Monday, 6 April 2009 - 5:05 PM EDT

Name: "Jeff"
Home Page: http://advocates.mh.angelfire.com

The bus to Springfield will be leaving ABCMH at about 7:30am on 5/5/09. We go to the rally & return by about 7:30 pm

Thursday, 30 September 2010 - 9:02 PM EDT

Name: "Randy"

As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 3-9, 2010)

Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health invites you to join us in observing

The National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding

on Tuesday, October 5, 2010

 

Where?            The Lobby of Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health    

3350 W. Salt Creek Ln, Suite 114, Arlington Hts, IL  60005 http://www.mapquest.com/mq/8-jo8soIYQF_F4

 

When?            12:10pm

What?  A brief prayer ceremony followed by fellowship

Why?            Because Mental Health and Recovery necessitate more than just political support

Who?            Everyone in the local and allied communities are welcome, Bro. Bob Clark, CFA will preside 

To plan a service in your area, or pray with us in the privacy of your own home, visit: http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?Section=Day_of_Prayer&Site=FaithNet_NAMI&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=79482

Thursday, 30 September 2010 - 9:23 PM EDT

Name: "Randy"
Home Page: http://www.advocatesformentalhealth.org/

RESCUE COMMUNITY CARE  at the CHICAGO MENTAL HEALTH RALLY

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

 

Where?  Thompson Center—plaza in front of building, 100 W. Randolph, Chicago, IL 60601

When? Noon to 1:00pm

Why?  Urge Legislators to Invest in Mental Health Services because—Recovery Rocks!.

Who?  Everyone who supports adequate funding for mental health services

 

Co-sponsored by:

                The Mental Health Summit

                NAMI of Greater Chicago—(312) 563-0445  http://www.namigc.org/

                The Mental Health America of Illinois (MHAI)—(312)368-9070

TRAVELING VIA METRA FROM ARLINGTON HEIGHTS?

 

Wednesday - Train leaves Arlington Heights downtown METRA station @ 10:32am, arrives Chicago @ 11:23am (15-20 min walk to Thompson Center). After rally train leaves Chicago @ 1:30pm, arrives Arl. Hts @ 2:16pm. Tickets are $4.50 one way / $36.55 for 10-ride. There is an attendant at the Arl.Hts  station but credit cards are not accepted.

Thursday, 6 January 2011 - 12:45 PM EST

Name: "Randy"
Home Page: http://www.advocatesformentalhealth.org/

Illinois Legislators are  trying to cut services any way they can. Please review the 2 issues below and then contact your legislators.Thank you! 

CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND STATE REP TODAY  

You can call the Capitol switchboard, 217-782-2000, and ask for your Senator or Representative by name or if you don't know who your State Senator and State Rep are, you can find out through the Illinois State Board of Elections website:

 

http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx/SERVER1/Users/NSauler/My%20Documents/Downloads

 

SUPPORT-->One it the proposed income tax increase -- it must pass.  Increasing it from the current 3% to 5% would be best.  Something along the lines of HB174 is needed - tax & budget experts say we have to have an increase to at least 5% to work our way out of our budget deficit mess.  Here are the details on HB 174:

http://ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=174&GAID=10&GA=96&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=40191&SessionID=76

DETAILS:  Your legislators, both in the House and Senate need to hear from you about how important it is to vote for the tax increase during this time period.  Call them, write them letters, and send them emails.  If you know them privately, talk with them as soon as possible. Even if you have talked with them and know that they are supporters, reiterate your position and let them know that you and others are willing to support them.  Everyone else should begin calling legislators' Springfield offices immediately in order to vocalize their support for a tax increase.  You should also encourage your staff members, your board members, and your clients to reach out to them as well.  I've attached the latest RBC 1-pgr as ammunition for you to use while talking with your elected officials.  I encourage you to circulate it among your networks.  Once things begin to move this week, they will progress very quickly.  Do not wait to contact your elected officials.

