10th Annual Conference A Success

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania would like to thank attendees, exhibitors, volunteers, special guests and all supporters who helped make its 10th Annual Education Conference The Power To Ignite Change: A Personal Call To Action a success.

We'd like to extend a special thanks to our generous sponsors whose funding enabled us to plan our first-ever two-day conference.

Premier Sponsor
Staunton Farm Foundation

Platinum Sponsor
Community Care

Gold Sponsors
Lilly
Janssen

Silver Sponsor
Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc.

Bronze Sponsors
AstraZeneca
Mercy Behavioral Health
Project Transition
Value Behavioral Health of PA

Supporters
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic of UPMC

Pete Earley To Sign Books At NAMI Conference

We are pleased to welcome award-winning journalist Pete Earley as a panelist and workshop presenter at our 10th Annual Education Conference this weekend.

Pete will be selling and signing his award-winning book CRAZY: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness. Cost is $15 with part of the proceeds going to NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania.

In a Washingtonian Magazine cover story titled, “Top Journalists: Washington's Media Elite,” Pete was described as one of a handful of journalists in America who “have the power to introduce new ideas and give them currency.” A former reporter for The Washington Post, he is the author of nine nonfiction books and three novels.

His book CRAZY: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness, tells two stories. It describes Pete’s attempts to help his college-age son, Mike, who becomes ill with bipolar disorder and is arrested. It also describes a year Pete spends at the Miami Dade County Jail, where he follows people with mental disorders – who had been in jail – out into the community to document what types of services and assistance they receive. This book was one of two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 and has won awards from Mental Health America and the American Psychiatric Association.

Look for Pete at the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania table at the conference this weekend. For those who have not yet registered, we are accepting walk-in registrations at the door. For more details on the conference, click here.

New Credits Offered For NAMI Conference

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that Pa. Certification Board credits are being offered for its 10th Annual Education Conference The Power To Ignite Change: A Personal Call To Action on Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24 at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. 

We are offering the following Continuing Education Credits:

Counselors (NBCC) – up to 13 credits

Educators (Act 48) – up to 13 credits

Licensed/Clinical Social Workers (LSW/LCSW) – up to 13 credits

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) – up to 13 credits

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) – up to 13 credits

Psychologists – 7 credits, Saturday, April 24 only

Other healthcare professionals – up to 1.9 credits

We are offering the following new Pa. Certification Board Credits (up to 13 credits over two days):

Certified Addiction Counselors (CAC)
Certified Addiction Counselor Diplomate (CAC Diplomate)
Certified Allied Addiction Specialist (CCMS)
Certified Case Manager (CCSM)
Certified Case Manager Supervisor (CCMS)
Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)
Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professionals (CCJP)
Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professionals (CCDP)
Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professionals Diplomate (CCDP Diplomate)
Certificate of Competency in Problem Gambling
Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS)
Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS)

For more information, to download a brochure or to register, click here.

Scholarships Available for NAMI Conference

HSAO has generously agreed to fund scholarships for the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania Education Conference on April 23 and 24. The scholarships are offered to Allegheny County residents who have children in the mental health system. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. For information, call (412) 366-3788 or email info@namiswpa.org.

For more information on the conference, click here.

Conference Highlight: Michael Fitzpatrick

With NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 10th Annaul Education Conference fast approaching, we are pleased to welcome some highly notable speakers and presenters to the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott on April 23 and 24. 

On Day 1-- Friday, April 23 -- we are thrilled to welcome NAMI National's Executive Director Michael Fitzpatrick as our keynote speaker.  Mr. Fitzpatrick will share with participants the importance of developing collaborative relationships to heighten the effectiveness of local, state and national advocacy efforts.

With impending changes in the mental health landscape due to statewide budget cuts, the end of the Rendell administration and the evolution of national healthcare reform, partnerships among mental health advocates across the system are vital.  When grassroots advocates through local NAMI affiliates connect with NAMI National, combined efforts ensure a louder, more effective voice in championing a transformed menteal health system in the future.

For more information on the conference, call the NAMI office at (412) 366-3788 or email info@namiswpa.org.

Registration Is Open for NAMI Education Conference

This year marks the 10th anniversary of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's Annual Regional Education Conference. To commemorate, we are hosting our first ever two-day conference titled "The Power To Ignite Change: A Personal Call To Action." Join us for one or both days on April 23 and April 24 at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott.

Developed for individuals with mental illness and family members, this conference is also accredited for psychologists*, counselors, therapists, educators and other healthcare professionals.

Register online or download a registration brochure by clicking here. For more information or to receive a conference brochure, call NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's office at (412) 366-3788 or email info@namiswpa.org.

NAMI's 10th Annual Education Conference

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is thrilled to announce the theme for its 10th Annual Regional Education Conference at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott.

The Power To Ignite Change: A Personal Call To Action

This year will mark our first-ever two-day conference on Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24. Attendees can join us for one or both days.

Day 1: Growing the Grassroots: The Crucial Need for Advocacy

Day 2: Confronting the Challenges in the Mental Health System

Keep an eye on our website and this blog for more information.

Save the Date

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's 10th Annual Education Conference has been scheduled on Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24 at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. Our first-ever two-day conference gives you the option to attend one or both daylong educational events.

More information will follow on the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website. To view photos from last year's conference, take a look at our FlickR photo site.