FCMI is Recognized as a 2021 NAMI NC President’s Award Winner
November 2021
The Presidents Award - when given, is awarded at the sole discretion of the current president of NAMI North Carolina. It recognizes those who have shown great perseverance in the face of mental illness and have made significant positive differences in the lives of others.
This year’s winner is not a single person, but an organization. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, this group managed to have a statewide conference, plus regular Zoom meetings with a variety of mental health experts and faith community leaders on a variety of timely topics, generally with 25-50 callers on each call.
In a day when experts are increasingly realizing that early intervention is essential to better serve youth with mental health concerns, this group has actually done something about it. They sponsored an event in which a Duke University student who lives with several conditions spoke to over 100 youth interested in learning more about mental illness, with a follow up event open to parents and teenagers. They have a group of youth ministers lining up to be trained by one of their Board members in Mental Health First Aid in December. And an offshoot group in Chapel Hill and Orange County has been responsible for the addition of the Recovery International’s "Power your Mind" curriculum within their school system next semester.
This group’s specialty is furthering mental health within faith communities. They helped several congregations integrate the "Power your Mind" curriculum into their religious education and youth groups. They also sponsored the formation of a clergy blog in which leaders from all faith traditions share their experiences and best practices in ministering to those who are affected by mental illness.
When “Mental Health Reform” was ushered in during the early 2000’s there was much talk about natural supports, but very little action. For their role in being a truly effective support, the 2021 President’s Award goes to FAITH CONNECTIONS ON MENTAL ILLNESS.
Please click here to visit NAMI's website if you would like to see other award winners.
November 2021
The Presidents Award - when given, is awarded at the sole discretion of the current president of NAMI North Carolina. It recognizes those who have shown great perseverance in the face of mental illness and have made significant positive differences in the lives of others.
This year’s winner is not a single person, but an organization. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, this group managed to have a statewide conference, plus regular Zoom meetings with a variety of mental health experts and faith community leaders on a variety of timely topics, generally with 25-50 callers on each call.
In a day when experts are increasingly realizing that early intervention is essential to better serve youth with mental health concerns, this group has actually done something about it. They sponsored an event in which a Duke University student who lives with several conditions spoke to over 100 youth interested in learning more about mental illness, with a follow up event open to parents and teenagers. They have a group of youth ministers lining up to be trained by one of their Board members in Mental Health First Aid in December. And an offshoot group in Chapel Hill and Orange County has been responsible for the addition of the Recovery International’s "Power your Mind" curriculum within their school system next semester.
This group’s specialty is furthering mental health within faith communities. They helped several congregations integrate the "Power your Mind" curriculum into their religious education and youth groups. They also sponsored the formation of a clergy blog in which leaders from all faith traditions share their experiences and best practices in ministering to those who are affected by mental illness.
When “Mental Health Reform” was ushered in during the early 2000’s there was much talk about natural supports, but very little action. For their role in being a truly effective support, the 2021 President’s Award goes to FAITH CONNECTIONS ON MENTAL ILLNESS.
Please click here to visit NAMI's website if you would like to see other award winners.