Along These Lines...

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Laureen Parrish
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3 About NAMI Abilene 3 NAMI Texas CONVENTION 2017 4 Signature Programs 5 Special Thanks 5 Contact Us 5 All meetings are at 6 p.m. 910 Cypress Street. Abilene, TX Along These Lines.

1 Volume 1, Issue 5 Fall 2017 PHOENIX The Official Newsletter of NAMI Abilene Inside this issue: NAMI 2017 Public Policy Agenda NAMI Abilene General Meetings NAMI Night Big Country Tuesday, Oct 3, 2017 Tuesday, Nov. 7,2017. Saturday, Dec. 9, In Our Own Voice: William Byl B. 3 About NAMI Abilene 3 NAMI Texas CONVENTION Signature Programs 5 Special Thanks 5 Contact Us 5 All meetings are at 6 p.m. 910 Cypress Street. Abilene, TX Along These Lines... CONGRATULATIONS NAMI Abilene. We have now begun operating as a Model A Affiliate. Currently we are seeking nominations for a seat on our Board of Directors. We continue our efforts in preparing, editing and uploading all the required documents to meet Standards of Excellence requirements and fundraising. We are solidifying our community partnerships through the Mental Health Task Force of our region, the Big Country ROSC (Recover Oriented Systems of Care), our LMHA, Ministerial Alliances and groups in our service area and with other strategic partners are we enter into MOU s. With regard to programming we ve completed our first 10-week Peer to Peer class, two members have completed the NAMI Homefront online training, and have entered into discussions with Military Veterans Partnership Network to offer our services to their military families. Our two (2) NAMI Signature Programs - NAMI Family Support Group and NAMI Connection Recovery to grow. We are pleased to announce the awarding of the PAVE Grant from Junior League of Abilene for our pilot Ending the Silence program slated for next year. We are also leading the efforts of the estab- November boasts our NAMI Texas Conference in Austin. November 2-4, Our founding leader/ president William Byl Boyd receiving Volunteer of the Year Award. November 9th meeting NAMI Night Big Country. A Salute to Veterans. Invited Special Guests: Military Veterans Partnership Network. lishing of a Mental Health Clubhouse in Abilene. Tee Shirt sales are underway. The price for our Walk tee shirt is $20. All Sizes still available. Our Blue Signature Team tee shirt is available in limited sizes for $10. Contact our Offices for purchase information. Help as we strive to improve the lives of those affected by mental illness Until next issue...

Page 2 NAMI Smarts NAMI Abilene will host it s first NAMI Smarts for Advocacy training on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at the Betty Hardwick MHMR Center

Byl Boyd will be teaching the class utilizing the skills he learned at his recent training in Round Rock, Texas under the tutelage of Greg Hansch.

There will be much rancor in the United States capitol over expenditures and STAY TUNED!!! Changes coming... 2018 NAMI will be there!

NAMI Abilene had the privilege of hosting it s first Walk for Mental Illness Awareness this past October, during Mental Illness Awareness Week, in

When you walk with NAMI Abilene, you join the movement to make mental illness a stigma-free diagno- Everman Park. Walk 2017.

And any major transition whether in politics or in our personal lives is often accompanied by a range of emotions.

NAMI pledges to be in the conversation every step of the way, fighting to make sure that your mental healthcare is protected and keeping you informed of

