NAMI Breakfast of Champions

On Saturday, we celebrated the passionate and dedicated volunteers of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania at the 4th Annual Breakfast of Champions at Churchill Valley Country Club. It's important to NAMI that we take a day each year to express in person to our volunteers how integral they are to our mission, and how much we appreciate them. Thank you, NAMI volunteers!

Volunteers Jen Lukondie (left) and John Lovelace pose with NAMI staffer Lora Dziemiela.

A Family Affair: Volunteers Jim and Nancy Ehrman and son Kyle Ehrman enjoyed the breakfast.

From left to right: NAMI staff member Paul Freund, volunteer Carol Kirk, and staffers Mary Bates and Regina Cass.

Volunteers Catherine Hewitt and Vernon Long made the rounds at the breakfast.

Thank you from the NAMI staff!

Special thanks to our event sponsors Community Care, UPMC Health Plan, Western Pyschiatric Institute & Clinic, Allegheny HealthChoices Inc., HSAO, PSAN, MHA of Westmoreland County, Staunton Farm Foundation, NAMI Pittsburgh South, Value Behavioral Health and WCSI.

NAMI Volunteers, We Thank You!

On Saturday, we will be honoring the amazing and dedicated volunteers of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania at the 4th Annual Breakfast of Champions at Churchill Country Club.

Volunteers truly are the champions of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania. How else could we reach into 10 counties and help hundreds of thousands of people who are affected by mental illness? How could we lead our organization without the strategic vision of our Board of Directors? How could we teach a hundred Family-to-Family classes with over 1300 graduates? How could we run 14 affiliate groups, five family support groups and six NAMI Connections peer support groups? How could we conduct ongoing "In Our Own Voice" presentations without the support of our volunteers who openly tell their stories? How could we hold events like our NAMI Walk, which requires 80 volunteers on walk day?

The answer is: we could not. Everything we do is supported by volunteers. They are our mission personified--in our communities, day after day, working to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. That is why we cannot wait to thank them and honor them on Saturday as the champions of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania.

This event is funded by our generous supporters:

Community Care Behavior Health Organization
UPMC Health Plan
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic
Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc.
Human Services Administration Organization (HSAO)
MHA of Westermoreland County
Staunton Farm Foundation
NAMI Pittsburgh South
Value Behavioral Health
Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports, Inc.
Peer Support and Advocacy Network (PSAN)

Winter Retreat at S'eclairer

 S'eclairer has opened registration for its winter retreat.



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Beauty of Silence: The Winter Glow

Saturday, Feb. 4

9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

S'eclairer

341 Story Road, Export, PA 15146

During this retreat at S'eclaier's beautiful campus, you will be invited to consent to silence and celebrate its beauty by moving away from your everyday self-awareness and moving toward your innate capacity to let go. According to S'eclairer, "you will experience a winter wellness ritual that will create a transforming winter glow within you." Registration is $50.

For more information or to register, click here or call (412) 372-1465.

1-2-3 Succeed

As we approach the end of January, here are some tips from bp Magazine to keep your New Year's resolutions going strong. Consider these strategies from influential psychologist Alan Marlatt, Ph.D, and other mental health experts.

• Watch your language. Frame your resolution in the positive: "I will give myself the gift of fresh lungs" rather than, "I'll quit smoking." Avoid absolutes like "all," "none," "never" or "always" which leave no flex room. 
• Stay inspired. Write your resolution on an index card. Add three reasons why it matters to you. Post the note prominently and read it aloud to yourself daily.
• Expect setbacks. Lasting change happens slowly and slips are inevitable. If you don't fully achieve your goal, don't count that as failure. Celebrate any progress and keep moving forward.

Source: bp Magazine

Spring 2012 Family-to-Family Classes Announced

Our spring Family-to-Family classes have been scheduled. Sponsored by NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania and NAMI Pennsylvania, the Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 11-week course for families and friends of individuals with serious mental illness. The course is taught by trained family members who have lived with this experience. Many family members describe this program as life changing.

Class sizes are limited so register today!