 

OPPOSE-->  And another big issue is a proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution, HJRCA 61, which passed out of a House Committee (and is supported by Speaker Madigan).  The proposed amendment would cap Illinois budget at the level of the previous year's budget, adjusted only for growth in per capita income, regardless of need or population growth. This must NOT pass.  

DETAILS: HJRCA 61 would constitutionally limit state spending based on the previous year's appropriations and transfers, adjusted upwards or downwards based on changes to per-capita personal income.  This type of spending limitation is one version of what's referred to as a `tax-payers bill or rights' or TABOR.  Colorado passed a more severe version of this in '92 and it devastated state spending, forcing severe cuts to education and other areas of the state budget.  The following website has an excellent short video on how this type of spending limitation hurt Colorado: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2482.  The proposed spending limitation is harmful because the costs associated with the things that state government purchases, like education and health care, rise much faster than per-capita income, which would require the state to make cuts because it cannot constitutionally increase appropriations.  This proposal passed during a committee hearing today, which means that it's moving forward in the House. 

 

We need to flood the Capitol switchboard with calls and faxes. Let them know we need: 

�       substantial new revenues ($7-8 Billion in the form of 2%+ income tax increase and sales tax on services)

�       restructuring of the state debt so the state can pay its' bills (the money that is owed to you as providers) and

�       to oppose passage of HJRCA61

Thursday, 6 January 2011 - 12:48 PM EST

Name: "Randy"
Home Page: http://www.advocatesformentalhealth.org/

REASONS TO OPPOSE proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution, HJRCA 61,  

Responsible Budget Coalition

 JANUARY 2011 -- THIS IS THE TIME TO FIX IT!

WHAT IS NEEDED TO GET ILLINOIS BACK ON TRACK

TO JOB CREATION, PAYING ITS BILLS, KEEPING ITS PROMISES

 

Nobody disputes that there is a multi-billion dollar budget crisis in Illinois, increasing unmet needs, unpaid bills, unkept promises and lost jobs.  The chaos and unpredictability of the crisis is a major drag on the business climate.

 

All around the state, the demand from a tired and fed-up public is to “FIX IT!!!”  The Responsible Budget Coalition believes that there is a way to fix it that pays bills, keeps promises, and creates jobs.  The General Assembly and the Governor can put this plan into effect first thing in 2011.

 

n      SUFFICIENT NEW REVENUE: There must be sufficient new revenue to set the state on course without the need for harmful cuts to vital programs in education, health care, human services and public safety.  This will require a mix of revenues, including the personal income tax, amounting to $7-8 billion.

n      FAIRNESS:  The new revenues must be raised in a way that reflects people’s ability to pay.  Greater use of tax credits and exemptions can help accomplish this.

n      RESTRUCTURE THE STATE’S DEBTS:  The state already owes about $6 billion in back bills to providers of services and $10 billion in scheduled payments to the reformed pension system.  This debt is costly.  The state can take smart advantage, like many homeowners, of the option to refinance this debt.  If a part of the new revenue is designated to back-up the state’s refinancing, the state will be able to borrow this entire sum at much lower interest rates than it otherwise will owe if it continues to avoid paying-off the debts.  The state can then immediately pay-off the creditors and keep up with its pension obligations.  This is an important part of “fixing it”.  Without this refinancing, the new revenue will not retire the back bills, the state will not be stabilized, and the situation will not have been fixed.

n      CREATE JOBS:  It is estimated that the immediate payment of the state’s back bills will have a stimulating effect on the economy and create over 100,000 tax-paying, private-sector jobs.

n      DON’T HANDCUFF FUTURE DECISION-MAKERS:  There is a proposal to adopt a constitutional amendment to limit state expenditures to current levels (with modest annual adjustments), unless an emergency is declared and 3/5 majorities in both Houses allow higher spending.  This proposal echoes a disastrous provision in Colorado that hobbled schools, health care, human services and public safety – a restriction that Colorado’s own, fed-up voters have suspended by referendum.  It is a recipe to plunge Illinois into another fiscal crisis, exacerbate gridlock and limit future decision-makers’ judgments about each year’s budget.  The Responsible Budget Coalition opposes this idea.  It will devastate education, health care and human services.

