OTAGO REGIONAL FAMILY WHANAU NETWORK MEETING - 19/01/2010

OTAGO REGIONAL FAMILY /WHANAU NETWORK MEETING

SF Otago (Supporting Families in Mental Illness, Otago) received the funding to set up and facilitate the Otago Regional Family Whanau Network meeting.

The funding will be used to pay for venue and catering costs as well as to support families and whanau financially by covering some of the transport costs to each meeting’s location.

It will provide a safe environment for Family/Whanau members to feel confident to express their views and empower each other in advocating for a better quality of life for their Family/Whanau as a whole in Mental Health.

We are currently in the process of setting up the above network meetings.  The first meeting will be held in Schizophrenia Awareness week (8th-12th March 2010) (date, venue and time to be determined). 

The first meeting will discuss the terms of reference and membership principles as well as setting up  agendas and locations for subsequent meetings.

The target population for this group is family/whanau members of consumers of mental health services in Otago but also family/whanau mental health support workers from NGOs or hospital based services.

If you would like further information on the Terms of Reference and Service Specifications please go the website:  www.supportingfamiliesotago.org.nz and http://www.supportingfamiliesotago.org.nz/files/171/file/Service-Specifications-and-Terms-of-Refernce.pdf

If you live in the Otago Region and would like to become a member of this group please contact the following:

Kind regards

Kathryn Olcott
SF Otago Branch Manager