Blog

Future Care and Financial Planning For Individuals with Special Needs: What Every Caregiver Needs to Know 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, 2023 In this forum, presenter Pat Bergmaier, CFP®, ChSNC®, will provide an overview of financial & estate planning for families that have dependents with special needs. He will address critical areas of concern, such as navigating and maximizing government benefits through an overview of programs such as SSI/SSDI, Waivers & Social Security. The presentation will also address important estate planning considerations such as Wills, Special Needs Trusts, and the differences between Guardianship and Powers of Attorney. Finally, it will [...]

Our Havertown NAMI Family Support Group will not be able to meet this Tuesday, January 17.  We plan to resume meeting in February.    

Beginning next week, we will send our Weekly Update messages on Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. We hope you will find that time more convenient. Please send any comments to coordinator@namimainlinepa.org. NAMI Main Line Upcoming Event NAMI Main Line PA is hosting a virtual forum in partnership with 1847Financial: Future Care and Financial Planning For Individuals with Special Needs: What Every Caregiver Needs to Know 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2023 In this forum, presenter Pat Bergmaier, CFP®, ChSNC®, will provide an overview of financial & estate planning for families that have dependents with special needs. He will address critical areas [...]

NAMI Main Line PA is hosting a virtual forum in partnership with 1847Financial entitled, “Future Care and Financial Planning for Individuals with Special Needs: What Every Caregiver needs to Know” from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2023 on Zoom.  In this forum, presenter Pat Bergmaier, CFP®, ChSNC®, will provide an overview of financial & estate planning for families that have dependents with special needs. He will address critical areas of concern, such as navigating and maximizing government benefits through an overview of programs such as SSI/SSDI, Waivers & Social Security. The presentation will also address important estate planning considerations such as [...]

We hope you will join us for our Forum series: Future Care and Financial Planning for Individuals with Special Needs: What Every Caregiver Needs to Know on Sunday, January 29, 2-4 p.m. Register at https://tinyurl.com/1847FinancialJan29. Estate Planning for Families of Individuals with Special Needs on Sunday, March 5, 2-4 p.m. Register at https://tinyurl.com/EstatePlanningMarch5. We are grateful to everyone who supported our end-of-year giving campaign which supports our free services for people with mental illness and their families and friends. If you would like to make a donation, it’s not too late. Please see our Newsletter for more information about our upcoming Forum series, support groups, and other events of interest, [...]

NAMI Main Line PA is hosting a virtual forum in partnership with 1847Financial entitled, "Future Care and Financial Planning for Individuals with Special Needs: What Every Caregiver needs to Know" from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2023 on Zoom.  In this forum, presenter Pat Bergmaier, CFP®, ChSNC®, will provide an overview of financial & estate planning for families that have dependents with special needs. He will address critical areas of concern, such as navigating and maximizing government benefits through an overview of programs such as SSI/SSDI, Waivers & Social Security. The presentation will also address important estate planning considerations such [...]

As we close another year, we reflect on our efforts to provide meaningful education, support and advocacy about mental illness and its impact on individuals, their loved ones, and the wider community. In 2022, we delivered: 1 - Website that provided helpful information for more than 48,000 visits 2 - Family-to-Family educational programs, serving 24 family members and friends 5 - Community workshops, with 165 participants 8 - Presentations to community and religious groups, reaching 263 individuals 12 - Awareness events, meeting 778 table visitors 37 - Presentations to educational institutions, reaching 1,530 students and teachers 52 - Weekly bulletins, including 6 bimonthly newsletters, to 810 subscribers >120 - Responses to individual requests for information 136 - [...]

NAMI Main Line PA is hosting a virtual forum in partnership with 1847Financial: Caring For Your Loved One with Special Needs: What Every Caregiver Needs to Know 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2023 In this forum, presenter Pat Bergmaier, CFP®, ChSNC®, will provide an overview of financial & estate planning for families that have dependents with special needs. He will address critical areas of concern, such as navigating and maximizing government benefits through an overview of programs such as SSI/SSDI, Waivers & Social Security. The presentation will also address important estate planning considerations such as Wills, Special Needs Trusts, and [...]