 THIS IS THE WAY TO “FIX IT!” – AND JANUARY IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

 

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 - 6:19 PM EST

Name: "Randy"
Home Page: http://Advocatesformentalhealth.com

 

Massive Cuts Loom for Federal Mental Health and Housing Programs

February 16, 2011   http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=State_and_Federal_Budget_Issues&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=115717

The White House unveiled the President’s budget proposal for FY 2012 requesting modest increases for mental illness research and services, as well as veterans housing programs. The President’s budget proposal is juxtaposed against action that begins in the House today on a separate omnibus spending bill for the current fiscal year (FY 2011) that includes significant reductions for housing programs, special education services and mental illness research and services. 

It is important to note that both the President’s FY 2012 budget and the omnibus FY 2011 “continuing resolution” are focused on imposing restraint on discretionary non-security spending. This excludes funding for mandatory entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. These entitlement programs as well as most military, veterans and other homeland security spending are exempt from the tight limits on overall discretionary spending that are in the President’s budget and reductions in the House “continuing resolution.” 

TAKE ACTION

Advocates are urged to contact their House member and voice opposition to the cuts proposed for FY 2011 for mental illness research and services, special education services as well as supportive housing for people living with mental illness. 

At a time when states are already imposing deep cuts to mental illness services (over $2.2 billion over the past two years) further cuts in federal funding will only make it more difficult for the most vulnerable to access critical safety net treatment and supports. 

Further cuts will result in homelessness and additional costs imposed on already overburdened emergency medical services, law enforcement, schools, corrections and emergency shelters.

All House offices can be reached by calling 202-224-3121 (not a toll free call), or send a message to your House member.

View further information on the President’s FY 2012 Budget

FY 2011 “Continuing Resolution”

Even though we are five months into the current federal fiscal year, federal agencies are still operating under a “continuing resolution” that is keeping FY 2010 funding levels in place for most programs. The current “continuing resolution” runs  hrough March 4, 2011. This week, the House is considering a “continuing resolution” that funds the government for the remaining months of FY 2011, through September 30, 2011. 

House leaders are using this bill to seek cuts of as much as $61 billion from current year budgets for non-security discretionary programs. This amounts to an average 9 percent reduction across domestic agencies, although the proposed cuts the House will take up next are not expected to be allocated evenly. In most cases, the bill proposes to cut agencies and programs back to their FY 2008 level.

Neither the Senate, nor the President, is expected to go along with these proposed reductions. At the same time, this bill does set the mark for future negotiations over FY 2011 spending levels. These discussions are expected to drag on past the March 4, 2011, expiration of the current “continuing resolution,” through which all federal agencies are currently operating under FY 2010 levels.  

Here are details of the proposed funding levels and reductions in the House FY 2011 “continuing resolution.”

NIMH

Overall, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be subject to a $1 billion reduction. This would be imposed on a current (FY 2010) NIH budget of $31 billion – about a 7 percent cut, bringing NIH back to its FY 2008 level.  For the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), this would mean an $86 million cut below the FY 2010 level of $1.49 billion. This would bring the NIMH budget down to its FY 2008 level of $1.404 billion. A cut of this magnitude would further erode the “pay line” for NIMH – the cut off of investigator initiated grants for basic scientific and clinical research on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other serious mental illnesses impacting children and adults. 

SAMHSA

For the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the House bill proposes a $200 million “general” reduction below the current FY 2010 level ($3.583 billion). This is a 5.5 percent reduction below current levels. The bill does not specify how this $200 million reduction is to be allocated across SAMHSA’s three separate centers (mental health services, substance abuse prevention and substance abuse treatment), although the expectation is that the reductions would touch all SAMHSA programs. In addition, the House bill also eliminates the small amount of increased funding SAMHSA has received since FY 2008 (less than $3 million at the Center for Mental Health Services) and assumes no funds for congressionally directed earmarks at the agency ($14.5 million in FY 2010).

