FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2007
CONTACTS
Joel McCleary, HHS Division of Behavioral Health Services, (402) 471-7853
Jeanne Atkinson, Communications and Legislative Services Division, (402) 471-8287
Scholarships Available to Attend National Mental Health Convention
Lincoln – Adults living with a serious mental illness have until April 16 to apply for a scholarship to attend the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Convention in San Diego June 20 -24. The convention theme is, "Building our movement, building our future."
"Consumers will hear about best practices from around the country," said Joel McCleary, administrator of the Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "They will have a chance to talk to more than 500 mental health advocates and experts from across our nation."
The two scholarships will pay for registration, hotel, meals and transportation. Preference will be given to people who have not been funded by HHS to attend events like this since January 2000.
"This will be serious work for people who want to be active in the consumer movement, and it’s a great learning opportunity, too," McCleary said.
Participants must write a report on what they learned. The report will be shared with other consumers and presented at Nebraska’s State Committee on Mental Health Services meeting in August.
Call 1-800-836-7660 to get an application form. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on April 16 and can be sent to Joel McCleary, HHS Division of Behavioral Health Services, P. O. Box 98925, Lincoln, NE 68509.
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