2014 Board of Directors Candidates Statement of Willingness Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola MEMBER OF: NAMI Sacramento M.D. Autonomous University of Guadalajara, School of Medicine Medical Intern Santa Maria Chapalita Hospital MS of Psychology George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University Ph.D. George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University Intern in Clinical-Community Psychology University of California, San Francisco Postdoctoral Research Scholar University of California, San Francisco of Medicine OCCUPATION: Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine, UC Davis School NAMI MEMBER FOR: 3 years NAMI is a nationally renowned organization that cares about the mental health of consumers, their families and communities including those with unmet needs and the underserved. I have been working for over 30 years towards improving the health, mental health and well-being of all individuals, their families and communities especially the underserved by actively listening to what matters to them. The goals embraced by NAMI California s current leadership of reaching out and engaging diverse communities in a culturally and linguistically inclusive is pretty much aligned with the values and principles I also embrace. I have ample experience and expertise addressing similar goals that I hope will continue to be helpful to the board and organization (and also learn from others perspectives). NAMI has been one of the most successful voices in California in advocating and procuring a continuum of care for the persistent, long-term needs of people suffering from mental illness and their families and actively working to reduce stigma and social exclusion. I hope to continue join efforts on achieving that goal. The bottom line for me is to serve on a board whose primary purpose is to improve the mental health and health and quality of life ALL communities including the underserved.
Ratan Bhavnani MEMBER OF: NAMI Ventura County MS Computer Science BS Engineering OCCUPATION: NAMI Ventura County Executive Director NAMI MEMBER FOR: 11 years As the Board President of NAMI Ventura County for three years, and Executive Director for another six, I have used my business background and leadership skills to develop our affiliate into a vibrant, wellrespected organization. I look forward to helping all NAMI affiliates in California grow and become stronger. Like most of us, I entered the world of NAMI because of my son s condition and diagnosis of bipolar disorder. After being drafted on the Board of my affiliate, I put my heart and soul into working with NAMI. Along the way I switched careers from computer software management to mental health advocacy. Our affiliate is now strong, our local relationships are excellent with County mental health, with law enforcement and CIT, the court system, and many community based organizations this helps us every day in helping families who turn to us for assistance. In my first term on the Board of NAMI California, I have put great focus on the challenges faced by all NAMI affiliates, large and small. As the Chair of the Planning Committee, I worked with the leadership of a dozen affiliates to guide our State organization with recommendations to develop and strengthen our local NAMIs. I plan to continue this work during my second term, with your support, with a special emphasis on criminal justice and housing issues. On the Executive Board for two years as your Treasurer, I have worked with staff and the Finance Committee to oversee the fiscal security of NAMI California. There are continued challenges in this area, but I am confident that we will remain a financially stable organization for the foreseeable future; I am happy to ensure this in any way I can. Please vote for me so I may continue to serve on your behalf.
Guy Qvistgaard, MFT, FRSPH MEMBER OF: NAMI Alameda County South BA of Psychology University of California, San Diego MS of Counseling San Diego State University MFT Marriage and Family Therapist Fellow Royal Society of Public Health OCCUPATION: Psychiatric Hospital Administrator NAMI MEMBER FOR: 2 years I am interested in serving on the NAMI CA Board in order to assist the organization in de-stigmatizing mental illness and the treatment for mental illness. As an advocacy and educational force in California, NAMI CA Board membership would allow me to bring my experiences as a hospital professional to the organization. There are many misconceptions about acute psychiatric care in our communities and NAMI CA and its affiliates are in a tremendous position to bring education about hospital care to the public s attention. I can assist and champion these efforts. In addition to being a hospital administrator, I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have served consumers and families since 1983. I also have a passion for leading efforts in enhancing awareness of mental illness in our LGBT communities. As the parent of a transgender child, I am intimately aware of the stigma not only associated with LGBT people but increased risks for LGBT individuals with mental illness. Increasing family and consumer awareness about these dual-stigmas is an interest of mine and I would bring energy and experience to NAMI CA allowing the organization to enhance its advocacy efforts to an even greater degree. Finally, connecting advocacy and stakeholder groups is another interest of mine. We have been successful in NAMI ACS in bringing families, consumers and professionals together in order to achieve better communication and understanding of varying agendas and values among different groups. These efforts have allowed our affiliate to grow NAMI programs at a rate that is surprising, even to us. Thanks for your consideration.
James (Jim) Randall MEMBER OF: NAMI San Fernando Valley Masters of Social Work California State University, Northridge Masters of Business Administration University of New Mexico Masters of Latin American Studies University of New Mexico OCCUPATION: Mental Health Outreach NAMI MEMBER FOR: 15 years My brother, sister, and niece all have a very severe form of schizophrenia. Like so many members of NAMI, I watched first hand their descent into crippling illness, feeling helpless and betrayed. Any family member knows the feeling of helplessness, but the sense of betrayal I m not sure is as common. It came from thinking government institutions would always be willing to step in and help, and then seeing nothing done. I know this story is not unique. But perhaps what might be a little bit different have been the extreme changes in my attitude towards mental illness. There was a time that the last thing I wanted was any involvement with my family. But NAMI helped me change. I took the Family to Family class and realized, not just in my head but in my heart, that siblings weren t to blame for their mental illness. Since that time I ve dedicated my life to helping people affected with mental illness. I ve worked at my local Department of Mental Health as Outreach Coordinator for the past 8 years, taught 8 Family to Family Courses, facilitate support groups, have been President of my affiliate, and chaired our NAMI County Committee on criminalization of people with a mental illness. I ve had articles published in the LA Times and the Daily News. I ve done everything in my power to advance the cause of NAMI. As a Board member, I would hope to use my background in finance (I have an MBA), my ability as a fundraiser, and my writing skills to help improve the lives of people with a mental illness and the people who love them, as well as advance the goals of NAMI California. I would be honored to serve.
Diane Van Maren MEMBER OF: NAMI Sacramento MA of Special Education California State University, Sacramento MS of Public Administration California State University, Sacramento BS of Public Administration California State University, Sacramento OCCUPATION: Retired Public Service Professional NAMI MEMBER FOR: 1 year Mental health wellness is a key attribute for all of us to be successful as individuals, as families, and as a broader community. Due to stigma and discrimination, mental health assistance and services have been under-funded from the start and the need for assistance and services is often misunderstood and not fully valued. I believe NAMI is poised with its Strategic Plan and leadership to effectuate considerable change in this paradigm. The expertise and strong voice of consumers and family members offers the opportunity to influence State public policies regarding implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act, health insurance changes, school and education policies, and prevention and early intervention strategies. With my background in both health and mental health policy I believe I can offer NAMI guidance and policy assistance to broaden NAMI s influence, seek additional funding opportunities and achieve policy changes. There are many partnerships that can be developed more fully with Californiabased foundations, health systems, other advocacy groups, and government partners to achieve change that is positive for the mental health community. I think it is a very exciting time and would deeply value being involved with NAMI as it leads into the future.