2012 Annual Report. Reducing stigma by educating the community about mental illness

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1 2012 Annual Report Reducing stigma by educating the community about mental illness Providing free education, support services, and advocacy to improve the quality of life of everyone affected by mental illnesses.

2 The Year In Review Perhaps the best way to explain what NAMI San Diego is all about is to focus on our latest outreach endeavor - Ending the Silence a mental health education program targeting middle school and high school students. In January of this year, carefully selected and trained two-person teams began talking to individual San Diego high school and middle school classrooms about the signs and symptoms of mental illness. This outreach began when classroom teachers turned to NAMI San Diego asking for assistance in answering questions from their students, such as: I was just told I have bipolar disorder. Why me? Why is my friend acting so strange? Where can I turn to for help? How can I help my friend? NAMI has always excelled in connecting with adults. The question we began asking ourselves then, boiled down to this: If we are doing such a wonderful job of educating adults, then why are we keeping kids in the dark? Nancy Fuller has long been associated with NAMI San Diego. Years ago her son experienced his first symptoms of mental illness while in high school. We in the NAMI family know all too well the type of heartbreak that she and her family endured. Nancy and her family were e luckier than most in they were able to draw strength from her son s classmates who rallied around him. Nancy began longing to get NAMI into our classrooms. She came across a program called Ending the Silence, pioneered at the grassroots level by NAMI DuPage (Illinois). The program is built around a 50-minute presentation for high school students, usually within a science or health sciences class. Ending the Silence appeared to be a perfect match for NAMI San Diego. With the support of NAMI San Diego s Executive Director, Shannon Jaccard, the decision was made. Nancy talked to school administrators, recruited and trained the initial 12 volunteers, and the group began their first presentations. 1 NAMI San Diego 2012 Annual Report

3 The Year In Review The response se was unequivocally positive. One student said: Now I know I am not alone and that I should start talking instead of keeping it to myself. By the end of March 2012, the volunteers made presentations about mental illness to almost 600 students in 22 classrooms within 12 high schools in San Diego County. The effect of this grassroots approach did not stop in the classroom. Parents and teachers of these students began asking about NAMI and soon discovered the extent of the programs and services available to them. NAMI San Diego truly began to raise awareness, not just for students, but also for their teachers and parents. Ending the Silence has now spread throughout the entire state of California. As Nancy says, We are doing what NAMI does best. We are getting in front of these kids and telling our stories. We are letting them know they are not alone and assisting them in finding the help and answers they are looking for. Did You Know? Four million children and adolescents in this country suffer from a serious mental disorder that causes significant functional impairments at home, at school, and with peers. Approximately 50% of students age 14 and older who are living with a mental illness drop out of high school. This is the highest dropout rate of any disability group. Youth with unidentified and untreated mental disorders can also tragically end up in jails and prisons. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth ages 15 to 24. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined. Early identification and treatment prevents the loss of critical developmental years that cannot be recovered and helps youth avoid years of unnecessary suffering. Nancy Fuller, Community Programs Specialist, getting out the word. "I'm really grateful and glad you talked to us. I often feel very alone or weird because many kids my age don't understand. But now I'm sure they would be more supportive of me." ~ Anonymous high school student 2 NAMI San Diego 2011 Annual Report

4 The Year In Review Hope Connections We are especially excited about our partnership with Mental Health Systems Inc. and the Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) in HOPE Connections. This program, which began last year, is funded by the Mental Health Services Act through San Diego County Behavioral Health. Working out of a number of different clinic and hospital locations, our HOPE Connections team offers on-site support and assistance for successful recovery and reentry into the community. One of the strengths of the program is the use of peers working alongside professionals as a vital part of the HOPE Connections team. NAMI San Diego has long been a leader in recognizing the vital role that peers provide in helping their fellow peers toward recovery. Increasingly, our partners in the community are turning to us for what we have to offer in this vital piece of the treatmentrecovery picture. Friends in the Lobby This is a NAMI San Diego initiative that reaches out to family members visiting their hospitalized loved ones. Typically, these individuals feel alone and forgotten, with no knowledge of where to turn for support. This year, we have expanded to a continuing presence in six behavioral health hospitals. Thank you so much," one mom told us. "It is like I was meant to come here today! Elsewhere Around NAMI San Diego The spectrum runs from our classic signature programs such as Family to Family, which is getting into new communities, to newer outreaches such as Parents and Teachers as Allies - all provided free of charge, all addressing very urgent needs in the community. From our point of view, the expense is considerable involving paid staff, office space, and administrative support, not to mention the dedication of our many volunteers but from the point of view of our partners in the community, NAMI San Diego is providing exceptional value for money. Increasingly, the community is looking to NAMI San Diego for answers. Now more than ever NAMI San Diego is able to respond. Accomplishments In Our Own Voice presentations, six in Spanish. 20 Family to Family classes, in English, Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese languages. 8 Peer to Peer classes, in English and Spanish. 47 Connection Recovery Support Groups. 12 Family Support Groups. 100,000 website visits. 100,000 people attending NAMI SD resource booths at 60 community resource fairs. 150 Education and Advocacy and School presentations (not counting Ending the Silence). 186 volunteers contributing 3720 hours. 5,151 Helpline calls answered, in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. HOPE Connections: Number of unduplicated contacts (began October 24): EMASS impact: 36 older adults have become citizens. Over 400 older adults received referrals to mental health services. San Diego County NAMI WALK: 3,500 participants with over 70 resource fair exhibitors. Ending The Silence: over 600 students reached. 3 NAMI San Diego 2012 Annual Report

