The Allegany County ministry will be offering the presentations for parents, children, schools, churches, human services agencies and other professionals, and the general public, on how individuals can become more aware of this health issue and join in supporting those who are struggling and their families.
Pre-registration for limited seating is available at bps461@msn.com or (484) 435-0503, with attendee(s) name, community of residence, email address and telephone number. All but the Saturday morning presentation will be available during both the daytime and evening. Walk-ins will be accepted but only on a space-available basis and may not include materials.
Scheduled presentations include:
-- Mental Health 101 – How We All Are Affected will be presented by Lindy White, assistant director of Allegany County Community Services, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 13, and repeated from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, May 30.
Attendees will learn about the prevalence of mental illness, including the one in five individuals, including children, who are affected by mental illness in any one year; what they experience; where they can obtain assistance; and how family, friends and community services, including churches, can help.
-- Why Every Church Should Have a Mental Health Focus, presented by Pastor Rick Warren and Kay Warren of Saddleback Church in California, who experienced the death of their son as a result of a completed suicide after his many-years battle with mental illness. Sessions will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 15, and repeated from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23.
Churches of five or 5,000 congregants, along with other organizations, will learn why they should and can provide mental health support in their communities through a DVD/discussion session.
Developing Mental Health Supports in Churches, a DVD training, will be presented by Pastor Tommy Hilliker of Saddleback Church, narrator for the ministry, Hope for Mental Illness, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 18.
This session for churches and other organizations will preview why and how to develop effective supports and support groups for congregants, employees, family and friends who are struggling and specific supports for those with mental illness. Attendees are required to attend the pre-training, "Why Every Church Should Have a Mental Health Focus."
-- Celebrate Recovery for All Types of Hurts, Hangups, Habits and Struggles, Including How to Start a Group will be presented by Casey Jones, Celebrate Recovery | Celebrate Victory facilitator at Knights Creek Church at Scio and Celebrate Recovery Inside at Allegany County Jail.
Attendees will learn about the prevalence of mental illness, including the one in five individuals, including children, who are affected by mental illness in any one year; what they experience; where they can obtain assistance; and how family, friends and community services, including churches, can help.
-- Why Every Church Should Have a Mental Health Focus, presented by Pastor Rick Warren and Kay Warren of Saddleback Church in California, who experienced the death of their son as a result of a completed suicide after his many-years battle with mental illness. Sessions will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 15, and repeated from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23.
Churches of five or 5,000 congregants, along with other organizations, will learn why they should and can provide mental health support in their communities through a DVD/discussion session.
Developing Mental Health Supports in Churches, a DVD training, will be presented by Pastor Tommy Hilliker of Saddleback Church, narrator for the ministry, Hope for Mental Illness, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 18.
This session for churches and other organizations will preview why and how to develop effective supports and support groups for congregants, employees, family and friends who are struggling and specific supports for those with mental illness. Attendees are required to attend the pre-training, "Why Every Church Should Have a Mental Health Focus."
-- Celebrate Recovery for All Types of Hurts, Hangups, Habits and Struggles, Including How to Start a Group will be presented by Casey Jones, Celebrate Recovery | Celebrate Victory facilitator at Knights Creek Church at Scio and Celebrate Recovery Inside at Allegany County Jail.
The session, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday, May 13, and repeated from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Thursday, May 23, will discuss why every community should have a Celebrate Recovery group, how churches can join together to develop this support for the entire community, training and materials that are available to help, and an overview of The Landing for struggling teens and Celebration Place for children.
-- Help Grieving Children (for Adults) will be presented from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday, May 20, and repeated from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, by Casey and Anita Baird Jones, GriefShare and DivorceCare facilitators at Knights Creek Church at Scio.
Children grieve all types of losses, from the death of a loved one to moving due to relocations or separation or divorce of parents and can be traumatized by these situations even when it isn't apparent, the facilitators said. They also grieve differently at different ages, with attendees learning how to recognize the signs of child trauma at home, in schools and pre-schools, during play and other times, and how to provide needed assistance.
The Hope Center, at 4194 Bolivar Road (State Route 417 West) – Suite 5, next to the McDonald's drive-through in Wellsville, currently is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment to provide drop-in, information and referral, and reading assistance by appointment for children and adults. Services are free and available to all persons, regardless of religious affiliation.
Downloadable fliers and handbills for posting and forwarding also are available at the same address, along with how individuals can help bring awareness to this important subject in their church, workplace and community.
-- Help Grieving Children (for Adults) will be presented from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday, May 20, and repeated from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, by Casey and Anita Baird Jones, GriefShare and DivorceCare facilitators at Knights Creek Church at Scio.
Children grieve all types of losses, from the death of a loved one to moving due to relocations or separation or divorce of parents and can be traumatized by these situations even when it isn't apparent, the facilitators said. They also grieve differently at different ages, with attendees learning how to recognize the signs of child trauma at home, in schools and pre-schools, during play and other times, and how to provide needed assistance.
The Hope Center, at 4194 Bolivar Road (State Route 417 West) – Suite 5, next to the McDonald's drive-through in Wellsville, currently is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment to provide drop-in, information and referral, and reading assistance by appointment for children and adults. Services are free and available to all persons, regardless of religious affiliation.
Downloadable fliers and handbills for posting and forwarding also are available at the same address, along with how individuals can help bring awareness to this important subject in their church, workplace and community.
The Center is an outreach ministry of the Mission Genesee Valley coalition of churches, Christian organizations and individuals seeking community transformation and revival in Allegany County and is designed to be “A Hub of Hope of Allegany County Churches,” building community awareness and approaches for solving issues facing county residents and equipping churches and others to help address these needs.
Schedules and updates for upcoming Hope Center education presentations for both the public and churches are available at www.facebook.com/