“ ALONE”

“HOPE- LESS”

“CRAZY”

HOPE-LESSALONE

Erie County

but treatment of mental illness is more effective than treatment for heart disease.

and we have 5,500 success stories to prove it.

is not sufficient; advocacy sustains the momentum.

COMMUNITY REPORT 2013

it sounds

providing education for the mentally ill isn’t

treatment

CRAZY

PERSPECTIVEAll of us at NAMI are dedicated to changing the familiar perceptions around mental illness, just as the cover of this document aims to do. We have an extraordinary perspective on mental illness and a remarkable way of advocating for that view. And that’s just what we did this past year.

And what a remarkable year it was!

During this year, NAMI:

• Helped 5,500 individuals to feel like a whole person again.

• Presented formal education programs to more than 100 area businesses and organizations, reaching new communities, new neighborhoods and thousands of new people.

• Offered our nationally recognized Peer-to-Peer and Family-to-Family education programs at unprecedented levels. Remember, our education programs are offered free.

• Enthusiastically promoted the healing benefits of our accredited educational programs throughout the community with the help of our friends at Lilly Broadcasting and so many others.

• Created a signature special event, The Fabulous Golf Outing, that became a roaring and eye-catching success on all fronts.

As you turn the pages of our community report and explore “What is NAMI,” we believe you will be favorably impressed with our work in our community.

We also hope that you will learn that our work is far from done.

With one in four individuals affected by a mental health issue in a given year—that’s right, one in four—nearly 70,000 people in Erie County will face an issue within the next twelve months. That’s why we ask you to join our team today as a financial contributor, an ambassador or as a volunteer to help individuals and those families affected by mental health issues to improve their lives. The future of NAMI depends on you. We offer programs at no cost, so people of all economic backgrounds can have the access they need to NAMI’s signature programs. Can you make a difference? These programs can only continue with your help.

Please call today at 814.456.1773 or email me at denise@namierie.org.

Thank you.

Denise L. Kolivoski, M.B.A. Executive Director

a message from the Executive Director

a REMARKABLE featSpeaking of stigma, the good folks at Lilly Broadcasting, the local affiliates of WSEE, WICU and the CW, received a “Stomping Out Stigma” award this year for their outstanding efforts. Brian Lilly, Pam Forsyth, and the staff have donated thousands of dollars in advertising time to share the message of recovery from mental illness. 12News Anchors Emily Matson and Mike Ruzzi (pictured to the right) accept NAMI’s “Stomping Out Stigma” award.

NAMI of Erie County provides mental health education to the community. Someday, we can eliminate the ugly words that people often use to refer to mental illness.

It sounds “CRAZY” but treatment of mental illness is more effective than treatment for heart disease.

For instance, the National Institute of Mental Health cites that the treatment for heart disease has a success rate of 50%, while mental illnesses such as schizophrenia can have treatment rates that are as effective as 70%. Now, that’s a statistic that is worth your support!

Providing education for individuals with mental illness isn’t “HOPELESS” and NAMI has 5,500 success stories to prove it.

We’re changing lives. NAMI provides exclusive, evidence-based education to Erie County. We have sustainable results and we change lives with our Peer-to-Peer and Family-to-Family educational programs.

Treatment “ALONE” is not sufficient; advocacy sustains the momentum.

We’ve been there, we get it. NAMI’s programs are taught by certified peer mentors. We know what it’s like to face the daily challenges of mental illness.

a REMARKABLE transformation

Gail Cash suffered from depression and anxiety. Now recovering, Gail is a trained NAMI mentor in the free, 10-week Peer-to-Peer recovery education program for adults with mental illness. This program encourages participants to create a recovery plan, maintain their health and live well with mental illness.

Organizations seeking funding from United Way of Erie County undergo a rigorous selection process that examines operational excellence and outcomes. NAMI successfully applied to be part of the United Way family, an event of great significance for NAMI’s Peer-to-Peer program. Speaking about the selection, United Way President & Chief Professional Officer Bill Jackson said, “As United Way works towards helping more local families become self-sufficient, NAMI’s Peer-to-Peer program fits perfectly into our funding priorities. We believe this program is critical to achieving our desired outcomes.”

a REMARKABLE story

When Christina Halli learned that her son, Jack, was diagnosed with a mental illness, she sought out NAMI’s Family-to-Family program, an evidence-based, free, 12-week course for family members and caregivers of individuals with mental illnesses. Now, Jack and Christina (pictured below) work with NAMI to help people who are in need of information, solace and understanding. Graduates of this program learn coping skills, listening, and communication techniques which helps them gain empathy by understanding the experience of a person living with mental illness. NAMI’s Family-to-Family program is recognized as an evidence-based program by SAMHSA, the office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This means that the program has measurable outcomes. Many graduates say that the class is “life-changing.”

We want to give people hope. A lot of the time people feel desolate and lack self-esteem. We want them to take responsibility for their own lives and develop a support system.

Gail CashPeer-to-Peer Program Volunteer

I feel like I now have the knowledge needed to better care for my son. NAMI has helped me build a support group of people with similar family challenges. I highly recommend NAMI’s Family-to-Family course.

Christina HalliFamily-to-Family Graduate

““

” ”

board of DIRECTORS

Sheila Silman, MS, President – Erie County Care ManagementGeorge Fickenworth, MBA, Treasurer – Mercyhurst Civic InstituteChristine Jordan, BA, Secretary – Retired, Corry School DistrictCarolyn Gold, Esq. – Office of the Hon. Daniel Brabender Mat Sipple, DO – Erie Psychiatric Associates Sonya Adams, MSA – Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Jon Patsy, BS – Marquette Savings Bank Michael Messina, Ph.D. – Gannon UniversityJerry Fagley, BS – Loesel-Schaaf Insurance, Inc.

NAMI staff

Denise L. Kolivoski, MBA – Executive Director Stephen Krivonak, MPA ‘14 – Community EducatorMichael Fiscus, BA – Program CoordinatorEmily Czerpak, MBA – Program Assistant Megan Richter, CPA – Financial ConsultantMary Corsey – Senior Aide

2012-2013 FINANCIALS

NAMI of Erie County has been debt-free since 2011.

NAMI staff, L-R: Emily Czerpak, Program Assistant; Steve Krivonak, Community Educator; Denise L. Kolivoski, Director; Michael Fiscus,

Program Coordinator; Mary Corsey, Senior Aide.

a REMARKABLE day

What makes a golf outing fabulous? Start with great organization from James W. Martin of Bankable Consulting and great sponsors. Add 15 volunteers who are completely new to NAMI, and of course, the many dollars and awareness raised by this high-profile event. Here’s how this works: Volunteers become ambassadors. Ambassadors become supporters. Supporters become the heart of NAMI, and that’s remarkable.

A flashy feather boa never hurts, either!

Fabulous Major SponsorsBankable ConsultingHighmarkLilly BroadcastingMarquette Savings BankNorthwest Savings BankPNC BankTim Horton’sUPMC Health Plan/ Community Care Benefit

a REMARKABLE feat

At NAMI, we know our volunteers have heart, but one special

volunteer has legs, too. Here’s Tom Jennings who raised $5,000 for NAMI from good-hearted people who sponsored him in a

100-mile—that’s right, a 100-mile—ultramarathon. Speaking of legs, NAMI gave Tom a “Stomping Out Stigma” award for his outstanding effort.

$62,091Community Support(special events, grants, contributors)

$203,979Erie County Mental Health/ Mental Retardation Office(public sector funding)

$266,070Total Operating Revenue

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