Housing

No agency takes deeper cuts in the House “continuing resolution” than HUD. Within the HUD budget, the Section 811 program is hit particularly hard – a 70 percent reduction below the current FY 2010 level of $300 million. The House “continuing resolution” proposes only $90.36 million for Section 811, with complete elimination of funds for development of new supportive housing units for non-elderly people living with disabilities, including serious mental illness. 

Further, the $90.36 million in the “continuing resolution” for Section 811 is likely insufficient to account for renewal of existing rent and operating subsidies associated with the program. For FY 2011, these costs are projected by HUD to be at least $49 million for “project-based” operating subsidies (known as PRACs) and $87 million for “mainstream tenant-based voucher” renewals. PRAC renewals are needed to keep existing supportive housing units in place for current tenants. Likewise, “mainstream” voucher renewal funding is needed to keep certain rental vouchers in place. Insufficient funding for these operating and rent subsidy renewals would mean that current lease compliant tenants in 811 housing would be at risk of losing their housing. 

By contrast, the House bill does allocate $3.2 billion for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, an amount sufficient enough to renew existing permanent supportive housing units under Shelter Plus Care and SHP. Likewise, increases are provided in the “continuing resolution” for both the Section 8 tenant-based and the Section 8 project-based programs to renew expiring rent subsidies and vouchers for the remaining months of FY 2011. 

Veterans

The House “continuing resolution” is not expected to cut funding for most programs at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, most prominently veterans medical care which currently operates on a two-year budget cycle designed to prevent delays in Congress in passing annual spending bills from disrupting medical care. However, other discretionary activities at the VA – including the joint VA-HUD VASH program that targets supportive housing and services to homeless veterans – will depend on this FY 2011 “continuing resolution” for new funds in the current fiscal year.

Education

The House “continuing resolution” would impose deep cuts on education.  Special education grants to states would be cut by $557 million, funding that is vitally important to students living with mental illness. These students have the highest drop-out and failure rates of any disability group and rely on special education services and supports to help them stay in school and to improve their academic performance. Education is the foundation in life that allows students living with mental illness to ultimately lead independent and productive lives. Deep funding cuts in special education services threaten to interfere with these students ability to succeed in school.

Wednesday, 2 March 2011 - 8:10 PM EST

Name: "Randy"

From 3-01-2011

Dear Illinois Partners:

We are hearing conflicting messages from the Governor's Office and IDHS and details on the FY12 proposal are constantly changing. Yesterday at the Senate Human Services Committee hearing , we heard that cuts to human services might not be as severe or quick as originally announced - however, the situation remains the same to us. The Governor's FY12 budget proposal depends on devastating cuts to human services which start NOW - FY11 - and we have no promises that this will not happen.

 

CALL NOW  

We need everyone to make two calls right now to deliver the following messages:

Do not enact disproportionate FY11 cuts to human services.   Any cuts must be minimized as much as possible and shared across all sectors.Further dismantling of the community-based human services infrastructure will continue the unwise and unfair practice of placing the largest burden on the men, women and children of Illinois.  It will shift state costs to more expensive care like nursing homes, prisons and emergency rooms and will cost Illinois jobs.  

Over the last decade the state has cut its real investment in various human service programs collectively by more than $4.4 billion.  None of the other core service areas - education, healthcare or public safety - have experienced cuts of that magnitude.

 1.  Call Governor Quinn at 312.814.2121

2.  Call IDHS Secretary Saddler at 312.793.1547

 At the hearing yesterday, Secretary Saddler announced that she will hold teleconferences in the next two weeks with all providers to share details about the FY11 cuts. We will alert you when more details are available on how to participate.  In the meantime, keep the calls coming!      

