Nami of Minnesota

Information may not be reliable

Working to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illness and their families

Thanks Give to the Maxers!
Thank you so much NAMI friends! Your generosity helped raise over $9,500 for NAMI's programs on Give to the Max Day! And thanks for sharing news about NAMI with your family, friends and associates through emails on this great day for nonprofits.
NAMI Survey on PCA Services
An estimated 3,000 children and adults will lose their PCA services on July 1, 2011. There is money to create a new program for people who will lose their service and NAMI wants to make sure that you have a say in what the new program will look like. Please tell us how you use PCA services so we can advocate for a program that will meet your needs. Take Survey on PCA Services.
Online Learning Program for Hospital Staff
NAMI wants to make sure that hospital staff and health care personnel understand mental illnesses so that people with mental illnesses receive appropriate treatment. Online learning program. Find Learner Registration Materials.
NAMI Connection Leaders Trained
Nineteen new NAMI Connection support group leaders for people living with mental illnesses were trained Nov. 12-14 in Woodbury. NAMI Minnesota’s support groups are peer based and provide a place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope. NAMI Connection groups are being offered at many locations throughout Minnesota. For more information, contact a support group leader in your area or NAMI’s program director, Donna Fox at 1-888-NAMI-Helps, ext. 101.
NAMIWalks was AMAZING!
NAMIWalks Minnesota was an amazing celebration. More than 2,500 people joined in and over $275,000 was raised. See over 300 walk photos!

Mental Health Issues for 2011
The 2011 Legislative Session promises to be very challenging and NAMI will be following many issues. Among them will be preventing more mental health cuts, restoring PCAs, and having a voice in State Operated Services. See NAMI's 2011 Legislative Issues. Download NAMI's mental health issues door knocker.
Providers Working with Older Adults Surveyed
NAMI Minnesota recently conducted a short survey to evaluate the need for mental health training among employees that work with older adults. Over 600 people took the survey. See survey results.
Big Changes in GAMC
GAMC as we know it, essentially went away on July 1, 2010 and a new GAMC program with substantially fewer dollars replaced it. People who qualify for GAMC now go to a “Coordinated Care Delivery System” (CCDS) to receive all of their care, except for outpatient prescriptions which are obtained and funded separately. A CCDS is essentially a hospital, however, only four have agreed to participate and they are all in the metro are. Read more.
New GAMC Program Maxing Out Already
The few hospitals participating in the new form of GAMC are already beginning to run out of funds from the new program and will soon stop accepting GAMC patients. See Star Tribune story.
DVD Shows Value of Jail Discharge Planning
NAMI's DVD, Jail Discharge Planning: Ending the Cycle of Recidivism, explains how two Minnesota counties (Stearns and Steele) have dramatically reduced recidivism by connecting inmates to resources before their release from jail. See DVD trailer. Watch entire DVD, here. For free copies of the DVD, contact NAMI.
Advocating for a Person who has been Arrested
"Advocating for People with Mental Illnesses in the Minnesota Criminal Justice System" is a booklet for anyone trying to advocate for a person with mental illness who has been arrested, is in jail, or is returning to the community after incarceration. Download here.
Crisis Planning Booklet for Families
Learn to recognize, manage, prevent and plan for your child's mental health crisis. Read or download this NAMI Minnesota booklet, here.
Keeping Families Together Resource Guide and DVD
NAMI's DVD and booklet "Keeping Families Together - Understanding the Legal and Family Perspectives on Voluntary Placement" are available free, contact NAMI or download here. Watch DVD trailer. Watch entire DVD. More information on custody issues, here.
Put Diversity on Your To Do List
Diversity encompasses understanding, respecting, embracing, preserving and celebrating experiences and perspectives that are different from our own. See article.
In the News
Mental Health Group Helps Vets, CBSMinnesota.com, 11-6-10
North Memorial Taking GAMC Patients, StarTribune, 11-5-10
Greg Lind Walks to Bring Awareness, Savage Pacer, 9-23-10
Film About Mental Illness, Pine Journal, 9-23-10
Mental Illness Stigma Studied, Science Daily, 9-16-10
Mental Illness in the Workplace, EmployersWeb.com
NBA Star Tackles MH Awareness, NBA.com, 9-8-10
A Way Out of Depression, Wall Street Journal, 9-7-10
Resident Leads NAMIWalks, Longfellow Messenger, 9-1-10
Drama Mamas Fight Stigma, Burnsville Sun, 8-26-10
NAMIWalks on Sept. 25, KARE 11, 8-16-10
Adult Foster Care Homes, Duluth News Tribune, 7-25-10
Rights vs. Risks, Star Tribune, 7-20-10
Veterans Court Project Begins, Star Tribune, 7-12-10
More News Stories, Here.

Director of American Indian Pilot Project Sought
WCCO: NAMI Support Group Helps Veterans
Toolkit for Winning Disputes with Your Healthplan
Project Offers Enhanced Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Job Opening: Director of Multicultural Outreach

Children’s Mental Health Workshops
Ramsey Co. Children's Advisory Council Openings
Train to be a Family-to-Family Teacher
Share Your Story to Help Train CIT Officers