COMMUNITY REPORT2017 - STEPS Erie County - Nami of Erie County
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS—ERIE COUNTY
COMMUNITY
REPORT2017
first
STEPS
Erie County
First Steps
One of a parent’s greatest joys is
when a child takes their first steps.
That moment symbolizes so many
things – the next stage of growth, the satisfaction of reaching a goal,
the promise of new opportunities. First steps are truly the wonder of life
and that’s why we embrace them at NAMI of Erie County, both for our
clients as well as for our organization.
Every day at NAMI, we are privileged to work with individuals and
families who are struggling with the challenges of mental illness. Our
mission is to help them take those first steps toward understanding their
illness and defining a new path for their journey. That path is different
for everyone, but when you walk with resources and inspiration from
those who care, you can pass through a gateway to all of life’s
possibilities.
For NAMI of Erie County, several “first steps” in 2017 evoked a sense
of both accomplishment and expectation:
• With the help of Erie Insurance, we initiated our new NAMI
Basics program for families taking their first steps in
managing and advocating for adolescents with
mental health challenges.
• We expanded our Exploring the Arts with NAMI
program at the ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum to offer
more children and families their first steps into art and music.
• We planned our first fundraiser for the new year, an entire
evening of first steps at the NAMI in the 90s Dance Party, set
for April 14, 2018 at Rainbow Gardens.
• We held our first-ever, golf-less golf tournament when rainstorms
kept us off the greens at Venango Valley Inn and Golf Course,
but the community “stepped up” to help us meet our fundraising
goal.
• And most visibly, we took the first steps to move the NAMI
offices to the second floor of 1611 Peach Street, a new
space three times larger than our former suite and able to
accommodate our expanding programs and client base.
At NAMI, we believe that you cannot see the path that lies ahead until
you take those first steps. And when you take the first steps, you direct
the energy of your mind, heart, and body in that direction. That’s what
we do for our clients, free of charge, every day. And that is why your
awareness of our programs and your support – whether financial or
in-kind – is so critical.
As you read more about our first steps from this year, please consider
how you can contribute to our continued growth and new opportunities
for those we serve. With your support, we can help more individuals
and families dealing with mental illness to take their first steps toward a
better life.
Thank you,
Denise L. Kolivoski, MBA
Executive Director
Children’s First Steps into Music
In April, NAMI hosted the third edition
of the Exploring the Arts with NAMI
program at the ExpERIEnce Children’s
Museum. Over 60 students from Early
Connections attended the program,
which featured local musician,
Lori Burke.
Lori provided an educational, fun, and
interactive experience for the children
as she taught them the basics of the
guitar, rhythm and beats, and some
fun sing-a-long songs, such as “I’ve
Been Working on the Railroad” as
the museum’s miniature train rode by!
The children explored how music and
creativity can have a positive impact
on mental health and wellness.
Then, the children put that creativity
into practice, building their own
instruments out of common recyclable
materials and playing together,
boosting their self-confidence and
ability to cooperate with others. NAMI
would like to thank Erie Insurance and
the Kiwanis Club of Erie for making the
program possible.
Partially funded by:
First Step for Adolescents
NAMI of Erie County recently started
planning our latest initiative—bringing
the NAMI Basics program to the Erie
community! NAMI Basics is a free
six-week program, based on NAMI’s
signature Family-to-Family curriculum, for
parents who have an adolescent child
showing the signs of mental illness.
NAMI Basics teaches participants how
to manage crises, solve problems, and
improve communication skills with their
child. Emphasis will also be placed on
advocating for their child’s rights at
school and in health care settings, as
well as learning about the latest mental
health treatments and evidence-based
therapies.
Like all NAMI programs, NAMI
Basics will be offered at no cost to
participants, enabling anyone to take
the program, regardless of their ability
to pay. NAMI Basics anticipated
launch date is in winter 2018.
Programs Help Step-by-Step Roy and Jan Berlin met at a plastics perspective with their training and plant and have spent the past 26 lived-in experience. years together—24 of them married. “Peer-to-Peer was very helpful for me in Jan first entered treatment in 1991, but learning that mental illness is a disease. just because she was receiving help The program allowed me to get rid of didn’t mean it was smooth sailing. The my own personal stigmas,” said Jan. For couple had many fights and there Roy, he learned that “mental illness is was a lot of confusion, as it was nothing that I did or caused, and it’s not difficult for both of them to realize something that I can fix. But what I can that Jan’s mental health issues were do is support her however I can.” After an illness. Eventually, Jan enrolled in graduating from NAMI’s programs, NAMI’s Peer-to-Peer program and Roy each of them have become NAMI- joined the Family-to-Family program, certified program facilitators and which was an important step in enjoy volunteering for the organization. understanding the challenges that Jan Together, Roy and Jan are making a was facing. These programs provide difference in the Erie Community, one free, evidence-based education for step, and class, at a time. If you, or individuals and their family members, anyone you know, could benefit from respectively. NAMI-certified peers, these free programs, register today by who have walked more than a mile in visiting NAMIerie.org. the shoes of class participants, teach the programs and offer a unique “I became a Peer-to-Peer facilitator because I wanted to give back by letting people know they’re not alone and NAMI is a safe space.”—Jan “For me, Family-to-Family put a lot of things in perspective; it was nice to meet and interact with people in similar situations and realize I’m not alone.”—Roy
Step Out at NAMI Dance
NAMI of Erie County is thrilled to
announce our next fundraiser—the
NAMI in the 90’s Dance Party!
