Consider attending this important event and make your voices heard:

Have a SNEAK PEEK at what will be offered at our SPRING GALA on APRIL 30th 2011:

5 Nights Around the World with Hyatt

Wanna make National Geographic jealous?  Take advantage of Hyatt Regency’s Worldwide Hotel offer to stay at any of its 350 hotels around the world for five nights.  Sure to cure the wildest wanderlust.  Pack your bags and go.  Anywhere.

Value: $1600       

Chicago Bulls Autographed Basketball

This basketball is covered with the autographs of Bulls’ starters Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Loul Deng, Joakim Noah, as well as others.  It comes with a mirror-backed acrylic display case to keep the ball protected yet still visible when you feel like exercising some bragging rights.  Just don’t dribble it.

Value: Priceless   

A Week in Sanibel, Florida

Seven nights in sunny Sanibel!  Stay at the Sanibel Moorings Condo Resort and get ready to get busy (there’s the beach, pool, fitness center and tennis court, with the Sanibel Historical Village and Museum nearby) or veg out and enjoy the view on the tranquil Gulf of Mexico.  To make that vacation dollar go farther, all rooms have kitchenettes.

Value: $1000   

Beach Boys Autographed Electric Guitar

If you’re still “California Dreamin’” or hoping for some “Good Vibrations”, then you can’t pass up this classic white electric guitar signed by Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and Carl Wilson.  Authenticated by Steve Fine Sports and Celebrity Memorabilia of Deerfield, this guitar is a piece of rock-and-roll history, to be treasured by the young and old alike.

Value: $7500  

A Week in Bonita Springs, Florida

Come for a week of R & R to a Bonita Springs townhouse timeshare.  The townhouse is located two miles from the ocean and between Naples and Ft. Meyers.  Bonita Springs is a golf lover’s paradise, with over 32 courses to choose from. Boating, fishing, snorkeling are just a few of the things the ocean has to offer.  Back on land, there are hiking, camping, museums, a national park and restaurants galore.

Value: $1500   

Ron Santo Autographed Baseball Bat

Cubs’ fans will never forget Number 10, Ron Santo, a Cubs player from 1960-1973.   A power-hitting third baseman, Santo was a nine-time All-Stars selection as well as a five-time winner of the Golden Gloves. In 1973 he received the Lou Gehrig0 Memorial Award.  Own a piece of baseball history.

Value: $300   

Summer Program for Kids with Special Needs!

(This program is not a part of NAMI CCNS, nor endorsed by NAMI CCNS. It is a positive resource in our community. Do check them out! )

Summer Program Guide 2011

June 13 – August 27, 2011
3100 Dundee Road Suite 704
Northbrook, IL 60062
P: 847.498.KIDS (5437)
F: 847.498.5438
www.KGHconsultation.org

Specialized Summer Programs
These specialized summer programs are designed specifically for children that may struggle with any of the following issues:
* Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) * Executive Functioning Difficulties
* Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) * Anxiety
* Asperger’s Syndrome * Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVD)
* ADD/ADHD * Sensory Regulation
* Social Pragmatic Language Disorder * Sensory Integration Dysfunction
* Social Cognition Deficits * Developmental Delays
* Learning Disabilities * Non‐compliant behaviors
* Academic Challenges * Emotional Regulation

FREE screenings offered in order to best match the needs of the individual to the program or group. ALSO, several age‐ranges and ability levels per program are available in order for each individual to maximize their learning.
To schedule a FREE screening, please call the owner, Kim Hoehne, MA, BCBA at
847.498.KIDS (5437) x12.

For more information please contact KGH at 847-498-5437 or click HERE for their full brochure:

Via NAMI IL: Parent Empowerment Call

Illinois Department of Human Services
Division of Mental Health
Child and Adolescent Services

PARENTS

Please join us for the next Parent Empowerment Call.

It’s free from any phone.

Thursday, May 5th

12:00 PM-1:00 PM

Toll free:  1-800-260-0712
Participant Access Code:  120964

Can I Get a Hand-up?

(Building A Natural Support System)

Presenters:

DMH Family Consumer Specialists

Questions about the Parent Empowerment Calls?  Call 618.838.9382

These are educational calls being offered to all parents in Illinois who have a child with an emotional and/or behavioral concern, and will focus on giving parents information they need to advocate for and support their children.

Cordially invites YOU to …
ASK & LEARN from the Special Needs Planner

Monday May 16th 2011    7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Glenview Township Police Department Building

(Community Meeting Room – First Floor) . 2500 East Lake Avenue . Glenview, IL 60026

ASK … and LEARN from the Special Needs Planner

HOW to prepare-and-plan for future care which brings peace of mind to families about the years ahead for loved one with MENTAL DISABILITIES!

Meet … Financial Professional and Guest Speaker … Mary Anne Ehlert, Certified Financial Planner  - President and Founder of Protected Tomorrows, Inc.

