Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest working class mental health organization devoted to building enhanced lives for the millions of Americans artificial by mental illness. NAMI sponsors for contact to services, treatment, supports and explore and is dedicated in its obligation to raising responsiveness and building a community of hope for all of those in need. From its foundation in 1979, NAMI has been committed to improving the lives of individuals and families pretentious by mental illness. NAMI had an outstanding job opportunity available.

Help Line Volunteer Information Specialists – Arlington, VA
These specialist duties include answering phone, mail, and e-mail inquiries from the public, providing emotional support, sharing mental illness and recovery information, and offering referrals to community resources. All Volunteer Work must be Done On-Site, Monday through Friday between 10 am and 6 pm. Volunteers must commit to working 4 hours a week for at least 4-6 months. Training is provided. Metro and handicapped accessible; parking provided. A person must have a desire to help others. They need to also have reverence and sympathy for people exaggerated by solemn mental illness. A specialists need to have a basic knowledge of mental illnesses. Having effective oral and language skills is sufficient for this job.
http://www.nami.org/

Equilibrium The Bipolar Foundation

We are an independent, international, non-governmental organization dedicated to improving life for people with bipolar disorders by:

• promote earlier diagnosis and evidence-based treatment
• Encouraging clinical excellence through public and professional education
• Fighting the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness
• Supporting research into the causes of bipolar disorder and safe, effective treatments

Equilibrium aims to become the primary international corporation organization working to precede the sympathetic and treatment of bipolar disorder; it also seeks to concentrate on the dishonor and unfairness that often environs bipolar disorder.

http://www.bipolar-foundation.org/

Active Minds is the only association working to consume the student voice to modify the discussion about mental health on college campuses.  By increasing and supporting chapters of a student-run mental health responsiveness, education, and encouragement group on campuses, the organization works to amplify students’ awareness of mental health issues, supply information and resources about mental health and mental illness, persuade students to inquire about help as soon as it is needed, and provide as relationship between students and the mental health community.

http://www.activeminds.org/

Exploring Community of Practice

While exploring my topic of interest I found three amazing organizations that sufficient to my study of teaching students with the Bipolar disorder. They are listed as: The Balanced Mind Foundation, Mental Health America of South Carolina, and Family Service Center. 

The Balanced Mind was founded by mother who wanted help for her daughter. She wanted to understand and relate to all of her symptoms. Through this program she wanted to help parents and teachers work with children many disorders. This program help parents understand diagnostic of the any disorder. This organization is consists of volunteer workers, parents, counselors and doctors. They all have a common interested in helping children and their families feel welcomed in this world.

Mental Health America was founded by a previous psychiatric patient and Yale graduate Clifford W. Beers to depiction and accurate the unfairness he experienced and witnessed during hospitalizations for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. MHASC has been serving South Carolina since 1954 as a private and non-profit organization. Their goal is to educate the public about any mental disorder. They conduct many services, conferences, and seminars to keep updated information on the bipolar disorder. This program provides many assist for patients throughout the state.  They hold a promising shield to take care of the ones in need.

Family Service Center of South Carolina is a non-profit organization that support families that sufferers with disabilities in their family or household. Their motto is help families grow stronger together as one. This program provides various opportunities and resource for families.  They understand that everyone is different. It is they duty to understand everyone individually.

There were many job opportunities available in these organizations. I found a family therapist was very informative for me. I have always thought about pursuing in career of counseling. Throughout my career I have counsel many friends and families. The qualification for this employment really does not require much. You must complete a doctor's or master's degree in marriage, family and child counseling, clinical psychology or a related area. The degree must be from a Board-approved or an accredited school and must include a minimum of 60 semester units in specified areas of instruction, including a minimum 225 hours of face-to-face counseling. Maybe in the next five or so years ,I will fulfill my other interest in this job opportunity.

Resources

Family Service Center (2011). Retrieved on July 7, 2012 from: http://www.familyservicecenter.com/

Mental Health America of South Carolina (2003). Retrieved on July7, 2012 from: http://www.mha-sc.org/About/

The Balanced Mind Foundation (2000). Retrieved on July 6, 2012 from: http://www.thebalancedmind.org/