KilkibliM
Jewish Support Services
For Adults With Mental Illness
(„„,71/1„essage • • •
Kadima is There
LAleet the Staff
by Risa Davis
Try this. Just for an hour, read a magazine
article about mental illness.
You'll probably find it heavy reading. We
are desperate families. Our siblings live in
fear of miscommunicating with us and with
their parents. Other family members avoid
us; they've given up on the mentally ill per-
son.
You may get a feel from the article of
what it's like to be part a family that has a
mentally ill person. But then you put the
article down.
Mental illness doesn't go away though.
It's always there, and that's what Kadima
understands.
Through Kadima, parents learn coping
skills. Siblings learn how to communicate.
The mentally ill person learns how to fit in
with the world around them.
Kadima staff turn tragedies into success
stories. They help consumers become a suc-
cess in society, as volunteers, at a paying job,
in life.
Groups Empower Consumer
Janette Shallal
It's Time to Consider
Mental Health
a message from the director
Health care reform has focused the coun-
try's attention on health care issues. But not
all issues are receiving equal attention.
Mental illness is one that is still waiting
off stage, and schizophrenia and bipolar dis-
orders, the most common mental illnesses,
are either ignored or deliberately concealed
behind a curtain of fear. They are the unfor-
tunate stepchildren of health care.
Treated as outcasts, the psychiatrically
disabled feel responsible for a disease that is
beyond their control. Many spend their for-
mative years shut away from families and
any semblance of social interaction because
institutionalization is still considered the
treatment of choice.
But this treatment is based on a misun-
derstanding of mental illness.
Mental illness is a chemical imbalance in
the brain that affects thinking, not intelli-
gence. Those afflicted become depressed,
withdrawn and delusional, almost para-
lyzed by their illness, but they are not stupid
or ignorant of their condition. Given proper
medication, counseling and ongoing sup-
port from families and friends, the mentally
ill person can lead a productive and fulfilled
life.
The key is to integrate those afflicted —
adolescents, young adults and the elderly —
into society. That is Kadima's mission.
As the only agency in the Jewish commu-
nity that serves the mentally ill, Kadima
empowers the mentally ill. At Kadima, we
know that mental illness need not mark the
end of a person's functioning. We help
these individuals find jobs and relearn social
skills because this is how they will gain con-
trol over their lives.
Independent living is the goal for most
Kadima clients, and our support groups
help consumers develop the skills they will
need in that setting.
Social Workers Laurie Epstein and Sue
Vorseth meet with support groups twice a
month on Monday and Tuesday evenings
for an in-office session. During this sharing
time, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., group members
raise issues of concern or discuss personal
problems.
"It's a valuable socialization experience,"
says Laurie Epstein. "Consumers learn to
express their feelings in an acceptable man-
ner."
Each group selects a co-facilitator who
serves for six months and helps coordinate
weekly meetings and outings.
"We empower clients by giving them
opportunities to lead and by helping them
see the options available to them," says Sue
Vorseth.
Twice a month the combined groups go
on an outing to a theater, mall or restaurant
that they have selected.
January Consumer Group Schedule:
10
Consumer Outing
17
Monday office session
24
Monday office session
Kadima also offers a parent's group in its
offices every second and fourth Wednesday
from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Led by Janette Shallal,
the group focuses on family issues and con-
cerns and helps participants develop coping
skills.
Parents Advocate for Kadima
As Oakland County prepares to imple-
ment Full Management, consolidating all
mental health agencies under one budget, a
Transition Team is helping evaluate existing
agencies and their services. On October 25
and 26, the Team invited interested parties
to present their concerns and recommenda-
tions.
Kadima clients and consumers took this
opportunity to advocate on behalf of the
agency.
'There is not a family in Oakland County
wealthy enough, loving enough and
resourceful enough to meet the needs of a
mentally ill loved one on their own," said
Shirley Davis, who served as spokesperson.
'The Kadima program is so comprehensive
for consumers and families, it should be
supported, expanded and used as a model to
serve more members of the mentally ill in
our county.
Mrs. Davis presented numerous letters
from consumers and their families, demon-
strating Kadima's significant role in the
community.
When you call Kadima or visit its offices,
you'll be talking to:
Janette Shallal, M.S.W. —
Executive Director
Janette Shallal came to Kadima in June
from the Jewish Family Service and 18 years
experience as a social work. As executive
director, she is responsible for operations,
program development and funding.
Geta Richman, M.A., L.L.P. —
Clinical Director
New to Kadima's staff, Geta Richman is a
limited licensed psychologist who has
worked as a therapist in private practice
and as a school psychologist. Assistant to
the executive director, she supervises the
social workers and focus workers.
Laurie Epstein, M.S.W. Social Worker
New to Kadima's staff, Laurie Epstein
comes from New York, where she was a
case manager working with mentally ill
adults in a clubhouse environment. At
Kadima, she provides social work services
and facilitates a support group for clients
and consumers.
Sue Vorseth, M.A. Social Worker
Sue Vorseth came to Kadima July 1992.
Her previous position in Minnesota was as
outreach counselor for adults with mental
illness. At Kadima, she provides social work
services and facilitates a support group for
clients and consumers..
Richard Fisher, B.A. Focus Worker
Richard Fisher, who joined Kadima's
staff in April, has previous experience at an
addictions treatment center. Currently
working on a Master's Degree in Fine Arts,
Mr. Fisher teaches art to Kadima's clients
and consumers, in addition to providing
assistance with daily living skills.
Martha Schafer, B.S. Focus Worker
New to Kadima's staff, Martha Schafer is
working for her M.S.W. Her previous expe-
rience includes work as a nursery school
teacher. At Kadima, she provides assistance
with daily living skills to clients and con-
sumers.
Ervin Gold Focus Worker
Mr. Gold came to Kadima in 1990 from
Jewish Vocational Services. He works for us
part time and provides assistance in daily
living skills to clients and consumers.
Judith Sternberg, B.A. —
Office Manager
Judy Sternberg, who has been with
Kadima since 1989, knows everything in the
office running smoothly and efficiently. She
also takes tribute announcements and
makes sure everyone's name is spelled cor-
rectly.
Marilyn Knight — M.S.W. Intern
Wayne State University
Ann Rubin-Hentschel — M.S.W. Intern
Wayne State University
Kadima's interns receive valuable train- •
ing in working with the mentally ill, while
they provide services to our consumers,
working with focus and social work groups.
—
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Kadima's annual nd-
raiser, featuring lutist
Alexander Zonjic, was
a jazzy success, gener-
ating more than
$150,000. Enjoying the
event, at the home of
Janet and Arnold
Arnoff were (l-r) Jane
Schulak, Mrs. Arnoff,
executive director
Janette Shallal and
president Ken Nathan.
29429 Southfield Road • Suite • Southfield, MI 48076 • Phone: 810/559-8235 • FAX: 810/5594)229