Recovery for All: March 2009

• Cultural Competence Key Score in NAMI’s Grading the States 2009
• NAMI Hosts Meeting on American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health
• NAMI 2009 Convention, "Creating a Healthy Future For Us All"
• New Resources
• Upcoming Events

Cultural Competence Key Score in NAMI’s Grading the States 2009

Released in March, Grading the States 2009 examines the nation’s public mental health care system through a comprehensive, comparative state-by-state assessment. Though 14 states have improved grades since NAMI’s first Grading the States report in 2006, 12 states have slipped and the national average D grade has not budged. NAMI concludes, yet again, that mental healthcare in America is in crisis. Among the key findings of this report: states are not ensuring their service delivery is culturally competent.  Full article...

NAMI Hosts Meeting on American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health

In February 2009, the NAMI Multicultural Action Center hosted an American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Mental Health Listening Session. The meeting brought together 20 experts from around the country to Arlington, Virginia, to discuss pertinent mental health issues within this community. Listening session participants represented a variety of backgrounds, tribal affiliations, and expertise as consumers, family members, providers, and researchers.

The Multicultural Action Center will soon release the proceedings report of this meeting, which will include details of the discussion and both short- and long-term recommendations to guide NAMI in our effort to further engage and support AIAN communities. 
Full article...

NAMI 2009 Convention, "Creating a Healthy Future For Us All"

The NAMI 2009 Convention will take place July 6–9 at the San Francisco Hilton Hotel. This convention marks NAMI’s 30^th anniversary and the first anniversary of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Attendees of the 2009 Convention will enjoy a program rich in sessions focusing on diversity and inclusion, as well as Spanish-language programming. Schedule information, event details, and registration information is available at www.nami.org/convention.

Click here for descriptions of workshops and sessions focusing on current research and initiatives addressing the needs and interests of NAMI's diverse grassroots that will be hosted by the NAMI Multicultural Action Center.

New Resources

African American Faith-Based Outreach Initiative Toolkit

The Multicultural Action Center is pleased to announce the availability of Sharing Hope: Understanding Mental Health, a toolkit for outreach and education to African American congregations. This toolkit includes a practical guide for African American faith community outreach, a 60-minute scripted educational presentation for congregations, and more. Goals of this initiative are to decrease mental health stigma in this community, increase awareness of mental health recovery, and introduce NAMI education and support programs. See www.nami.org/sharinghope for more information.

GLBTQI Recovery and Community Integration Resource

A Mental Health Recovery and Community Integration Guide for GLBTQI Individuals: What You Need to Know is a 12-page colorful booklet that covers a range of key issues in mental health recovery and community integration, such as treatment and rehabilitation, financial support, housing, employment, and peer support, with specific information to address the unique needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex individuals embedded throughout. This resource was created in partnership with University of Pennsylvania’s Collaborative on Community Integration of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities. Visit www.nami.org/glbt to access and download a PDF of this booklet. Hard copies are available for purchase in the NAMI store.

Upcoming Events

• National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health's 6th Annual Shining Lights Outstanding Leaders For A Brighter Future For Hispanics Awards Gala, April 16, West Orange, New Jersey 
• Advances in Indian Health, April 21-24, Albuquerque
• 2009 National LGBTI and Bi Health Summits, August 13-18, Chicago
• Call for presentations: National Rural Health Association's Rural Multiracial and Multicultural Health Conference. Entry deadline is June 12, 2009.  

If you have a resource, announcement, or upcoming event you would like us to promote, please share it with us. Send all necessary details and your full contact information to MACenter@nami.org.