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 Nebraska News

Accessing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care for Nebraska Children

The Children’s Services Initiative together with the Nebraska Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health have developed three brochures aimed at helping families access mental health and substance abuse services for their children.

In addition to accessing needed services, the brochures address the topic of psychiatric medications for youth and include a list of questions you may want to consider asking your child’s physician or pharmacist.

Click on the following links to download or view the brochures:

Accessing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care for Nebraska Children

Your Child and Psychiatric Medications

Adolescents and Psychiatric Medications

NAMI Nebraska Announce New Opportunity for Recovery Support Groups

NAMI Nebraska is seeking individuals in recovery willing to host NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups throughout the state.

Connection Recovery Support Groups are weekly recovery support groups for people living with mental illness. Through the group people learn from each others’ experiences, share coping strategies, and offer each other encouragement and understanding.

Persons in recovery who are interested in becoming trained facilitators are invited to call (877) 463-6264 or email jdeppe@nami.org to obtain an application. A Connection Recovery Group Facilitator Training will be held May 28 – June 1, 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska and a second training is planned for November in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Beginning in the summer of 2008, NAMI Nebraska hopes to provide a minimum of 14 weekly Connection Recovery Support Groups in the Omaha area or two groups daily, seven weekly Connection Recovery Support Groups in the Lincoln area or one group daily, and weekly Connection Recovery Support Groups across the state.

Please contact Jonah Deppe, Executive Director of NAMI Nebraska, at (877) 463-6264 for additional information.

 Spotlight

Lasting Hope Recovery Center Opens in Omaha

The Lasting Hope Recovery Center, a service of Alegent Health, recently opened in Omaha, Nebraska. The 64-bed facility serves as an additional resource for individuals affected by mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorders.

Open 24-hours a day, the Lasting Hope Recovery Center offers a crisis assessment and triage center, acute care capabilities, and transitional care services. Evidence-based practices including Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and Peer Support Specialists have been incorporated into the treatment model. Lutheran Family Services, NAMI-Nebraska (National Alliance on Mental Illness), and the Salvation Army are co-located within the Recovery Center to provide individuals and their families additional resources and support necessary on their journey towards recovery.

Physician, clinician, consumer, and self-referrals can be made to Lasting Hope Recovery Center by calling (402) 717-HOPE (402-717-4673). Services are available for both voluntary and involuntary patients and all payment types including Medicaid, Medicare, private pay, and underinsured/uninsured are accepted.

For more information on the Lasting Hope Recovery Center please visit www.alegent.com/lastinghope.