5 The Year In Review Events This year s NAMI San Diego County Walk was our largest-ever, ever, bringing 3,500 people to Balboa Park. The Walk represents our most visible initiative in our neverending campaign to bring mental illness out into the open, front and center on everyone s agenda. Our annual Inspiration Awards Dinner pays tribute to the values we hold so dear at NAMI San Diego. This year's honorees included Police Chief William Lansdowne, whose department serves on the front lines of mental health, and Joyce Burland, who pioneered NAMI's signature Family to Family program. Last year, we began a collaboration with one of our partners in mental health, Mental Health America of San Diego County, in the form of a New Year's Eve Ball that supports the work of both our agencies. This year, NAMI San Diego is delighted to continue that partnership. Financial Position and Governance Our audited financial statements reveal that NAMI San Diego is financially sound, with an expanding budget that is managed with the greatest of care. With strong leadership, through the passion and commitment of our staff and board and volunteers, we look forward to continuing to work together - all of us - in order to fulfill the NAMI mission of support, education and advocacy for everyone affected by mental illnesses. Lisa Ponfick MD Board President Shannon Jaccard Executive Director Top: Walking in style, NAMI San Diego County Walk. Middle: NAMI San Diego Inspirational Person of the Year Chief William Lansdowne with Executive Director Shannon Jaccard Bottom: Joyce Burland, founder of Family to Family. 4 NAMI San Diego 2012 Annual Report

6 NAMI San Diego Programs and Events Monthly Education and Advocacy Meetings Family-to-Family Education Classes Peer-to-Peer Education Classes NAMI Basics Education Classes Parents and Teachers as Allies Workshops NAMI Support Groups for Family Members NAMI Connections Groups for Peers Senior Mental Health Partnership Conferences Friends in the Lobby San Diego County NAMI Walk Inspirational Awards Dinner Elder Multicultural Access and Support Services (EMASS) Newsletters: Advocate, plus other enewsletters Speakers Bureau and Specialized Outreach and Training In Our Own Voice Speaker Presentations Government Relations and Advocacy Committee Mental Health Pathway: A Community Academy HOPE Connections Mental Health First Aid Journey Through Wellness Ending the Silence 2012 Board of Directors Officers Lisa Ponfick MD, MBA President John McManamy LLB (Hons), Vice President Annette Witt, LCSW, Treasurer Louise Groszkruger, MFT, MBA, Secretary At Large Donald Berk, LCSW Kristin Casey, MFT Stan Collins Steve Koh MD, MHH,MBA David J. Miller Andy Kaiser, MBA Lindsey Winthrop, JD 2012 Management Team Shannon Jaccard, MBA Executive Director Carlos Hernandez Executive Assistant Family and Peer Support Helpline Anita Fisher Education Department Sue Skube Community and Outreach Patrick Cremeens Financial Services Rita Navarro Human Resources 5 NAMI San Diego 2012 Annual Report

7 NAMI San Diego Financial Statements 6 NAMI San Diego 2012 Annual Report

8 NAMI San Diego Financial Statements 7 NAMI San Diego 2012 Annual Report

9 NAMI San Diego Financial Statements 8 NAMI San Diego 2012 Annual Report

10 Thank You Over the past year NAMI San Diego has been the grateful recipient of contributions from many generous individuals and businesses. We thank all who honor our work through their financial and in-kind contributions. Helpline and General Inquiries: Donation Inquiries: Website: Follow us on Facebook at and Twitter at