As all are aware, the State has implemented waves of cuts this FY (the most recent just a few weeks back in the middle of the FY).  These disproportionate cuts (MH has taken a 12% cut when other areas of the state budget like education and prisons have taken 3 to 4% cuts, just as examples), are crippling the MH services community and those in serious need of treatment.  Please take a few moments to call the Governor and Secretary Saddler’s office (numbers below) and share there can be no more cuts to Human Service providers, especially community-based mental health centers.  It is critical that we all take the time to act!  Please encourage your friends and family to do the same.  We need this administration to know they cannot balance the budget on the backs of those with mental illness who need care.  Our service system is already ranked one of the poorest funded in the nation, that is proof they can’t look to the CMHC budget line to solve their financial problem.  Please act now! 

If you want to email your legislators instead of calling them, here’s a link from MHA:

https://secure2.convio.net/nmha/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=630

Wednesday, 9 March 2011 - 1:13 PM EST

Name: "Randy"

Contact IL Govenor Quinn now!  

The below link is a good summary of what we have been up against and the budget challenges we currently face.  It is critical that the Governor’s office hear from us that they can’t balance the budget (again) on the backs of the most vulnerable who need services to survive.  We have to speak for our clients who can not speak for themselves.  Please take 5 minutes out of your day to call the Gov’s office at the number below, the needs are listed succinctly below, pls also encourage family, friends and associates to call, every call is critical to them hearing the message loud and clear!  Thank you so much!! 

 http://www.uw-mc.org/2011/gov-quinn-proposes-major-cuts-to-human-services

 POSTING, FROM a United Way email:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, 18 March 2011 - 12:57 AM EDT

Name: "Charm"
Home Page: http://brain-entrain.blogspot.com

Psychological health describes either a stage of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the self-discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's potential to take pleasure in life and procure a balance between life actions and efforts to attain psychological resilience. Psychological well being is an expression of our emotions and signifies a successful adaptation to a variety of demands. An excellent site for mental health is here: http://mentallion.com

Monday, 28 March 2011 - 6:15 PM EDT

Name: "randy"

Enjoy outdoors fun and a meal while supporting community mental health at ABCMH's 11th Annual "Chip-In" Golf Event on Monday 6/13/2011.  Here is the registration form.   

https://cid-b69767c6a860f88c.office.live.com/self.aspx/.Documents

 The Alexian Brother's Center for Mental Health is in Arlington Heights, IL and the event is at Makray Memorial Golf Club, 1010 S. Northwest Highway, Barrington, IL

Monday, 28 March 2011 - 6:19 PM EDT

Name: "randy"

CORRECTION:

The Golf Outing registration is at https://cid-b69767c6a860f88c.office.live.com/self.aspx/.Documents/Public%20Files/ABCMH-GolfEvent-2011.pdf 

Wednesday, 6 April 2011 - 11:29 AM EDT

Name: "Randy"

Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 11:00 PM
Subject: NAMI Legislative Alert

There is a bill being considered  in the state legislature in Springfield that needs our support. 

 It is House Bill 1530, a bill to improve insurance coverage for people with mental illness.  It is a mental health parity bill that amends the Illinois Insurance Code provisions concerning autism spectrum disorders, residential services for children, mental and emotional disorders, including mental illness and substance use disorders.  This bill has been authored to bring Illinois law into compliance with the core consumer protections established by recent federal mental health parity laws. 

 

The bill amends the section within the Illinois Insurance Code that conflict with the requirements of  the federal insurance parity law.   The proposed Illinois law would prohibit group health insurance policies from imposing financial requirements (e.g., deductibles, co-payments, or coinsurance) or treatment limitations (e.g., limits on the frequency of treatment, number of visits, or days of coverage) for the treatment of mental health or substance use disorders that are more restrictive than those applied to medical and surgical benefits. 

For example, a group policy that did not contain a limit on the number of outpatient visits for medical/surgical benefits could not limit the number of outpatient visits for mental health benefits.

 

Mental Health Parity efforts have been a long-time struggle for NAMI members; we hope you will call your legislator today and urge support of House Bill 1530. 

