children and juvenile and adult justice systems.

June 1, 2009
"Housing as Housing and Services as Services"
Robert Ratner, MPH, M.D.
Housing Services Director,
Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services

An estimated 1,000 individuals with serious mental illness are homeless each night in Alameda County. Between 20-50% of individuals that receive public mental health services throughout the United States experience one or more episodes of homelessness during their lifetime. Nationally, an estimated one-third of homeless individuals have a serious mental health problem. The largest mental health provider in the United States is the Los Angeles County Jail. How did we get to this place? What we can do about it? How can we help family members with mental illness find and keep housing?

July 6, 2009
Criminal Justice Mental Health Updates
Millie Swafford,LCSW
Director, Criminal Justice Mental Health & CONREP Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services

Millie Swafford, L.C.S.W., is Director of Alameda County's Criminal Justice Mental Health and Conditional Release Program. She will present updates on the Court Advocacy Project, Behavioral Health Court, a website link to BHCS and other websites to help families contact jail mental health providers, the budget audits impact on Criminal Justice Mental Health, and address challenges that remain for a person with mental illness that is in the criminal justice system.

August 3, 2009
In Our Own Voice presentation
In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique public education program developed by NAMI, in which two trained consumer speakers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery.

October, 2009
"The Soloist"
NAMI Tri-Valley will be showing the film “The Soloist” at the October meeting. The Soloist is based on the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a musical prodigy who develops schizophrenia during his second year at Juilliard School. Ayers becomes homeless in the streets of downtown Los Angeles, while still playing the violin and the cello. The movie was based on the book of the same name by Steve Lopez, a Los Angeles Times columnist. In July at the NAMI National Convention in San Francisco, Mr. Ayers was honored with the Rona and Ken Purdy Award for helping to decrease the stigma of mental illness by telling his story.

November 2, 2009
Children's Mental Health: A Panel Discussion
Linda Wurzbach, Special Education Consultant
Suzi Glorioso, Parent and Advocate
Dana Girard, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate pursuing a Psych.D.

NAMI Tri-Valley has invited three very knowledgeable individuals to offer their expertise and answer questions you may have about advocating for families of children diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Many people associate serious mental illnesses and/or serious emotional disturbances with teens and adults. However, some children as young as 4 years old are being diagnosed with a variety of brain disorders and, with the right support systems, are able to better their lives.

Linda Wurzbach is a Special Education Consultant, providing expertise in education laws and regulations and helping parents, professionals, and teachers to collectively work together on children’s mental illness issues.

Suzi Gloroso is a parent of a child with a serious mental illness and has created the twice monthly support group, Parent Resource and Support Group, for parents of children suspected of or diagnosed with a mood disorder.

Dana Girard, a Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate pursuing her Psych.D., will talk about her disseration titled: “Discovering Inner Strength During Chaos: The Impact of Children Diagnosed with Mental Disabilities on Parental Caregivers.”