Butler County
Passavant Center Chapel
Zelienople, PA 16063
Classes beginning Saturday, Jan. 14, 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, contact the Butler NAMI Office at (724) 431-0069

Squirrel Hill
Children's Institute
1405 Shady Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Classes beginning Monday, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

East Liberty
Veterans Place of Washington Blvd.
945 Washington Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Classes beginning Monday, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

North Hills
NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania Office
105 Braunlich Drive, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Classes beginning Tuesday, March 6, 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

South Hills
Pittsburgh Baptist Church
3100 Pioneer Ave. Dormont, PA 15226
Classes beginning Tuesday, March 6, 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

For more information or to register for a class, please contact our office at 412-366-3788.

Glenn Koons Scholarship: Applications Now Accepted

Glenn Koons

In October, the Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (MHAPA) and the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers’ Association (PMHCA) announced a new scholarship in honor of Glenn Koons, a beloved Certified Peer Specialist who touched many lives before his untimely death. Glenn’s personality and skills led him to become a Certified Peer Specialist. In this role he helped guide people through their mental health recovery journeys. Whether at work or with friends, he brought hope and smiles to people.

MHAPA and PMHCA are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the scholarship. Application deadline is Feb. 15.  

The $1000 scholarship is awarded annually to a promising Pennsylvania candidate for Certified Peer Specialist training who demonstrates the ability to engage people, share life experiences in recovery, provide leadership and teach others these skills.

To apply, print and complete the application. If you have questions, please contact the PMHCA office at 1-800-887-6422.

Special thanks to the donors for helping make this scholarship a reality.

Family Tax Day, Saturday, January 28, 2012




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  The United Way of Allegheny County, the IRS, the Money in Your Pocket Coalition and PNC Bank are hosting Family Tax Day to celebrate the IRS-designated Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. The event will be held at the United Way's offices at 1250 Penn Avenue in the Strip District.

Volunteers from local IRS VITA sites will offer free state and federal income tax preparation services to income-eligible Allegheny County residents (families with incomes up to $40,000 and individuals with incomes up to $20,000). In addition, PNC staff will be on hand to offer taxpayers without traditional bank accounts the option of having their federal refund deposited into a very low-fee debit card account or receiving a check-cashing letter that will allow them to get their refund checks cashed for free at select PNC Bank locations.

These free services are available by appointment only. For more information, or to schedule your appointment, call 2-1-1 or 412-255-1155. Taxpayers must have all W2 forms and tax documents to make an appointment.

More information on additional Money in Your Pocket tax sites can be found at http://www.pghfreetaxes.org/.

Update: Family to Family Courses

We already have updates to our previous post about Family to Family classes going on in southwestern Pennsylvania!

Spring 2012 classes will be held in the following locations:

Butler County
Passavant Center Chapel
Zelienople, PA  16063
Classes beginning Saturday, January 14th, 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, contact the Butler NAMI Office at (724) 431-0069

Squirrel Hill
Children's Institute
1405 Shady Ave. Pittsburgh, PA  15217
Classes beginning Monday, February 27th, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

East Liberty
Time and Date to be Determined

North Hills
Time and Date to be Determined

South Hills
Pittsburgh Baptist Church
3100 Pioneer Ave. Dormont, PA 15226
Classes beginning Tuesday, March 6, 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

For more information or to register for a class, please contact our office at 412-366-3788.


Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary

Spring Family to Family Courses

Spring is just around the corner, and that means NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's Family-to-Family Education Classes will be starting soon.

Sponsored by NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania and NAMI Pennsylvania, the Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 11-week course held in March and September for families and friends of individuals with brain disorders called serious mental illness. The course is taught by trained family members who have lived with this experience. Many family members describe this program as a life-changing experience.

Spring 2012 classes will be held in the following locations:

Squirrel Hill
Children's Institute
1405 Shady Ave. Pittsburgh, PA  15217
Classes beginning Monday, February 27th, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

East Liberty
Time and Date to be Determined

North Hills
Time and Date to be Determined

South Hills
Time and Date to be Determined

For more information or to register for a class, please contact our office at 412-366-3788.


Contributed by Lora M. Dziemiela, Program Secretary