Page 4 Butte County Jarvis Gardens Open House Page 7 Siskiyou County Hearts & Hope Tea Page 7 Tehama County Good ‘SAM’aritan Computer Lab UpdateProviding Help and Creating Hope for People of All Faiths Since 1986 Volume 4 • Issue 3 • Summer 2008 NVCSS Second Home: NVCSS Opens New Facility for the Persistent Mentally Ill The opening of NVCSS Second Home in February is generating a lot Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or of excitement in Shasta County. This program is a consumer-driven income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, community drop-in center for people with mental health issues. The lack of character, or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are program encourages family participation and help as well. Resources treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can and support are offered in a peer-to-peer fashion as the facility includes experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in staff members who have faced mental health issues themselves. an individual treatment plan. The idea of opening this facility was born years ago when the mental In addition to medication treatment, psychosocial treatment such health community in Shasta County began to collaborate and exchange as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, peer support ideas on the concept of starting a drop-in center for people with groups, and other community services can also be components mental health issues. The group’s idea was very simple: start a voluntary of a treatment plan that assist with recovery. The availability of program for consumer participants to provide a place to go where they transportation, diet, exercise, sleep, friends, and meaningful paid could get out of the house and meet others with similar issues. The or volunteer activities contribute to overall health and wellness, voice of the mental health community got a little bit louder when the including mental illness recovery. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) expressed their interest in Although NVCSS Second Home has been open for only a few months, supporting this concept. Over several years Shasta County consumers, the hustle and bustle is that of any well established community center. NAMI members, Second Home Resource Center, a local grassroots, A core group of attendees have engaged in the various activities consumer organization, and client advocates met in a variety of offered, and a continuous stream of new faces stop by to see what’s locations to bring their dream to fruition. A breakthrough finally came going on. Newcomers are treated to a tour of the facility and are with the passing of Proposition 63, which brought funding into the provided with a schedule of events, including a list of various support Shasta County Mental Health Department to begin the consumer driven groups available. All participants are encouraged to participate in a drop-in center. NVCSS submitted a response to a competitive Request Wellness and Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) which is designed to teach for Proposal outlining a peer-to-peer “wellness” concept supporting participants recovery and self management strategies for dealing with mental health recovery. The proposal was funded and thus began mental health difficulties. a community drop-in center providing activities, support groups, resources and a place to call their “Second Home.” The program staff works diligently to individualize and recommend activities based on each participant’s needs and preferences. The What is Mental Illness? According to the NAMI (National Alliance on objective is to make everyone feel comfortable. Classes and activities Mental Illness) website, www.nami.org: are varied – ranging from anger management classes to Wednesday Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s night sing-a-longs. The program schedule offers many options for the thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily consumer participants. functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental A bike repair program is in the process of being implemented where illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished employees, volunteers and participants gather bicycles that need capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. serious TLC. Once repaired, these bikes will provide much needed Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, transportation for the consumer participants to places like the garden bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic plot established in a community garden cooperative. Participants disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline formally tend this garden plot three days per week as a program personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that (continued on page 4) recovery is possible. A PUBLIC ATION OF Our Mission: Northern Valley Catholic Social Service reaches out effectively in care and in love From the to serve the unmet needs of all people in our communities. Executive Director About NVCSS: As we wrap up the past year at Northern Valley Catholic Social Service (NVCSS) NVCSS compassionately and and prepare for the beginning of a new fiscal year, it is an ideal time to reflect respectfully helps people maintain upon both the significant challenges that NVCSS has faced during this year and their independence through programs the opportunities that may accompany those challenges. During this past year we in the areas of housing, mental health, have observed grants and government dollars becoming increasingly competitive teen services, family, and community to obtain, budgets tightening within the State and County funding arenas, and support. Special emphasis is placed non-profit agencies struggling with funding. NVCSS has faced program closures on addressing unmet needs of the and staff layoffs in recent months, primarily due to government contracts shrinking community. NVCSS is dedicated to because of the State’s budget problems which in turn flow down to the respective serving, Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Siskiyou, counties in which NVCSS operates. In spite of funding difficulties during this down Tehama and Trinity counties. NVCSS is a economy, there is hope for new innovative programs such as Second Home, new tax-exempt, public-benefit corporation funding from grants and private sources for the continuity of services for those most with a 501(c)(3) designation. affected - our clients. The NVCSS Newsletter is published During these tough economic twice per year. If you would like to be “Hope is like a road in the times, NVCSS will continue to removed from this mailing list, please aggressively seek out alternative call Development at 530.247.3333 or country; there was never a road, funding sources in order to 800.846.1451 toll-free. but when many people walk on it, avoid program closures or curtailments and to continue Non-Discrimination Notice: Northern the road comes into existence.” providing services to those Valley Catholic Social Service adheres most in need throughout our to an equal opportunity policy for ~Lin Yutang communities. We know that all persons seeking admission and NVCSS makes a positive and treatment as clients. This facility does not discriminate because of race, color, unique difference in the lives of its clients, and the agency will do its best to locate national origin, disability, age, sex, or funding in order to provide needed services in accordance with our mission to religion. For further information or to file “effectively reach out in care and in love to serve the unmet needs of all people in a complaint, contact the Northern Valley our communities”. Catholic Social Service Compliance The Second Home Program, an incredible partnership between NVCSS and “Second Officer at 530.241.0552. Home Resource Center,” a consumer-based grassroots organization, reminds us that there is still a future for new programs and innovative partnerships with community groups and public agencies including the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and Shasta County Health Services Agency, Mental Health Department. TABLE of CONTENTS As one participant states, “Second Home is …trying to get people’s lives heading in the right direction….” The Second Home Program offers a community drop-in From the Executive Director ..........2 center program for individuals with mental health issues as well as their families. Regional News ...............................3 Consumers are engaged in the center as active volunteers and staff members. Each participant is encouraged to develop a Wellness and Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Butte & Glenn Counties ............ 4-5 which is designed to facilitate recovery and self-management strategies for dealing Shasta County ............................ 5-6 with mental health difficulties. Siskiyou County .............................7 We are most grateful for the hope and support of volunteers, donors, employees, and clients, and we Tehama County .......................... 7-8 truly appreciate the generous gifts of time, talents, and Donor Acknowledgement ....... 9-11 treasures that continue to bless this agency. Save the Date ..............................11 Wish Lists .....................................11 Sincerely, Don Chapman, CPA Executive Director Page 2 • Summer 2008 Regional News NVCSS Celebrates Volunteer & Employee Appreciation Week In April, NVCSS paid tribute to volunteers who so graciously NVCSS recognizes that volunteers set a contributed