Home NewsLOG

|  |

WELCOME TO THE

NAMI ANCHORAGE NewsLOG

The NAMI Anchorage NewsLOG is written like a Captain's Log.  Articles, stories, poems and other writings will appear on a regular basis, with the most recent additions on top.  We hope you enjoy the NAMI Anchorage NewsLOG and will consider becoming a contributor yourself.  Contributions can be sent to namianchorage@nami.org and are subject to editing when accepted for publishing by NAMI Anchorage.

N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  

The Trust Beneficiary Projects Initiative

3/9/08, by Todd Steele, Program Manager, Foraker Group, Anchorage AK

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is the state entity that supports through programs, funding and supporting innovative approaches to the treatment of and recovery from mental illness. The Trust Beneficiary Projects Initiative, also known as the "Initiative" or "TBPI," is one such innovation.  It is a program that gives beneficiaries of the Trust more control over their lives and their futures.      

People who participate in the decisions that affect their lives are much more likely to act in their own best intrest - -making appropiate decisions and succeeding with training and employment.  That is the principle upon which the Beneficiary Projects Initiative was founded.

The Trust has dedicated $3.5 million annually to help beneficiaries conceive and manage programs that focus on peer-to-peer support.  In addition to people with mental illness, Trust beneficiaries include:

• People with Developmental Disabilities
• People with Chronic Alcoholism
• People with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
• People with Traumatic Head Injury Resulting in Permanent Brain Injury

The TBPI programs emphasize prevention, education and early intervention to help participants find their own path to recovery and wellness.  The Trust  partners with the Foraker Group  to support this initiative with technical assistance to help beneficiary groups conceptualize, plan, budget and implement services provided by and for Trust beneficiaries.

One example of success is Polaris House in Juneau.  This program for people with mental illness is based on the "clubhouse" model.  People come to Polaris House to rebuild their lives.  The members get help finding employment, housing, training and health care.  But more than that, they come for the support they give each nother.  Together they manage the clubhouse and set its rules and policies.  They prepare lunch, maintain the property and plan activities.  They celebrate each other's successes and provide encouragement for members who have setbacks.

The funding for NAMI Anchorage to facilitate support groups and engage in other activities is yet another example of a project that furthers the broad goals of the Initiative.

This Trust endeavor is based on innovation.  Innovative services and new ways to provide services are developing based on the input of the beneficiaries themselves.  The Initiative fosters improved input at all levels of policymaking and service provision.  I urge you to visit the Trust's website www.mhtrust.org to  learn about this and other focus areas.  I also thank you for the opportunity to tell you a little bit about our exciting Initiative.

N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  N  

NAMI Anchorage Becomes a Trust Beneficiary Project Initiative Grantee

3/9/08, by Francine Harbour, President, NAMI Anchorage, AK  

In July 2007, NAMI Anchorage became, for the first time, a grantee under the Mental Health Trust Beneficiary Project Initiative (TBPI).  This new funding comes after several recent years of slow but steady growth for our nearly 25-year old organization.

NAMI Anchorage established a small office in the NAMI Alaska Building in August 2006.  We started fielding phone calls and e-mail from members of the public who are affected by mental illness.  We continued having our twice weekly consumer support group meetings and monthly family support group meetings.

To strengthen our presence in Anchorage and Alaska, however, we knew greater growth would be our biggest challenge.  To meet this challenge NAMI Anchorage submitted a proposal for a TBPI capacity-building grant and received an award of $24,000 for the FY 08 (July '07 through June '08). 

Activities to Grow On

Like all organizations in NAMI, our Anchorage affiliate provides support, education and advocacy to adults affected by mental illness and their families and friends.  We provide support and education by sharing our experience, strength and hope in recovery as consumers and families.  All activities are undertaken on a peer-to-peer basis and include:

• the Adult Consumer Support Group
• the Family Support Group
• the NAMI signature programs such as Family-to-Family and In Our Own Voices
• monthly general education meetings
• drop-in hours, art groups and game nights as scheduled
• education workshops for the community
• special events such as Mental Illness Awareness Week

NAMI Anchorage also serves consumers, families and the community as peer advocates.  On the personal level, peer advocates assist a consumer or family member by talking on the phone or meeting with them to answer questions, solve problems and share experiences.  During setbacks and crises, peer advocates can provide assistance by conacting professional caregivers, the emergency services hotline, or the APD Crisis Intervention Team on behalf of the consumer or family.

On the public advocacy level, NAMI Anchorage works throughout the legislative session for the funding of peer-operated services, preventive and early intervention mental health and substance abuse services, and other mental health legislative priorities. 

NAMI Anchorage has also started to establish a full spectrum of information and referral services by collaborating with:

• Alaska Youth and Family Network (youth with mental, emotional and substance abuse conditions);
• Alaska Suicide Prevention Action Coalition (suicide prevention education);
• Recovery Education Centers of Alaska (mental health education);
• Alaska Women's Recovery Project;
• Traumatic Brain Injury Network;
• Anchorage Community Mental Health Services;
• UAA School of Nursing; and
• Crisis Intervention Team of the Anchorage Police Department.

The New Challenge

The TBPI capacity-building grant challenges NAMI Anchorage to demonstrate how these activities will help adults with mental illness and their families better manage their health and improve their life skills.  To make this demonstration, we have created a manual system for describing who we help now.  We are currently working with the Foraker Group to turn this manual data collection into a programmable database. 

NAMI Anchorage is experiencing exciting times and challenges.  While we will stay true to our mission to provide support, education and advocacy, NAMI Anchorage anticipates a significant increase in the reach and depth of the activities we already offer.  With the much appreciated support of the TBPI grant and Foraker Group, NAMI Anchorage will continue to do what we already do so well for more beneficiaries and with more resources.

|  |