Category Archives: Public Services

April Meeting: Navigating the Department of Mental Health System

Posted on by

NAMI South Bay Monthly Meeting (Virtual)
7:30 PM
Monday, April 18, 2022
Presenter: Jennifer Nguyen, PsyD, LMFT, MA

Dr. Jennifer Nguyen, will be speaking about Navigating the Department of Mental Health System. Dr. Nguyen is the adult navigator for Service Area 8 of the Los Angeles County which includes the South Bay. She will provide information on the navigator system in the Department of Mental Health, how to navigate, and how to learn about resources available.

Navigators seek to engage with people and families to identify resources, including support and services tailored to the particular cultural, ethnic, age and gender identity of those persons seeking help. Dr. Nguyen will address information about other age groups such as elderly adults, transitional-age youth, and children. We will also learn how families and persons with a mental illness can work with the system and become advocates for themselves and for loved ones.

The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Nami South Bay President, Paul Stansbury (pstans5@aol.com) for remote access information.

Monday General Meeting — The Homeless Count

Posted on by

Our September general meeting will be Monday night, 9/15/19, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Please come and learn about the homeless count in the South Bay which has been so widely reported on in the media and the connected homeless issues. Nancy Wilcox Co-Chair for the South Bay Coalition To End Homelessness will review the data and the give us a good understanding of the data, how it is compiled through the annual homeless count, what the implications are for the South Bay.

Nancy has been instrumental in coordinating the Homeless Count with Los Angeles Housing Services Authority (LAHSA) the last several years. Under her leadership the South Bay Coalition to End Homelessness has become a leading force in working with South Bay cities to address homelessness. The South Bay Coalition to End Homelessness has worked closely with the Coordinated Entry System in the South Bay to secure housing and services for those in need.

It is important that NAMI South Bay members be informed and provide input regarding the policies and plans developed by cities, the county, and LAHSA.

Meeting Tonight – Special Report on Mental Health in the South Bay

Posted on by

Dennis Murata, Service Area 8 Chief of Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (South Bay and Long Beach) and Jennifer Lamarque of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hahn’s Office will be presenting. Dennis Murata will be giving an update on the Department of Mental Health efforts. Jennifer Lamarque will present on Supervisor Hahn’s priorities regarding mental health. We are fortunate to have this pair of knowledgeable persons at our meeting to tell us about the state of mental health programs in the South Bay and the important initiatives of Supervisor Hahn regarding mental health. Supervisor Hahn has taken the leadership on several mental health issues. including the replacement of part of the central jail with mental health treatment facilities, has supported studies of number of hospital, and step down psychiatric beds. We will also learn how we can assist in improving the mental health system.

Please come to hear and provide comment on these presentations. We need to show our interest and support of mental health initiatives. As part of our mission to advocate for persons with a mental illness and their families we need to support efforts to improve the system and provide comment on issues where the system is not working well.

The Family Caring and Sharing Support Group for family members will start at 6 PM and the General Meeting will start at 7:30 PM. First Lutheran Church, 2900 Carson in Torrance.

February Meeting — Whole Person Care

Posted on by

The speaker for our meeting on February 25 is Ms. Diamond Lee, MSW. Ms. Lee is the Associate Director for Regional Collaboration on Whole Person Care for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

She will present information about the Whole Person Care Program. Whole Person Care Los Angeles (WPC-LA) is a program that brings together health and social service agencies to build an integrated system that delivers seamless, coordinated services to LA County’s most vulnerable Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are high risk, high users of hospital and emergency departments, of which many are persons with a mental illness. Please join us and learn about this program. Even if does not directly affect your family right now, it will help the mental health system to be more effective and may help your family at some point in your journey.

The Caring and Sharing Support Group for family members will start at 6 PM and the General Meeting will start at 7:30 PM.

March Meeting — Family and Consumer Affairs

Posted on by

March 19, 2019
7:30 p.m.
First Lutheran Church
2900 Carson Street
Torrance

We are fortunate to have Helena Ditko, LCSW, the Director of the Office of Family and Consumer Affairs for the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, speaking at our general meeting this month.

The Office of Consumer and Family Affairs was previously identified as two separate offices – Consumer Affairs, as Empowerment & Advocacy and Family Engagement. In 2014, the two combined to provide conversation, information, education and inspiration. Unlike the Patients’ Rights Office, which corrects error and investigates the violation of rights of consumers, the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs gives quality improvement to mental health services.

Helena Ditko and her office have been invaluable to many families and clients trying to navigate the mental health system. On Monday, March 18, Ms. Ditko will discuss her office, how they can assist families and persons with a mental illness, and various forms of treatment. When NAMI South Bay didn’t know where else to get help it has referred families to her office.

Please come. Meet and listen to Ms. Ditko. We believe you will find it invaluable for your family.

Image credit: Pixabay CCO Creative Commons

September General Meeting Tonight

Posted on by

7:30 PM Monday, September 18, 2017

The Speaker for September will be Yvonne Miranda of Project Return Peer Support Network (PRPSN). Yvonne is the Regional Recovery Supporter for the South Bay/Long Beach area. PRPSN offers a variety of services to persons with a mental illness including Hacienda of Hope, warm line and self-help groups. Yvonne will tell us about their services and especially the groups in the South Bay.

The Project Return groups meet weekly in a variety of locations for discussion, friendship and social activities. For many, these peer support groups are important steps towards recovery, self-help and wellness. Each group is individualized and is self-directed. Activities and curriculum are created by the facilitators and group participants.As one of the Regional Recovery Area Supporters Yvonne works with the help group facilitators develop their skills and give feedback to the group.

We are working with Project Return to link our Peer to Peer Program and Connections Support Group for persons with a mental illness with their activities. We are piloting a program with Kaiser to have better connections from the clinical programs to these support groups.

Please come and learn how persons with a mental illness can become involved in these programs and how NAMI South Bay can help support their efforts.

The Caring and Sharing Support Groups will meet at 6 PM and the regular meeting at 7:30 PM will meet at the First Lutheran Church 2900 Carson in Torrance.

 

June Meeting: How to Find Mental Health Resources on the Internet

Posted on by

Monday, June 19, 2017: Please come and and discuss with John Conway, our Vice President and Website Manager, and with Paul Stansbury, our President, resources, sites and links to resource regarding mental illness on the internet. Please come and share internet resources you may use with us and NAMI South Bay members.

Among the resources we plan to discuss are:

No special knowledge is necessary. We will meeting for the Internet workshop at 7:30 PM in Faith Hall at the First Lutheran Church 2900 Carson, Torrance.

The Caring and Sharing Support Groups will meet at 6 PM.