The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for many, with challenges ranging from family conflict to loneliness and isolation. Though challenging, the holidays can still be a time of celebration, community and comfort when we access the right resources and practices. We have included a collection of articles below that will help you plan for a successful holiday season: Crisis Prevention & Management for the Holidays (and year round), from 2017 workshop by Dr. Ellen Berman and Amanda Falivene-Rocco, LPC, CPRP: https://bit.ly/2Tuluaj NAMI’s Ask the Expert: Navigating the Winter and Holiday Blues (with video): https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-s-Ask-the-Expert/2021/NAMI-Ask-the-Expert-Navigating-the-Winter-Holiday-Blues Avoiding Holiday Stressors, by Jessica Maharaj: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI- Blog/December-2018/Avoiding-Holiday-Stressors-Tips-for-a-Stress-Free-Season [...]

Our next Main Line NAMI Forum, “Improving Mental Health Crisis Services: Changes & Challenges in Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware & Montgomery Counties," will be this Sunday, November 13, from 2-4 p.m. on Zoom. In preparation for the recently launched 988 Suicide & Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, counties in southeastern PA have been working hard to improve mental health crisis services and resources. In this webinar, a panel of officials from Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties will present the changes they have been making and any successes so far. They will also discuss the challenges they are facing, along with suggestions for anyone who wants to [...]

We hope you will join us for our Forum: Improving Mental Health Crisis Services:  Changes & Challenges in Montgomery, Philadelphia, Chester & Delaware Counties on Sunday, November 13, 2-4 PM on Zoom. Register at https://tinyurl.com/CrisisServicesForum. We are very grateful to everyone who supported our NAMIWalks by participating on Walk day, volunteering, donating, sponsoring, or soliciting sponsors or donations. We are still working to meet our fundraising goal, and we will be accepting additional donations throughout November.  If you haven’t had time to reach out to your contacts and ask for their support, it’s not too late. Please see our Newsletter for more information about our upcoming Forum, Walk, and support groups; other events [...]

Our next Main Line NAMI Forum, “Improving Mental Health Crisis Services: Changes & Challenges in Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware & Montgomery Counties," will be on Sunday, November 13, from 2-4 p.m. on Zoom. In preparation for the recently launched 988 Suicide & Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, counties in southeastern PA have been working hard to improve mental health crisis services and resources. In this webinar, a panel of officials from Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties will present the changes they have been making and any successes so far. They will also discuss the challenges they are facing, along with suggestions for anyone who wants to [...]

NAMIWalks Your Way Main Line PA is on Sunday, October 16, from 9-11:30 a.m. at Wilson Farm Park (500 Lee Road in Wayne, PA) Walk Day Plans We are walking rain or shine!  Our route will be along the perimeter trail. This is a NAMIWalks Your Way event and that means that you get to choose the length of your walk. We invite you to walk 1, 2 or 3 loops - each loop is just over a mile long. The path is relatively flat and is stroller and wheelchair friendly.  Leashed dogs are welcome. Timing: 8:45 a.m. - Walker Check-in, [...]

Our next Main Line NAMI Workshop, “Living with Mental Health Challenges: Maintaining a Positive Approach Even When Times Are Hard,” will be on Sunday, October 2, from 2-4 p.m. on Zoom. Our panelists will describe the challenges they have experienced while dealing with chronic mental illness personally or in their families. They will also discuss what has helped them to maintain a positive approach during difficult times. Our panelists will respond to your questions and comments. During the second half of this workshop, each attendee will participate in a small group discussion. Each person will be invited to describe their successes and challenges in maintaining [...]

Our next Main Line NAMI Workshop, “Living with Mental Health Challenges: Maintaining a Positive Approach Even When Times Are Hard,” will be on Sunday, October 2, from 2-4 p.m. on Zoom. Our panelists will describe the challenges they have experienced while dealing with chronic mental illness personally or in their families. They will also discuss what has helped them to maintain a positive approach during difficult times. Our panelists will respond to your questions and comments. During the second half of this workshop, each attendee will participate in a small group discussion. Each person will be invited to describe their successes and challenges in maintaining [...]