Attend an inter-active 8-STEPS SPECIAL NEEDS planning educational seminar.  The upcoming presentation of Bringing You Protected Tomorrows will provide families with uplifting information.  Mary Anne will share how her experiences with her sister and other family members with special needs led her to develop a planning process to help families prepare a Future Care Plan^TM.

Participants will develop the foundation for their family’s own personal Eight Step Future Care Plan^TM.

Some topics of discussion include:

• how to create a map of the future
• how to prepare legally and financially
• how to incorporate and maximize government benefits
• how to prepare for transition
• how to communicate your plan to your family

Monday, May 16, 2011    @ 7 pm – 9 pm

This program is free and open to the public ● Free parking in front of building

********  NEW LOCATION  *******

Glenview Township Police Department Building

(Community Meeting Room – First Floor) . 2500 East Lake Avenue . Glenview, IL 60026

Consider attending this local function with your adolescent child:

Substance Use in Adolescence: The Mechanisms of Motivation and Change

Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 7:00-9:00 pm
New Trier High School/Winnetka, Gaffney Auditorium, 385 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka

Sponsored by Family Awareness Network of New Trier Township (FAN) and the New Trier High School Parents’ Association’s Class of 2013.

Humans have used substances for centuries for positive health, spiritual or social impact. Many times the substance use is recreational, with negligible health or social effects. But further along the spectrum we find problematic use that begins to have negative consequences for the individual, friends/family, or society. For many problem users, chronic dependence, with its debilitating health and social effects, is the end game.

How does one individual manage their casual, recreational substance use appropriately, while another individual shifts into problematic or chronic consumption? Is it genetics, or is it the social/cultural environment, or both, and to what extent? What are the markers of the slide from casual substance use to problematic use? Which substances are most worrisome? And what are we to make of the behavioral addictions now making headlines, like video gaming – do they have a similar pattern of use and abuse?

Bring your teen along for this highly informative evening featuring Dr. Petros Levounis, Director of The Addiction Institute of New York, and Chief of Addiction Psychiatry, St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals in New York City. Dr. Levounis will differentiate between substance use and abuse, and will discuss how an individual’s biology, psychology and social world affects the pleasure, reward, memory and motivation centers in his or her brain.

After his presentation, Dr. Levounis will be joined by Dr. David Schreiber, Medical Director, Child/Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program, NorthShore University HealthSystem, and Alec Ross, LCSW, RDDP, a certified drug counselor and Child and Adolescent Coordinator, Family Service of Glencoe. They will offer a focused look at prevention and treatment strategies for teens, as well as discuss co-occurring issues with substance use/abuse, such as depression, anxiety or ADHD. CPDUs available for education professionals

Dr. Petro Levounis is director of The Addiction Institute of New York and co-author of Sober Siblings: How to Help Your Alcoholic Brother or Sister-and Not Lose Yourself(Amazon link)

Press release and flyer  LevounisFlyerReleaseOpt.pdf

Recent news about Dr. Levounis:

Alcohol is more harmful than heroin or crack: study
By Family Health
Dr. Petros Levounis, director of the Addiction Institute of New York at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, agreed with the study findings. “Both in terms of the medical consequences as well as societal consequences, I agree that alcohol …
Family Health 365 – http://familyhealth365.blogspot.com/

He is the Addiction Psychiatry Expert for AOLHealth these are his blog posts.

Al Ross, LCSW. Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park Youth, Family and Community Coordinator for Family Service of Glencoe.

From our friends at the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute:
Tenth Annual Community Mental Health Conference: Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness; Bipolar Disorder: Progress and Promise

“We are pleased to announce our Tenth Annual Community Mental Health Conference:
Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness; Bipolar Disorder: Progress and Promise, to be held on June 5^th, 2011 Evanston IL.

Those of you who were among the more than 120 participating organizations (sponsors) can attest to its success.   Last year’s feedback, from nearly 300 participants, indicated that the conference made a real difference in their lives. And you helped make that possible.

This year we welcome a distinguished panel of professionals who are experts in understanding Bipolar Disorder and mental illness, including:

Paul E. Keck Jr. M.D., Executive Vice Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, and President and CEO of the Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason, Ohio.  Dr. Keck is also a professor in the University of Cincinnati department of psychiatry.

Mark A. Reinecke Ph.D., Chief of the Division of Psychology and professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Reinecke’s research and clinical work focuses on understanding depression and suicide among children and adolescents. Known nationally and internationally, Dr. Reinecke has been a visiting professor at universities across Europe and Asia.

Nanette V. Larson, B.A. CRSS., Director of Recovery Support Services at the Illinois Department of Human Services /Division of Mental Health. Ms. Larson has spent the last eight years developing and directing statewide recovery programs, including Illinois’ Wellness Recovery Action Planning Initiative. Ms. Larson’s passion for recovery stems in part from her personal experiences with bipolar illness.

Following a question and answer session led by Dr. Carroll Cradock, President of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago Campus, participants will have an opportunity to visit exhibits and interact with each other. Each participant will choose to attend one of fourteen discussion groups on subjects related to bipolar disorder. These groups are led by expert professionals.

