Category: What’s New

Learn the latest research on how trauma can impact families and strategies for HEALING

What: UCSF YAFC is piloting a brand new parent education group about the impact of trauma on families. 

In a supportive, relaxed environment you will learn how to:

• Recognize signs of trauma in yourself and in your child
• Calm the body and mind
• Communicate effectively with your child

Who: Parents with children between the ages of 12 – 26 who have experienced trauma themselves, and/or whose children have experienced trauma. Must have health insurance other than Kaiser or MediCal.

When:  Wednesdays from 4:30-6pm, 5 weeks starting June 12th – July 10th, 2019.  

Where: UCSF Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute at 401 Parnassus Avenue. Meet at the 2nd floor waiting room.

Contact: Sarah Crouch, Psy.D., sarah.crouch@ucsf.edu, (415) 476-7047.

Please reach out by Friday, May 31^st, 2019 to reserve your spot and with any other questions you might have about the group.

Dr. Kim P. Norman, MD, is a professor at the University of California San Francisco1 and a psychiatrist with over 40 years of experience caring for teens and young adults with complex behavioral health issues. In 2004, Dr. Norman founded the Young Adult and Family Center (YAFC) at UCSF, dedicated to creating and disseminating innovative mental health services, including digital health services for adolescents, young adults, and their families.

The YAFC aspires to build a center of national prominence where troubled young people and their families receive the best available clinical care, irrespective of their ability to pay.

Our bimonthly general meeting is held in the social hall of the Albany Methodist Church, 980 Stannage Avenue, Albany, 7:30-9 pm. Admission is free and the public is welcome.

Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30-9pm
Albany United Methodist Church
980 Stannage Avenue, Albany
Corner of Stannage and Marin
Meeting is free and open to the public.

In addition to the 10-week Suicide Bereavement Group, which resumes on Thursday, 12/6 (more information below), La Cheim — located at 3031 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609 — will host the East Bay’s International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. The event, which is free of charge, will take place on Saturday, November 17, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, sponsored in part by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, is an opportunity for people affected by suicide loss to gather together for support, community, and resources (see attached flyer). For more information or to reserve your place, please call 415-515-6253.

Weekly Support/Therapy Group …
The first session of the new Survivor of Suicide Loss Group has been scheduled for Thursday, December 6, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. 

As usual, it will run for 10 sessions and meet at:

   La Cheim
   3031 Telegraph Avenue
   Oakland, CA 94609
 
The fee per session is on a sliding scale ranging from $25 to $125. As this is a
 nonprofit program, the fees help us to defray a portion of our expenses. At the
 same time, we do not turn anyone away for lack of ability to pay, so please let us
 know if cost is an issue.
 
The group size is limited, so if you haven’t already confirmed your attendance,
please do so by phone (415-515-6253), text or email. If you have not attended
before, we ask that you arrive at the first session 10-15 minutes early to register.
 

The Proxy Parent Foundation is a non-profit organzation that offers two integrated services: PLAN andPSS. The Special Needs Trust (PLAN) is open to disabled persons in California. Started by NAMI families some years ago, this is a Master Pooled Trust vehicle, which actually has a bigger presence in Southern California. The second service is Personal Support Services (PSS) for beneficiaries of the trust. PSS individuals deal with persons with mental illness, coordinating public and private social services and medical care while providing family-like attention.The organization is now increasing its PSS offering in Northern California and is recruiting individuals who would be interested in becoming a PSS provider.

They are looking for individuals who have experience—either clinical or personal—in dealing with persons with mental illness, who have empathy, and who intend to live in the area for some time. Criminal and financial background checks are part of the hiring process, and the PSS would be making monthly and quarterly reports to the Proxy Parent Foundation.

This is a part-time commitment and the person could have a day job as well. Hourly payments are $65 to $85, and travel time is compensated at a different rate. Please contact Bruce Lewitt at 888-574- 1258.

Consumer Activities

Families frequently inquire about community services. Since many of our NAMI folks are not county case-managed, it’s up to families to find out what’s available. Accordingly, here’s a brief note about two resources:

PEERS (Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services) is a large consumer-run agency located at 333 Hegenberger Road in Oakland. They offer WRAP (Wellness Action Recovery Plan) classes, Final Fridays Free Movies, discussion and Secret Messages groups. Their website is comprehensive: www.peersnet.org.

BACS (Bay Area Community Services) offers free Wellness Centers across the county. These are drop-in social centers with planned activities. Website is www.bayareacs.org.

Family support, run by FERC (Family Education Resource Center), 2nd Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00, TowneHouse House Wellness Center, 629 Oakland Avenue, Oakland.

The Hearing Voices Network is comprised of people who see, hear, feel and think things that others may not experience – and also includes the family members of these individuals. Website is www.bayareahearingvoices.org.

The local weekly group for those with these ongoing experienes meets 1st and 3rd Mondays, 6-7:30 pm, Berkeley Drop In Center, 3234 Adeline Ave. Berkeley. Refer to website for more information.

Mission Statement: Voices of Mothers is an advocacy effort by families on behalf of our loved ones with serious mental illness. We are fighting for changes to local, county, state, and federal laws and policies that are failing to provide adequate and timely services and protections to our vulnerable family members.

Goals:

Grow the family voice in Alameda County by broadening family engagement at all levels.

Monitor legislation at all levels that impacts mental health policies, campaign in support of laws that improve care for those with serious mental illness, and monitor implementation of mandated programs

Fight to reduce stigmatizing and blaming of families. Document instances of family blaming and misinformation in media and in communications tied to or funded by public fund

CONTACT INFORMATION: voicesofthemothersandothers@gmail.com