NAMI SFV Annual Report 2009

In 2009, NAMI SFV, National Alliance on Mental Illness, San Fernando Valley built upon our tradition of dedication and service to families and individuals living with severe mental illness. In addition to all of our free educational and support services, we expanded our reach with a new website, expanded our connection to mental health consumers with a new bowling league, and expanded our voice and visibility in the community with vigorous media outreach efforts. We aired new radio PSAs on KPFK, KTLK and KFI radio reaching over 60,000 listeners; enjoyed a radio interview on High Desert Radio reaching nearly 30,000 live and online listeners; published news features in Los Angeles Times reaching thousands of readers; and took part in a CNN Local Edition news interview reaching over 20,000 viewers. We also renewed our presence on the internet with hundreds of unique web visitors to our new site ( http://www.namisfv.org ) As a result of these and other outreach efforts, we responded to more than 550 inquires in 2009.

Our individual outreach included speaking engagements throughout our community with an “Ask the Psychiatrist” presentation in Spanish and hundreds of NAMI outreach events where NAMI SFV shared information and insight with audiences in our San Fernando Valley community and beyond. These included presentations at Canyon Country Library, luncheons and SAAC Meetings. Our energetic NAMI SFV Outreach team also shared vital information on our programs and services by participating in more than a dozen health fairs, community fairs and information booths. We reached hundreds more through distribution of our new NAMI SFV brochures throughout our community; hospitals, mental health clinics, libraries, local churches and police stations. Our own team of trained NAMI SFV mental health consumers shared their personal triumphs towards recovery in a series of moving In Our Own Voice presentations at many locations throughout the year.

Our monthly Expert Speaker Series included nine highly qualified mental health, legal and benefits specialists as well as the personal stories from the front lines of mental illness, with panels of family members and mental health consumers. Overall, the free public NAMI SFV Speaker Series informed, educated and welcomed over 500 community members in 2009. (An average of 50 per meeting) Our ongoing NAMI SFV Family Support Groups are always free and always open to individuals and family members caring for loved ones with mental illness. The Family Support Groups which are offered in four convenient locations; Van Nuys, Santa Clarita, Northridge, and in the West San Fernando Valley, served over 600 community members in 2009, providing support and vital information on living with mental illness. Our signature NAMI program,
Family to Family, served 80 people with our free 12-week educational program. Those who took part graduated with a transformative store of insight and information on mental illness, medication, treatment, and coping skills. We also recruited new Family to Family Teachers who will be trained to continue our proud tradition of providing this important NAMI educational program to our community.

Our NAMI SFV fundraising activities included a shopping day at Macy’s Sherman Oaks in May and our participation in the annual NAMI WALKS fundraiser in October. Our shopping day resulted in beautiful bargains for participating shoppers and a handsome net fundraising income of $2950.50. Our NAMI WALKS fundraising income held steady despite the economic downturn resulting in estimated earnings $21,000 at the October 3rd, 2009 walk on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. With approx. 75 walkers and 17 teams, we were highly visible at the walk with our own board member Mark Gale as Walk MC, our fearless Walk Captain Beth Arnold and an exciting new team of 26 students and faculty from Cal State Northridge, led by Professor Merril Simon PhD.

Our NAMI SFV members participated in two important votes this year. In July we voted to officially change our name to NAMI San Fernando Valley and to adopt newly revised articles of incorporation and bylaws. This change was envisioned to better align our affiliate with National NAMI, NAMI California, and other Los Angeles – area affiliates. The name change also serves to strengthen our name recognition and allows us to effectively combat the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. In our annual election in November, we approved an expanded slate of board members who will serve in 2010. Our NAMI SFV board is a working board. Each member of NAMI SFV Board of Directors is expected to serve and/or chair at least one committee; Outreach, Membership, NAMI Walks, Education, Finance, Volunteer, Newsletter, Special Projects ( Ad Hoc) “… a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall be persons who have been diagnosed with and received treatment for serious mental illness and/or family members of such persons.

NAMI SFV is proud to announce our
Board of Directors 2010:

In addition to welcoming new and returning board members, we bid farewell to Mark Gale as an active board member. Mark’s many years of service to our affiliate will continue with his ongoing commitment as a support group facilitator in the West Valley. We wish him well as he moves on to serve on the Board of NAMI California.

Our NAMI SFV affiliate is an all-volunteer organization established in 1979 by and for families caring for loved ones with severe mental illness. We have all experienced the drama and heartbreak of living with mental illness, as well as the joy and hope of recovery. We simply could not do what we do without the selfless dedication of time, effort and talent of countless volunteers. We were pleased to welcome over a dozen new volunteers in 2009 including those who walked with us in October, served with us on Special Projects committee, stuffed envelopes, manned the NAMI lending library at Speaker Meetings and generally made it possible for us to reach, and help, more families and individuals in our community. Thank you all for everything you do to support NAMI SFV and
those we serve.

Treasurer’s Report NAMI SFV 2009

*Gifted Victory Wellness Center with $2500 to furnish Community Room
In Memory of John Henry Flesher, who for many years helped NAMI SFV publish and mail our bi-monthly newsletter
*Gifted West Valley Mental Health Center and Project Return (Mental Health Assoc. of Los Angeles) – Holiday Donations

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