 

Two influential Representatives from our area, Sid Mathias (R- North Arlington Heights) and David Harris (R-South Arlington Heights & Mt. Prospect), are currently opposing the bill, so if either of those is your State Representative, we especially need you to call or write him.  Calling and writing would be even better!

  Sid Mathias

sidneymath@email.msn.com

Springfield office:  phone  217-782-1664     fax: 217-782-1275

Local office:

4256 N. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 104, Arlington Heights, IL  60004

847-222-0061

 David Harris

repharris@yahoo.com

Springfield office:  217- 782-3739 No fax listed)

 Local office

800 West Central Road, Mount Prospect, IL  60056

224-635-2010

 But even if your State Representative is someone other than Mr. Mathias or Mr. Harris, we urge you to contact him or her as soon as you can.  The vote is scheduled for later this week, so speed is of the essence!  And if you can get family members and friends to call or write too, that would be even better.  

 As always, individually written letters are better than phone calls, but if you don’t have the time to write, a phone call is much better than no communication at all, and doing both is even better! 

If you are writing, send your letters to

Hon. ___________________

Illinois General Assembly

Springfield, IL     62706

If you are calling, you’ll most likely talk to a secretary or legislative assistant, and will only have time to leave a short message for the legislator.  Just say you hope that the Representative will support House Bill 1530, the mental health parity bill. 

 And if you don't know who your State Senator or State Representative are, you can find out through the Illinois State Board of Elections website:

http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx/SERVER1/Users/NSauler/My%20Documents/Downloads

 Once that site tells you who your State Senator and Representative are, you can just click on their names and you will be taken to a webpage that gives you their contact info. 

  And if you’re calling, you can call the Capitol switchboard, 217-782-2000, and ask for your Senator or Representative by name.

 But whether you are writing or calling, please do so as soon as possible, as the bill is scheduled for a vote this week!

 Remember, there still are some insurance programs that discriminate against people with mental illness.  I heard about one at a Family-to-Family class last night.  The one you or your family member or Family-to-Family classmate uses may be one of them.  So call or write today!

 

Together we can make a difference. 

 Thank you,  NAMI Barrington Area

Tuesday, 2 August 2011 - 9:58 AM EDT

Name: "randy"

·        September is National Recovery Month       – for all persons with mental, emotional, or substance use health challenges.  Go to http://www.recoverymonth.gov  for ideas!   Inspire individuals with mental health issues to improve just one physical health behavior. Explore people’s interests, social world, and environment as sources of joy, renewal, and wellness!

·        Fri., Sept. 16, 9am -4pm : McHenry Mental Health Conference. McHenry County College Conference Center, 8900 U.S. Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, Il. Keynotes: Dr. Ronald Diamond; Nanette Larson, CRSS, Director, Recovery Services. To register, call McHenry Co. MH board (815) 455-2828.

 

·        Sun., Sept. 18, 11:00 am Registration: NAMI Walks for the Mind of America, Grant Park. Step off at 12:00 noon. To join: Call (312) 563-0445 or email namiwalkschicago@gmail.com.

 

·        Sat., Sept. 24, 8 am Registration: “Run for the Mind,” Danada Forest Preserve Entrance, 3S580 Naperville Rd., Wheaton Il 60187. Call NAMI DuPage 630-752-0066 to volunteer.

 

·        Sat., Sept. 24, 9 am Start: “Out of the Darkness.” DBSA Suicide Prevention Chicagoland Community Walk. Elk Grove Village, Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Area 4 Grove.                                        Call 312-890-2377 or email: chicago@afsp.org to join or help out!

 

·        Sun., Oct. 9, 7:30 am Start: “Stomp Out Stigma” Bank of America Marathon. Grant Park, 205 E. Randolph St. DBSA-GC hosts supporters at a Charity Block Party - location TBD.

 

·         Sun., Oct. 23,11 am: “NAMI CCNS Walk,” Blue Star Memorial Woods, Glenview. Email Patricia Caine pcaine@rdhs.org or namiccns.walk@gmail.com to learn more!

