Across the Affiliate Network

Affiliates Making a Difference

Connecticut: On September 8, Philip S. Wyzik, M.A., assumed the position of President and CEO of the Mental Health Association of Connecticut, Inc. Wyzik is currently the Senior Vice President of Operations for West Central Behavioral Health, Inc. in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The previous CEO, Beverly Walton, will be retiring from the organization after 30 years of service.

Indiana: Mental Health America in Allen County has been quite successful in receiving several grants. They recently received an $8,000 grant from a Community Development Block Grant funded through the city of Fort Wayne, Division of Community Development. The grant will be used by the MHA to provide Client Advocacy Services to 60 people. The MHA was also awarded a $15,000 grant from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, to be used for Client Advocacy. This is the fourth year that the Foundation has awarded the grant to the MHA. The local Drug and Alcohol Consortium has also awarded the MHA a $10,000 grant for its “Kids’ Talks” programs. These programs are presented in a series of five weekly programs to 4th and 5th grades at the request of the classroom teacher. The programs deal with character building subjects such as making responsible decisions and resisting peer pressure. It is projected that 500 children will participate in the programs in Allen County Schools. Lastly, the MHA has received a $15,000 grant for its “Kids on the Block” program from the Lincoln Financial Foundation. This grant will provide funding for 200 programs in area schools.

Kansas: The MHA in South Central Kansas has received approval of a three-year Federal grant from SAMHSA for a total of $1.2 million. Funding is being provided under the Older Adults Program, is titled “Mid-Kansas Senior Outreach,” and will involve engaging seniors for mental health services. Several other projects were proposed from Kansas, and we do not know their status. Needless to say, the MHA is thrilled with this funding. Congratulations to Carol Manning and Don Strong for their great work in writing the grant and engaging partners in it.

Missouri: Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri has been notified that they have received a two-year grant for general support of advocacy. The grant was awarded by the Missouri Foundation for Health for $150,000 over the two years.

Missouri: Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri (formerly the MHA of Greater St. Louis) and MHA of the Heartland have inked a contract with Missouri’s Department of Mental Health to provide services to the “Help for the Homefront” project funded this year by the Missouri Legislature. The MHAs are charged with developing a promotional brochure, conducting a one-day training for CMHC clinicians who will be providing services, and providing outreach to National Guard and Army Reserve units located in the targeted areas.

Montana: The Montana Warm Line is now open! The Montana Warm Line is a non-crisis line open 5:30- 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 1-5 p.m. on Saturday afternoons, staffed by trained primary consumers. The intent is to have an option for those who live far away from a drop-in center or other mental health services, as well as for anyone who just needs a friendly and understanding person to talk to. The website is also up and running - www.montanawarmline.org.

New Jersey: Monmouth County received word at the National Staff Institute that their affiliate has been awarded a $600,000 supportive housing grant.

New York: Several special celebrity guests including CNN’s Gerri Willis, Stone Phillips, formerly of NBC, and CBS’s Lou Young joined more than 500 Westchester residents to raise nearly $300,000 to promote mental health programs at The Mental Health Association of Westchester’s “MHA on the move: Run, Walk, Dance!” held on Saturday, September 20. The day began with the affiliate’s fourth annual 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kids’ Race, at FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights, and culminated with a Gala Dance Celebration at the Marros in Rye. All proceeds from the events will directly support the MHA’s advocacy, education and direct services.

New York: The Door Project: The Art of the Homeless is a project conceived of by the Dutchess County Housing Consortium. Funding for the project was received by Mental Health America of Dutchess County from the Dutchess County Arts Council, administrator of public funds through the NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Department. Under the supervision of artist Nestor Madalengoita, homeless adults expressed their visions and what they value through mural paintings on doors which are assembled into a moving exhibition piece. Biographies of the individual artists are presented on the back of the mural doors. The piece gives recognition to the individuality and humanity of the homeless artists and helps raise awareness about homelessness in Dutchess County. An exhibit of this work was displayed at the Riverfest Arts Festival at Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie.

North Carolina: The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County (N.C.) received a $8,400 grant from The Winston-Salem Foundation that will be used by The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County to initiate a new support group for persons suffering with an eating disorder and to expand our current programs, outreach, educational and advocacy services in the area of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa).

North Carolina: The Mental Health Association in Cleveland County (N.C.) has spearheaded the creation of the Cleveland County Substance Abuse Coalition (CCSAC). The Coalition will focus on services, treatment, and recovery sustainability for youth.

Ohio: Mental Health America of Franklin County Executive Director, Laura Moskow Sigal, was recently published as a co-author in the Journal of Community Practice. The article, “An Evaluation of a Community Collaboration Approach to Psychosocial Rehabilitation,” reports on the results of a multi-agency demonstration project. The SAMHSA-funded project was designed to recreate the salient features of an exemplary practice, single agency program of psychosocial rehabilitation for persons with serious mental illness. To read the full article online, visit http://www.haworthpress.com and reference Journal of Community Practice, Vol. 16 (2) 2008.

Ohio: The Mental Health America of Licking County celebrated its 55th anniversary on November 13, 2008. The MHA recognized some wonderful volunteers and special people who are doing their best to thrive and contribute to our community

Wisconsin: The Aurora Behavioral Health Team hosted a Brats ‘n Burgers fundraiser at the southside Sheboygan Wal-Mart Supercenter, raising $2,000 for the Mental Health America in Sheboygan County’s emergency medication account.