NAMI Kern County’sFRONT LINE

Established 2007

Russ Sempell & Patrice ManiaciFounders

www.frontlinenami.org

NAMI Kern County’s FRONT LINEProgram Overview

FRONT LINE is a network of weekly Support Groups facilitated by NAMI Trained Family and Connection Facilitators for our Veterans, their families and loved ones. FRONT LINE holds quarterly Educational and Resource Conferences (open to our community) to increase awareness and educate the public on issues faced by our Veterans and their families; including PTSD/TBI, suicide prevention, and family issues involving reintegration back to civilian life. Our Speakers include professionals, Veterans and their Families that participate with the FRONT LINE collaborative. FRONT LINE is NAMI Kern County’s Collaborative Network of mental health and other resources available to our Veterans, their families and loved ones in our community. The FRONT LINE Community Collaborative meets monthly. We network with individuals committed to assist Veterans and their families in the FAITH Community, housing, obtaining benefits, educational training, accessing medical and behavioral health services, and other links to needed resources.

NAMI Kern County’s FRONT LINE Veterans, Family and Loved Ones NAMIWalk Team

FRONT LINE’S MISSION Increase awareness of NAMI

Provide needed Support to Military Families

Educate community of PTSD/TBI & related conditions

Network with Mental Health & Military Community

Saving Lives & Saving Families

Chris and Paul Allen

As a result of FRONT LINE & participating in the FAMILY TO FAMILY Educational Class, the Allen Family, after 5 years of turmoil, were able to reunite with their son Chris. Chris is a 24 year old Iraqi Veteran who suffers from PTSD, both father and son are former Marines.

A report issued in the spring of 2010 estimated that 18 veterans die by suicide every day. The same report found that as many as 950 suicide attempts each month occur among veterans receiving services through the Veterans Administration (VA). The rate is lower, however, among veterans aged 19-29 who are receiving services when compared to those who are not currently receiving care through the VA.

Focus on Military FamiliesNAMI Family to Family

Family to Family Educational course has been held for three (3) consecutive years at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Bakersfield CA. When asked the questions, “Who here is a Veteran?” and “Who has a loved one in or has been in the Military?” ~ The pictures tells it all……..

Recruiting the Family to Family Participants

FRONT LINE support groups are held weekly in Kern County. During the support group, at the end, we announce the upcoming class. Others that have taken the class are encouraged to tell their story of how Family to Family benefited them.

Also, at our quarterly conferences a sign up sheet and brochures on PTSD and the Family to Family Educational program are displayed.

Emails are also sent announcing the class to our FRONT LINE Collaborative partners as well as our support group & conference attendees. Constant Contact has been very beneficial as a means of communication.

As the class start date approaches, reminder emails and phone calls are done.

Family to Family Week 10 - November 3, 2010Artie Coulter - Instructor & Wife of a Vietnam Veteran JR Browning - Iraqi Veteran & Guest SpeakerErnie - Father of an Iraqi Veteran

Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration Community Based Outpatient Clinic

(CBOC) In the fall of 2007 joined FRONT LINE as a Collaborative Partner

CBOC had never heard of NAMI prior to FRONT LINE

Opened their doors and welcomed the First NAMI Family to Family

Educational Class in September of 2008

September 2009 & 2010 - 2nd & 3rd consecutive years of Family to Family

Continues to support and refer to NAMI Kern County and FRONT LINE

SUPPORTVet & Family Support Groups

NAMI Kern County's FRONT LINE offers several support groups for families and loved ones of veterans. Information is available on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its

symptoms, including depression, sleep disorders, anxiety and substance abuse-related conditions.

First and third Tuesdays of every month6:00pm - 7:30 p.m.

Good Samaritan Hospital, Southwest, 5201 White Lane, Bakersfield1st half of group Veterans split to their own group then rejoin family group

(Veterans Support group led by NAMI Trained Veterans)

Fourth Tuesday of every month6:00pn - 7:30 p.m.

Mobile Estates Senior Park, 333 S. Dennison, Tehachapi

NAMI Trained FRONT LINE ParticipantsPatrice Maniaci – Family Support Group Facilitator Family Support State Trainer Family to Family Instructor Connection Support Facilitator Peer to Peer Mentor Peer to Peer State Trainer

Russ Sempell - Family Support Group Facilitator Family Support State Trainer Family to Family Graduate Peer to Peer Graduate

J.R. Browning - Connection Support Facilitator Peer to Peer Mentor

Denita Hartfield -Connection Support Facilitator Speaker, CA State Psychological Association

EDUCATIONFamily to Family Education NAMI Trained Instructors *Spouse of Vietnam Veteran *Daughter of WW11 and Korean Veteran

Peer to Peer Recovery Education NAMI Trained Mentors *Iraqi Combat Veteran

Quarterly Conferences Open to the Community

ADVOCACY"The War Within: Eyewitness News Investigates PTSD,"

KBAK/KBFX-TV

This November 2008 special report on veterans' Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder features

NAMI Kern County's FRONT LINE

www.frontlinenami.org/TheWarWithinEyewitnessNewsInvestigatesPTSD/tabid/84/Default.aspx

I am also the proud recipient of several awards, including three Edward R. Murrow Awards. One, a 2006 National Murrow for a series of reports on meth. I have received a pair of EMMY Awards for breaking news coverage in Detroit and for a half hour special called “The War Within” on veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have been honored by the Associated Press and Radio/Television News Association (RTNA) for best investigative, consumer, feature and news series reporting. In 2009, I received the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) California Media Award for “excellence in reporting on serious mental illness.” In 2010, I was awarded the Mental Health America best “Local Television” national award for outstanding coverage of a mental health issue for news special called “Dying For Help.”

Kurt Riverakrivera@bakersfieldnow.com

Wally BeVilleFRONT LINE Veteran, Peer to Peer Graduate,

Volunteer, Kern County Mental Health Crisis Unit with focus on Veterans

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Kern, State of California officially proclaimed

October 10-16, 2010 as

National Alliance on Mental IllnessFRONT LINE Awareness Week in Kern County

RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS1) Proclamation proclaiming October 10 - 16, 2010 as National Alliance onMental Illness FRONT LINE Awareness Week in Kern County -PROCLAIMED; MADE PRESENTATION TO J.R. BROWNING AND DENITA HARTFIELD, U.S. ARMY VETERANS; AND PATRICE MANIACI, CO-FOUNDER, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)FRONT LINE PROGRAM, AND VICE PRESIDENT OF NAMI KERN COUNTY; J.R. BROWNING, DENITA HARTFIELD AND PATRICE MANIACI, HEARDMaggard-Maben: 4 Ayes; 1 Absent - Rubio

NAMI Kern County’s FRONT LINEOUTCOME

↓Stigma

NAMI Kern County’s FRONT LINE Veterans Day Parade November 11, 2010

Bakersfield, CA

NAMI Kern County’s FRONT LINERuss Sempell and Patrice Maniaci

Founderswww.frontlinenami.org

United We Stand

Thank YouRuss Sempell & Patrice Maniaci

FoundersNAMI Kern County’s

FRONT LINE est 2007www.frontlinenami.org

(661) 303-1416(661) 333-5484