DJ Tony B will be spinning all your
favorite 90’s tracks, there will be
plenty of totally rad glow sticks and
slap bracelets, and an unreal light
show!
Join NAMI on Saturday, April 14, 2018
from 8 p.m. to midnight at Rainbow
Gardens for a night that will surely
be “Supa Dupa Fly!” By attending, you
can step back in time to help families in
need today!
Be sure to get *NSYNC with your
friends and wear all your hottest 90’s
gear, such as Zubaz pants, Starter
jackets, and Doc Martins! For
more information, please visit
90sdancepartyerie.com. You definitely
“Wannabe” there for this totally
awesome party, because at NAMI of
Erie County, “This Is How We Do It!”
All proceeds from the NAMI in the
90’s Dance Party will stay in Erie
County to benefit individuals, children,
and families facing the challenges of
mental illness.
Golfers Step Up for NAMI
NAMI’s Fifth and Fabulous Golf Outing
underwent a huge change this year—
NO GOLF! Severe rainstorms made it
impossible for golfers to go out on the
greens, but that didn’t stop them from
having a great time at Venango Valley
Inn and Golf Course.
Golfers were treated to a FABULOUS
party, including pulled pork from
Three B Saloon, lunch from Alto Cucina
and Syd’s place, great craft beer from
the Brewerie at Union Station, handmade
ice cream from Northern Scoop, and
cupcakes from Allie Cakes! The party
featured music by Mike Trott and
DJ Tony B! One golfer even remarked
that this was “The best golf outing
without golf I’ve ever been to!”
Despite the weather, NAMI still
managed to exceed our fundraising goal
by raising over $26,000 for our free
programs and services, ensuring that
no family is ever turned away from the
education they deserve. Thank you to
the Erie community for stepping up!
Be sure to join NAMI next year for
the Sixth Annual Fabulous Golf Outing,
taking place on June 22, 2018 at
Venango Valley! For more information,
please visit NAMIerie.org/fabulous. It’ll
be a FABULOUS time—rain or shine!
First Steps to Expansion
NAMI of Erie County is movin’ on
up—to Suite 218, that is! NAMI’s new
office space is still located at 1611
Peach Street, but now the organization
is located on the second floor. The
new location is three times as large
as the old one. This is the first step to
expanding NAMI’s programming to
unprecedented levels, including the
Family-to-Family Education program,
Peer-to-Peer Workforce Development
program, and the NAMI Basics
program. Additionally, NAMI will
be able to host more community
programming, such as Mental Health
First Aid training.
NAMI would like to thank
local businessman Gene Ware,
who donated Suite 218 to the
organization. Gene is pictured with
Director Denise L. Kolivoski, MBA
at the official key exchange.
NAMI recently won its third
bronze Telly Award for the “Boas
Are Back” television commercial
at the 38th Annual Telly Awards
competition in the nonprofit
category. This trophy will join the
growing list of awards that are
now proudly on display in NAMI’s
new office space!2016-2017 Operating Revenue
$251,080
Erie County
Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities
$66,579
Community Support
$384,602
Total $42,000
Operating United Way of Erie County
Revenue
$15,000
Other Grants
$9,943
Investment Revenue
NAMI of Erie County has been debt-free since 2011.
Our Next Steps
As you have read in this community report, NAMI of Erie County took the first
steps in several key initiatives this year, all due the generosity of our donors,
supporters and community. We are extremely grateful for this support – we
certainly could not have journeyed down the path without you!
In helping individuals and families with mental illness, NAMI has always understood
that the first step in solving a program is to recognize that it does exist. That is a
large part of what we have done for more than 30 years and what we will
continue to do in the year ahead. The more than 55,000
Erie County residents who face mental illness each day are
counting on us.
Again, thank you for your contributions and support. With your help, our
next steps are to continue to advocate and educate for those who live
with mental illness. To learn more about our programs, and how we impact
the community, or to donate online, visit NAMIerie.org.
Board of Directors
Curt Frigon, President Chris Hollern
Central Payment Erie County Care Management
Jerry Fagley, Immediate Past President Sal Parco, Ph. D.
Loesel-Schaaf Insurance Agency, Inc. Retired
Andrew Dylewski, Treasurer Guy Sheldon
PNC Bank Wingate by Wyndham Hotel
John Groh, Secretary Sheila Silman, MS
Millcreek Township GECAC
Emily Burkhart Emily Wachter
Mental Health Advocate Rodan & Fields
Linda Hackshaw
Sight Center of NWPA
Staff
Denise L. Kolivoski, MBA Steve Krivonak, MPA
Executive Director Executive Assistant
Heather Christensen
Events CoordinatorNon-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Erie County PAID
Erie, PA
1611 Peach Street - Suite 105 Permit No. 858
Erie, PA 16501-2120
One in Five
One in five adults experience a mental health
disorder in any given year, and chances are
this person is someone you know, perhaps
someone very close to you.
NAMI’s classes provide techniques for
communication and problem-solving, as well as
self-care skills for families and individuals.
@NAMIerie
facebook.com/NAMI.Erie
nami_erie
NAMIerie.orgYou can also read
