Congregations
Develop support groups and coping skills programs for persons with
mental illness based on biblical principles, incorporating prayer. Provide
child care.
Provide respite care to parents of children with mental illness so they
can have a break to refresh themselves and take care of personal needs.
Become educated about mental illness and help people, including family
members, get treatment early if needed.
Host an eight-week education course created for churches by the National
Association for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). Contact Lee Vandewalker
(602-7807).
Become a mentor to someone in your church or community who has a mental
illness or has a family member with a mental illness.
Offer to lead a Bible study in a supported-living facility (group home).
Provide transportation to church for people with mental illness as well
as transportation to do necessary errands.
Provide meals to drop-in centers (socialization programs for persons
with mental illness) that do not have cooking facilities.
Serve on a committee (criminal justice, homeless, housing, children,
co-occurrence) through the planning council or other group to recommend
and advocate solutions.
For help implementing the ideas listed above, contact Sheryl McCormick,
Advocacy Coordinator, Dual Diagnosis Recovery Network (740-5080). Sheryl
suggests using the Freedom in Christ 12-step curriculum for the support
groups.
Pastors: To get advice from a knowledgeable pastor, contact Vern Holstad,
Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church (693-9331). Or call the chaplain at
Lakeshore, Rev. Rosanne Briotte (584-1561). Both are excellent resources.
Volunteering Makes An Impact
Knoxville Adaptive Education Center (KAEC):
Linda Hurst, 681-8859
This school serves the educational needs of children with emotional
disabilities and mental illnesses in Knoxville. Lets get behind them!
Biggest Need Mentors, friends, encouragers to listen to, support,
nurture and pray for the students.
Donations of needed items for the students (clothing, hygiene items,
tennis shoes, books for the library, art materials).
Assist with the woodworking program or the clothing room.
Work crews to improve building appearance inside and out.
Call the Compassion Coalition for a free video that gives an overview of
the school and a detailed list of needs.
Jesus whole life and mission involve
accepting powerlessness and revealing in this powerlessness the
limitlessness of Gods love. Here we see what compassion means. It
is not a bending toward the underprivileged from a privileged
position; it is not a reaching out from on high to those who are
less fortunate below; it is not a gesture of sympathy or pity for
those who fail to make it in the upward pull. On the contrary,
compassion means going directly to those people and places where
suffering is most acute and building a home there.
Nouwen, McNeill, Morrison
Compassion, A Reflection on the Christian Life, page 27 |
Mental Health Association:
Stacy Hicks, 584-9125 (Compeer Program)
Spend an hour or more per week with clients. Training provided.
Take clients to lunch, a museum, shopping.
Just sit, talk and visit, be a friend; many feel very isolated.
This program gives vital support to area ministries such as the
Volunteer Ministry Center.
PleasanTree Apartments (Child & Family Tenn ):
Jamie Brennan, 524-1312
Mentors to women and children help with daily living skills,
socialization, support and greater self-determination.
Maintenance painting apartments, minor repairs, changing door locks,
replacing furniture, appliances and such.
National Association for the Mentally Ill (NAMI):
Lee Vandewalker, 602-7807
Members primarily consist of family members of the mentally ill.
Attend a NAMI short course to become educated about mental illness.
Provide child care for support groups and other programs open to
parents.
Help in the office: answer phones, stuff envelopes, assist with
financial campaign.
Helen Ross McNabb:
Vickie Catapano, 637-9711
Provide activities in the live-in centers, such as providing Christmas
for a child. Host a party.
Tutor young adults, teach work-related skills and develop relationships.
Tennessee Respite Network:
888-269-7855
Be trained to be a respite provider for parents who need a few hours or
days away from their high-needs child. This is a tremendous need.
Mental Health Assoc.. of Greater Knoxville:
Ben Harrington, 584-9125
Churches can hold or co-sponsor education programs, courses, seminars,
health screenings.
Donate clothes (new), school supplies, rooming/health-care items, used
bicycles, beds.
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