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 differences between Guardianship and Powers of Attorney. Finally, it will make attendees aware of how special needs financial planning is different than traditional financial planning. Strategies will be presented to address funding of special needs trusts, tax planning considerations, and ensuring quality of life and lifetime care are maintained for loved ones. Our goal is to make sure attendees learn the importance of integrating all the necessary pieces into one cohesive plan, so the vision they have for their child’s life can become a reality, whether they are here or not. Click here to register.
NAMI Main Line Support Groups
Our Bryn Mawr Family Support Group for family members who have a loved one with mental health challenges will meet on Monday, December 5, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. For more information, please contact Diane at dmkotrl@gmail.com.
Our Wellness Chat for Family-to-Family Graduates will meet on Tuesday, December 13, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Please contact Judy at F2FMainLine@aol.com for more information.
Our NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group for adults living with mental illness on meets on Tuesday evenings on Zoom. Please contact Danielle Sulpizio at (484) 880-0660 or Ed Kane at (484) 744-0860 for more information.
Our Parent Peer Support Group for parents with a middle school through young adult child meets weekly on Wednesday evenings via Zoom. If you are interested in joining this support group, please email Nancy.
For more information about our other support groups, please go to https://namimainlinepa.org/
Other Upcoming Events
Tikvah is hosting a Dessert & Dialogue on “Creative Coping” with Aviva Perlo, LSW on Sunday, December 4, at 2 p.m. More information and registration available at https://tikvahajmi.org/calendar-event/dessert-and-dialogue-kaiserman-jcc.
Achieva Family Trust will offer a webinar, “Preparing Transition Students and Young Adults for the Workforce, and to be Financially Successful” on Tuesday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. This presentation will cover different Medicaid categories including Healthy Horizons and Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD), CHIP, and Waiver. In addition, learn about when and how to apply for SSI and SSDI, and how earned income affects these benefits. This presentation will also cover Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Childhood Disability Benefits. The presenters are Erin Guay, MA, Paralegal/Compliance Office, Pennsylvania Health Law Project and Joy Smith, Area Manager/Work Incentive Coordinator, AHEDD. Click here for more information and to register.
The Delaware County Community Support Program is hosting their Holiday Party and Talent Show on Monday, December 19, from 4:30-6 p.m. at Tree of Life Church (933 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, PA 19064). Talent Show participants must sign up by Friday, December 2. Contact delcocsp@gmail.com or 484-222-0719.
New NAMI Book in the Works – Will You Tell Your Story?
As a follow-up to Dr. Ken Duckworth’s National Bestseller, “You Are Not Alone,” Dr. Christine Crawford, NAMI’s Associate Medical Director, is writing a NAMI book focused on youth mental health. The book, scheduled for release in the fall of 2023, will be a resource for caregivers, family members, teachers, and clinicians. NAMI is interested in speaking with those who are willing to share their story from the following areas:
- Parents of children with mental health conditions.
- Young adults who can share their experience with mental illness during their childhood or adolescence.
- Teachers or other educators who are working toward creating positive mental health environments in their classrooms.
If you or someone you know might be interested in speaking with the book research team, please contact azielinski@nami.org. The message should include the interested person’s and an overview of their experience with mental health.