2 Page 2 NAMI Smarts NAMI Abilene will host it s first NAMI Smarts for Advocacy training on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at the Betty Hardwick MHMR Center in Abilene. Byl Boyd will be teaching the class utilizing the skills he learned at his recent training in Round Rock, Texas under the tutelage of Greg Hansch. Advocate! Is still our rallying cry. for a new legislative calendar and a new administration in the nation s capital. There will be much rancor in the United States capitol over expenditures and STAY TUNED!!! Changes coming NAMI will be there! So, from the NAMI Blog, January 27, 2017, by Happy Carlock, New Congress, What Now?, we re Walk for Mental Illness Awareness 2017 SUCCESS!! We made it. NAMI Abilene had the privilege of hosting it s first Walk for Mental Illness Awareness this past October, during Mental Illness Awareness Week, in downtown AbiIene. This Walk will become an annual event for our Affiliate as we continue to grow and eventually host a NAMIWalk celebration. When you walk with NAMI Abilene, you join the movement to make mental illness a stigma-free diagno- Everman Park. Walk reminded, America is in a time of transition. And any major transition whether in politics or in our personal lives is often accompanied by a range of emotions. Just log onto your Facebook or Twitter page and you re likely to be flooded by alarming headlines and heated commentary. NAMI pledges to be in the conversation every step of the way, fighting to make sure that your mental healthcare is protected and keeping you informed of new developments. sis, educate the general public that without mental health you can t have good health, and raise funds for our mission to help individuals and families right here in Abilene. We were fortunate to have about 25 people to join us as we stepped off at Frontier Texas. Participants included volunteers from the NAMI Abilene membership and supporters. Next year, our. kick-off for the Walk will be in June and will take the form of a Benefit Golf Tournament at Maxwell Golf Course. It is our desire that sponsorships from this event will defray costs of the Walk.

Volume 1, Issue 5 Fall 2017 Page 3 In Our Own Voice (.

journey began in crisis in Moultrie, Georgia following meltdown in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.

3 Volume 1, Issue 5 Fall 2017 Page 3 In Our Own Voice (...and the winner is) KUDO;s to William Byl Boyd, pictured here with a fellow NAMI Smarts for Advocacy teacher, Diane in Austin, on his selection as the 2017 NAMI Texas Volunteer of the Year My journey began in crisis in Moultrie, Georgia following meltdown in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. After years of struggling with an alcoholism and crack addiction coupled with an untreated mental health diagnosis of schizo-affective disorder, bipolar type I I was introduced to a new organization in the area called NAMI. The emergency room at the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital transported me to a treatment facility in Moultrie, Georgia that specialized in treating persons with a dual-diagnosis. For the first time in my life I would be afforded the opportunity to address all my issues and truly seek recovery. My lived experience includes homelessness, physical abuse, dumpster diving and an endless supply of street drugs and generic mouthwash. For two years, I worked to move back into the mainstream of life. My introduction to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Moultrie was a godsend. Because it was a new, young and emerging Affiliate I was able to grow with the organization. I began my journey as a participant in the peer support group. Today, I am a Texas Certified Peer Specialist and founding director of NAMI Abilene. About NAMI Abilene NAMI Abilene is a newly formed Affiliate in Texas. NAMI Abilene offers a variety of education classes and support groups, participates in area mental health events, and advocates for people with mental illness and their family members and friends. We welcome people living with a mental illness, their family members and friends, and mental health professionals to get involved with NAMI Abilene activities. Our service area (Abilene) covers Taylor and Jones counties. All meetings, classes, and support groups are free and are centrally located. The success of our organization depends upon involvement of community members like yourself! Come JOIN US! YOU can make a DIFFER- ENCE! There are many ways to get involved: Take a mental health class Participate in a support group Lead a class or support group Attend our general meetings Advocate for improved mental health services Become a member Volunteer

NAMI Texas Celebrates Conference 2017 November 2 4, 2017, the city of Austin, Texas hosted the 2017 NAMI Texas State Conference. The theme this year, The Power of Connection.