 

 

Please send news items to  Virginia.Goldrick@illinois.gov  or call 773-794-5680.

Friday, 5 August 2011 - 9:30 AM EDT

Name: "randy"

 I'm pasting this from an email i received-r

 

Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 1:15 PM

Subject: Friday, August 5th - Town Hall Meeting

 

Dear friends of STOP,

Friday is a critical day in the struggle to keep our city's public mental health clinics open and funded. We need your help in spreading the word about this Friday's Town Hall on the City's Mental Health Clinics. The Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health will be there as will several other officials and hundreds of people like you and me who want to make them hear our voices and realize how important these services are to our communities and our city.

The town hall is this Friday August 5th at 5:30pm at Mercy Hospital's Joyce Auditorium on the 2nd Floor at 2525 S. Michigan.

Please spread the word, share the

<http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=228813057152540> facebook event page  and check out our video: " <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex5hq00XDMI>

We're gonna make it: The Mental Health Movement."

With the recently announced plans to begin merging the City and County's Health Departments, this is a critical time to ensure that our services We hope to see you Friday!

Take care,

Mental Health Movement

Ellen Feinberg

Next Steps

2822 W. Granville  - Apt 1W

Chicago, IL  60659-1743

Sunday, 11 September 2011 - 11:37 AM EDT

Name: "randy"
Home Page: http://www.advocatesformentalhealth.org

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: I subscribe to the SZ Magazine Newsletter and have been enjoying their magazine for years. For more information on this great resource for news, advocacy and real life schizophrenia recovery stories go to   http://www.szmagazine.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.14   

Also, check out their "Living Life" page  http://www.szmagazine.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.166   for free articles on a variety of recovery topics

You can also view SZ Magazine’s CEO Bill MacPhee’s daily video recovery blog is at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfkIommhFCE&feature=channel_video_title

 They also have a newsletter BALANCE: LIVING WITH BIPOLAR at  http://www.szmagazine.com/e107_ezines/B_2011_08_19.html   and BP Magazine http://bphope.com/ .

as well as ANCHOR: CONQUERING DEPRESSION at  http://www.szmagazine.com/e107_ezines/A_2011_08_12.html 

Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 8:50 AM EDT

Name: "randy"

Mental Health Summit Rally:

Attend the Mental Health Rally

at Noon on October 17th

 in front of the Thompson State of Illinois Center

100 West Randolph Street, Chicago

The goal of the summit is to preserve and increase funding of mental health services and improve the mental health system in Illinois.

Summit activities include work with the media, lobbying of legislators and the executive branch, building coalitions with traditional and non-traditional allies and identifying issues which may be used to focus legislative and public attention on the problems caused by the underfunding of mental health services in Illinois.

 The Mental Health Summit was founded in 2002 and is comprised of a coalition of organizations representing persons with mental illnesses, mental health professional organizations, service providers and advocacy groups in Illinois.

The ICA is a long-standing member of the Mental Health Summit.

We hope you will join us at the Rally on October 17th!!

Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 10:38 AM EDT

Name: "randy"

Chicago Mental Health Rally Mon. Oct. 17, 2011 noon-1pm.     

How to take Metra & directions to Thompson Center.

TRAVELING VIA METRA FROM ARLINGTON HEIGHTS: Train leaves Arlington Heights downtown METRA station 10:32am, arrives Chicago 11:23am (15-20 min walk to Thompson Center). After rally train leaves Chicago  1:30pm, arrives Arl. Hts 2:16pm. [Next train leaves 2:30pm/arrives 3:16pm.] Tickets are $4.50 one way / $36.55 for 10-ride. There is an attendant at the Arl.Hts  station but credit cards are not accepted.           see Metra website for entire schedule: http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map/up-nw/schedule.full.html

 

Thompson Center’s block is bounded by LaSalle, Randolph, Clark and Lake St  Street directions at http://www.state.il.us/cms/1_jrtc/directions.htm