NAMI FaithNet Newsletter: February 2010
Welcome to the February issue of the NAMI FaithNet Newsletter.
In This Issue:
- Speak to the "80 percent"
- Through a glass darkly: How Catholics struggle with Mental Illness
- NAMI Family-to-Family: A Pastor's Education
- Grants Available for African American Outreach and Education Program Expansion
Speak to the "80 percent"
Gunnar E. Christiansen, M.D., reflects on the importance of educating and engaging the 80 percent of people who are not directly affected by mental illness in faith communities. He also highlights a number of resources that can be used to develop such ministries related to mental illness.
Read more
Through a glass darkly: How Catholics struggle with Mental Illness
A recent article in U.S. Catholic magazine explores the sometimes complicated relationship between the Catholic Church and those affected by mental illness. While some Catholics experiencing mental illness and their families find comfort in the Church, others sometimes feel alienated.
Read more
NAMI Family-to-Family: A Pastor's Education
The Rev. Dan Merchant of the Cedar Street Baptist Church in Tripton, Iowa credits NAMI's Family-to-Family class with teaching him about mental illness, an education he did not receive when training for his ministry.
Read more
Grants Available for African American Outreach and Education Program Expansion
NAMI is seeking applications from NAMI affiliates and/or chartered state organizations to expand and further evaluate Sharing Hope: Understanding Mental Health, an outreach and education initiative targeting African American congregations. The main goal of this initiative is to help NAMI affiliates and chartered state organizations successfully reach out and meaningfully engage African Americans in NAMI (education programs, support groups, etc.).
NAMI will award grants to five NAMI affiliates and/or chartered state organizations in good standing. Each of the selected sites will receive a Sharing Hope implementation grant in the amount of $3,000 in order to cover the costs associated with the initiative (staff time, materials, etc.), will receive technical assistance from the NAMI Multicultural Action Center and will be able to participate in program updates and training conference calls.
Talk to us before you apply: The NAMI Multicultural Action Center will host an informational conference call to help interested sites learn more about Sharing Hope and the 2010 grant program. You also will hear from individuals who have experience working with the toolkit with successful results in this initiative. Mark your calendar and plan to join us!
Friday, Feb. 19 at 3:00 p.m. EST
Dial 1 (888) 858-6021 and enter code 868887#
See the Sharing Hope Web site for more information. Click here to download the grant informational and application packet. Applications are due March 1, 2009.
NAMI FaithNet