4 NAMI Texas Celebrates Conference 2017 November 2 4, 2017, the city of Austin, Texas hosted the 2017 NAMI Texas State Conference. The theme this year, The Power of Connection. Every year, NAMI Texas hosts a mental health conference in a different part of the state (though Byl keeps asking with a smile, why they seem to be locked into one city?). Thes conferences bring together individuals living with mental illness, family members, professionals, and the general public to highlight the latest updates in the mental health field, exchange information, and celebrate the year s successes. The Conference was held at the Austin Marriott South. On Thursday, January 2nd, at the Awards Celebration, we honored the recipients of the NAMI Texas annual awards. CHARLEY SHANNON ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE AWARD BETTY FULENWIDER MEDIA AWARD MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD MARK KORENEK CONSUMER QUALITY OF LIFE AWARD JACKIE SHANNON ENDURING VOLUNTEER AWARD DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE AWARD Senator John Whitmire Emily Foxhall, Houston Chronicle Sharon Butterworth William Byl Boyd, NAMI Abilene Meredith Stacy Jones Sharon DeBlanc Eric Kunish The Conference provided insight into the working of NAMI and present were a myriad of service providers and vendors of benefit to the local Affiliates. Plans underway to open satellite office... Coming in January we will be housed at 1228 Grape Street. Abilene, Texas. Site of our 2017 NAMI Mental Health Conference. NAMI Abilene will reach another milestone with the opening of our Office at 1228 Grape Street in Abilene, home of our 2017 Mental Health Conference. Having an office presence affords us an opportunity for advancement in our program offerings and the solicitation of grant funding and individual donations. Now, when someone asks, Where are you located?, we can give them a definitive and verifiable answer and location. Office hours will be posted on our website and marketing materials. We are also seeking Volunteers to assist in a number of areas of our operations as well as soliciting material donations such as office equipment and supplies. We are grateful for the recent donations of office furniture and supplies by the 180 House of Abilene and Oceans Behavioral Health Hospital, Abilene. All training materials as well as resource materials will be store at this site. Special thanks to Bishop Robert A. Nichols and the congregation of Church on the Rock Abilene for their offer of this space and for their continued support. We are exploring the possibility of offering a Connection Recovery Support Group at this facility during the new programming year. Stay Tuned...

P.O. Box 2352 Abilene, Texas 79604 (325)701-9051 officemanager@namiabilene.org www.namitexas.org/nami-abilene Crisis Line: https://www.facebook.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental

m. Abilene, TX NAMI Connection & Family Support Groups NAMI Family & Connection Support Groups First Tuesdays of the month 7:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m. 901 Cypress Abilene, TX Byl (Bill) (325) 701-9051 Byl (325) 701 9051 Suicide Hotline 1-800 784-2433 NAMI In Our Own Voice TBA.

org/ nami-abilene General Meetings NAMI Nights Big Country Open to the Public First Tuesday of the month 6 p.m. 901 Cypress Abilene, Texas Byl (Bill) Boyd (229) 429-4535 The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

5 P.O. Box 2352 Abilene, Texas (325) Crisis Line: NAMIAbilene/ Millions of Americans are affected by mental health conditions every year. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness through education and support for both the individual and the family. NAMI Signature Programs Type Day and Time Location Contact Third Tuesday Church on the Rock 6:00 p.m. -7: Grape p.m. Abilene, TX NAMI Connection & Family Support Groups NAMI Family & Connection Support Groups First Tuesdays of the month 7:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m. 901 Cypress Abilene, TX Byl (Bill) (325) Byl (325) Suicide Hotline NAMI In Our Own Voice TBA. Make appointments at Byl (229) We re on the web nami-abilene General Meetings NAMI Nights Big Country Open to the Public First Tuesday of the month 6 p.m. 901 Cypress Abilene, Texas Byl (Bill) Boyd (229) The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. - Ralph Waldo Emerson A Note of Thanks: Special thanks to our Sponsors of NAMI Fest House, ARCADA, Oceans Behavioral Hospital, the family of Glenna Easterling Vivian, Betty Hardwick Center, Church on the Rock Abilene, Don & Victoria Baker, the family of Jean Alstine Boyd, Levrets Ink, CRC, Inc., O.N.E. Favor, Merri, McLane & Hamby Law Firm, State Farm Agent, NAMI Texas, and most of all, to YOU! Every year, NAMI Texas hosts a mental health conference.. It will again be in Austin, Texas and NAMI Abilene was there. November 2-4, 2017

Along These Lines...

Along These Lines... Volume 2, Issue 2 Spring 2018 PHOENIX The Official Newsletter of Inside this issue: HOSA Brownwood ISD HOSA Abilene A Success NAMI Public Policy Update General Meetings NAMI Night Big Country Tuesday,