NAMI Broward County

Upcoming Speaker Meeting 

Please join us on Feb. 11th for the monthly Speaker Meeting featuring the Broward Sheriff Department speaking on the CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) and their homeless outreach efforts.  You can RSVP by calling the office at 954-316-9907.

Upcoming Peer to Peer Class

Free 10 week peer-led recovery education course open to anyone diagnosed with a mental illness
Classes will start February 4 , 2015 at 3:00pm at the NAMI Office in Plantation. Call the office at 954-316-9907 to join this class.

Upcoming Family to Family Class

Free 12 week class for caregivers, family members and friends of persons with a diagnosed mental illness. Classes start January 14, 2015 at 6:00pm in central Broward.  Call for registration at the office at 954-316-9907.

Have you seen the walk photo’s yet?

Check out our 2014 NAMIWalks photo’s at here.

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VOLUNTEER TO BE A GUARDIAN ADVOCATE!

A “guardian advocate,” under Florida Statutes Chapter 394, more commonly known as “The Baker Act,” is a court-appointed individual who communicates and collaborates with a patient, his or her attending psychiatrist, as well as the entire treatment team of mental health professionals, to advocate for the best interest of the patient during his or her stay at the State Hospital. This volunteer position is not only a chance to make a difference in the lives of the patients by playing an active role in their mental health treatment, but also an opportunity for you to become acquainted with the mental health system and its inner-workings, which are unfamiliar to most of the public.

While it is a priority for the Hospital and the Courts to appoint a patient’s parents, children, relatives or adult friends as his or her Guardian Advocate, it is an unfortunate reality that sometimes, these options are unavailable or unwilling. For this reason, we need volunteers to serve in this capacity, and lighten the load for our few existing advocates. To become eligible, and certified to serve in the capacity as a Guardian Advocate, you must review a short packet of required material, and successfully complete a self-examination. The course provides thorough information such as responsibilities, ethical considerations, ways to be most effective in the decision-making processes involved, as well as details regarding varying mental health diagnoses, treatment plans and medications thereof.

If you are interested in volunteering as a Guardian Advocate, please contact Gwen Henry, Community Liaison at South Florida State Hospital at (954) 392-3045.

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A Welcome from Our President –           Welcome Kat Campbell

To all our Members and Friends,

We are please to announce the appointment of Katharine Campbell, PhD, LCSW to the role of Executive Director for NAMI Broward.  Katharine comes to us with a great deal of experience working in the mental health community in various settings over the past 20 years. Her PhD in Public Affairs along with her Masters in Social Work education allows for her to understand the mental health community needs, interactions among other systems, and the individual roll we all play in removing the stigma and shame of mental health issues while simultaneously increasing services.

Over the coming months ahead we have a variety of educational events, support opportunities and our annual walk.  I hope you will take the time to join us through these events and then beyond.  Our new offices located in

Plantation allows for the growth of NAMI Broward to move to the next level in providing critical services.   But, we have just begun. We will continue to grow services, enhance advocacy, and empower the voices of those who are affected by mental illness.

Katharine’s experience working as a board member for NAMI Broward over the past few years provide her an intimate knowledge of the NAMI Broward services and programs as well as the potential for growth over the coming years.

Please join us as we welcome Katharine into her new role and join us at our second annual walk to meet her personally and discuss mental health needs.

Sincerely, Edna Einhorn President, NAMI Broward County

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NAMIWalks Broward County 2014 was amazing — it was a beautiful day and we had over 800 people in attendance! It was heart-warming and inspiring to see so many dedicated advocates and supporters united for the cause of raising awareness about mental illness. We are deeply grateful for the support and generosity the Walk has received. Thank you!

With music provided by DJ Crash Tandy, our emcee for the day, our own Executive Director, Kat Campbell, Honorary Walk Chairs Sheriff Scott Israel and Chief Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, an energetic warm up with Joyce Simmons and an amazing performance of the national anthem performed by Cassidy Shooster it was a day full of good times. NAMI Broward also received a proclamation from Coconut Creek  Mayor Lisa Aronson.  Special thanks to the Broward Sheriff’s Office for all their support.

We had plenty of food, water and FUN! Just a reminder the fundraising continues for 60 days after the walk. It’s a good idea to touch base with the people you solicited for donations and let them know what a great time we had and that it’s not too late to contribute. We are still working on reaching our goal so if you have not yet donated and would like to lend your support please follow click on to http://www.NAMIWalks.org/BrowardCounty

Thank you to all of our sponsors, teams, participants, donors and volunteers for making the 2th Annual NAMI Walk on Saturday, November 8 our most successful Walk ever! Late donations are still being accepted online or mailed to: NAMI Broward County Attn: NAMI Walk 4161 NW Fifth Street, Suite 203 Plantation, FL 33317

The funds raised will allow our affiliate  to continue to expand our educational programs and support groups in Broward County.

To see pictures from the 2014 Walk click on the link below:

https://2014namiwalksbroward.shutterfly.com/

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More pictures from the 2013 NAMI Walk, South Florida. Enjoy!

https://2013browardnamiwalks.shutterfly.com/

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Graduation from the Family to Family class in Spanish

November 15 ·

Photos of the graduation from the Family to Family class in Spanish. Thanks to everyone who took part and our volunteer instructor. Friends and support are made this way. Gracias!

Our Photos

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.676226592418027.1073741834.342967625743927&type=1&l=fcc697234c

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