Closing remarks will feature, Erasing the Distance; shedding the light of mental illness through professional theatre. Brighid O’ Shaughnessy, Founder and Executive Director, will perform Reverend Cheryl Magrini’s story. Dr. Magrini is a minister at First United Methodist Church in Chicago. Her work focuses on religious education and providing pastoral and premarital counseling. She is a person with bipolar disorder.

Watch for the brochure in early March.

The 2011 Conference promises to be another exciting and informative event.”

From our colleagues at NAMI NATIONAL comes this insightful book review:

Executive Director Position Available

Below you will find the job description for the position we have available. Instructions for applying for the position are at the bottom of the page.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Executive Director – NAMI CCNS
Job Description
April 2011

The Executive Director (ED) works for the Board of Directors to carry out the mission

of NAMI CCNS (National Alliance on Mental Illness – Cook County North Suburban). The ED coordinates the organization’s staff and volunteers, its programs, and long term fiscal planning.

This is a 24 hour/week position (4 days a week) that holds the potential for growth in numerous ways.  The professional office consists of 4 experienced part time staff.

Mission Statement:
The mission of NAMI CCNS is to improve the lives of persons with mental illness and of their families through support, education and advocacy.

Overview:
The Executive Director of NAMI CCNS, will oversee all of the current and future programs of the affiliate, its volunteers and staff, while maintaining the integrity and high standards of community involvement in our area. Working with the board to implement the current Strategic Plan while planning towards a greater vision is critical. Administrative and fiscal oversight will be required. Grant writing and Fund-raising ability is a necessary and key component of the position. Hands-on work is frequently required at all levels of the job. Participation at community and advocacy events is sometimes expected.

This position holds great rewards for hard work in a deeply gratifying role.

Description of Duties:

1. Administration

• Recruit, evaluate and supervise staff.

• Recruit and supervise volunteers.

• Develop, implement, and coordinate a communication system that facilitates a clear understanding of processes and policies for employees and volunteers.

• Implement Board approved personnel policies.

• Report to the Board of Directors and serve as a liaison among staff, volunteers,

and members of the Board.

• Development of operational efficiencies and technology supports in the office

• Meet and speak with community members as needed daily and/or weekly

2. Board Assistance

• Help recruit new board members and assist with overall board development.

• Work with the Board and Board committees to develop plans, policies and

priorities for staffing, programs, and speaking events.

• Coordinate information from related agency meetings.

• Regular attendance and input at 10 Board Meetings a year

3. Fundraising and Financial Oversight

• Write or oversee applications for new grants that ensure fiscal continuity, affiliate growth and program expansion.

• Prepare and submit grant reports.

• Work with Treasurer and Finance Committee to ensure that financial duties are performed within a timely manner.

• Design, oversee and implement fundraising strategies to meet various board goals, such as the Annual Appeal Campaign, NAMI CCNS Walk and Spring Gala (along with volunteer teams and committees)

• Develop business and corporate sponsorships.

4. Program Development

• Ensure quality and stability of programs in areas of family and peer education & support, and community outreach.

• Oversee the development and coordination of additional programs and services that support the affiliate’s mission and priorities.

• Assist board members and volunteers in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs and work plans.

• Expand our strong volunteer base and facilitate further training and utilization of volunteers.

5. Communication and Outreach

• Represent the affiliate as its primary spokesperson.

• Network with community and other organizations throughout Cook County and IL through public speaking, media presentations, attending meetings, workshops and seminars.

• Represent NAMI CCNS within the state and at national conferences as determined appropriate by the Board of Directors.

• Development of long term branding and marketing plan

• Oversee official NAMI CCNS Newsline publications, E-newsletter blasts, Facebook and Web site content

This job description is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the position. The duties may be varied to meet the changing demands of the organization at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Outstanding interpersonal skills.

• Applied knowledge of individual, corporate, government and foundation development strategies or ability to learn

• Ability to work collaboratively with community partners, corporations, foundations, boards, major donors and other volunteers.

• Understanding of nonprofits and volunteer supervision.

• Proficiency – moderate to advanced – with computers and software is mandatory. Excel/CRM/Database experience is extremely helpful.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from accredited university. Masters Level preferred (MA/MS/MBA)

• Relevant experience in a leadership role in the field of human services and/or business development.

• Knowledge of mental illness and its impact on the individual, the family, and the community.

• Successful grant writing experience with foundations, corporations, or government agencies.

• Supervisory and/or leadership experience.

• Nonprofit experience highly desirable.

• Experience with grassroots coalition building, advocacy and membership development preferred.

• Professional dress and demeanor

To Apply for the Executive Director Role:

Please email the following:
1-     Letter of Interest – explaining why you want this position and why you should be considered
2-     Your Resume
3-     3 references including current contact information – telephone numbers and emails

to Helene Rhodes    executivedirector@namiccns.org

For more information about NAMI CCNS please see our website at: www.namiccns.org