FACES
11601 Lucks Lane
Midlothian, VA 23114
(804) 378-0035 phone
(804) 378-0052 fax
Special thanks to Jennifer Marinacci for designing our website.
In the summer of 2004 a group of families with loved ones with critical brain disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, OCD and schizoaffective disorder bonded and made a vow and commitment to establish a non-profit entity called FACES. We formed our group in loving memory of Justin Myers who lost his life to bipolar disorder. We were a determined group of individuals who knew the great need for improved services for those challenged with brain disorders. Mental illnesses are biologically base brain disorders and have nothing to do with moral fortitude. Stigma concerning these illnesses had built a barrier of shame and ignorance and made society and family members reluctant to demand better services for these crucial medical conditions. And so with the help and expertise of our founding advisors (James D. Phillips JD, PHD, J.C. Sadler, Estelle H. Kling MD, C William Sublett, Jayne Johnson, and David Mangano) we embarked on a journey of providing needed services to the community.
One main avenue of accomplishment comes from our Support Groups which we host twice a month. Here family members can gain comfort, insights, and referrals from others who have walked the same walk. Our once a month Advocacy programs have brought in outstanding speakers from the medical field, community service boards and related social services, law enforcement, consumers, and government officials. We have presented two successful conferences on suicide prevention and we participate in volunteer programs for Central State and Gateway Homes. Our newsletter informs over 600 members of our activities and we have a lending library that helps to educate the public on brain disorders. We are especially proud of the FACES Family Center provided by the grace and support of St. Marks United Methodist Church. On November of 2005 we had our premier fundraiser at Swift Creek Mill Theater and continue to have this event each year. Thousands of live auction items and services have been provided by businesses and individuals to make this yearly event a wonderful success. We can proudly say that through the years we have connected with thousands of residents of the Greater Richmond area in our goal to support and educate families and to advocate for better funding and services for mental health.
The current and past Board Members have worked hard and passionately to accomplish the goals of FACES. We thank all our members, contributors and volunteers for our successes and trust that they shall continue in the future.
Board Members past and present: Pam Weiseman, Chair; Pat Myers, Co Chair; Candy Watt, Steve Watt, Derle Edwards, Deborah Tucker, Ruby Fitzgerald, J.C. Sadler, Linda Townsend, Jeanne Wendt, Gary Wendt, Terry Fowler, and Bonnie Reid. Administrators: Barbara Kunowsky and John Ficklin.
Update on FACES Activities
Pam Wiseman, Candy Watt, and Pat Myers have again secured informative speakers for the Advocacy Meetings in May and June. May 22nd, Dr Cheryl Al-Mateen will speak and on June 26th we will have Ruth Ann Bates from Central State.
On March 4, 2012, Pat Myers, Debbie Fisher and Sheri Arnold (clinical manager at Tucker Pavilion on the child and adolescent unit) presented a suicide prevention workshop at St. Mathews UMC in Manakin, Sabot, Virginia. They viewed the film “The Truth about Suicide, the real story about depression in college” and answered questions from participants. The audience consisted of middle and high students and their parents. The group was very engaged in the information. FACES looks forward to sharing this information with other groups of young people in our on going effort to reduce the stigma of getting help and stop the unnecessary loss of young lives.
In March 2012 Pam Weiseman attended Partners for Change, an initiative that began in Chesterfield County in 2006 and whose main goal is to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system and or to provide needed services at all points in the judicial system. Stakeholders in the system include Community Correction Services, Mental Health Support Services, the Community Criminal Justice Board, the Sheriff’s office, the Police Department, Social Services, Advocacy Groups, and Consumers. Much has been accomplished as the stakeholders communicate and coordinate their roles in the system. Since the police are first responders to mental health crisis, training and development of Crisis Intervention Teams is an important and ongoing objective of Partners for Change.
Carla Beck* and Ruby Fitzgerald have been busy spreading the message of hope and healing for peers and their families.
On March 13, 2012 they presented Optimizing Your Support System at RAFT House in Hanover. We shared with 35 participants Information that they could use to build or repair relationships with families, peers, peer support specialist and other professionals. The presentation was well received and we got a positive review with one audience member commenting “She now has hope in her relationship with her brother.”
On April 9, 2012 Ruby and Carla spoke to a small group of doctoral students at JMU. Craig Shelby’s seminar class consisted of a series of speakers from the consumer movement and the Firewalkers book. Malaina Poore, Firewalkers Coordinator, felt it would be great to have Ruby give the family perspective. The message Ruby delivered encouraged professionals, family members, and the consumer to work in unison. Carla talked about her story and peer run services. The feedback we received gave us hope that these students would support peers in the workplace and peer run services and family members.
*for speaking information for Carla contact her at (804) 928-HOPE or email Carla at mailto:carlarandomdreams@gmail.com.
Things that Need to Happen for Families to Recover
Get Beyond Initial Denial
- Disbelief
Become Educated About Your Family Members Illness And Medications
Ask questions of APPROPRIATE people.
- Take a course on brain disorders.
Learn How To Support Your Family Member
As families, you need information about the following:
- How to minimize relapse/risk for relapse (know your family member’s coping skills)
- How to respond when there is a crisis (CRISIS PLAN, WRAP). Get this into the service plan.
- How to determine realistic goals and expectations
- How to help him/her manage stress
- How to deal with specific behavior (hallucinations, delusions, substance abuse, poor hygiene, bizarre behavior in public, etc.)
- How to COMMUNICATE (things to do/say and things not to do/say)
Develop Skills For Dealing With Mental Health Proffessionals
- Whenever possible, talk over the problems with the service provider who is most directly involved.
- Request meetings when you feel the need. Communicate concerns calmly and clearly.
- Develop a good relationship and open communication with key individuals who are providing services to your relative.
- Let people know that you appreciate their efforts.
Take Care Of Yourself. Develop Your Own Coping Skills
- How to maintain a life separate from your ill relative
- How to deal with the emotional impact, e.g., grief and guilt
- How to manage YOUR stress
Connect With Other Families
- Support groups
Learn How To Advocate For Yourself And Your Family Member (and Otehrs)
- Systems changes
- Political advocacy
Learn How To “Let Go”
- Doesn’t mean stop caring and supporting
- Recognize when a crisis is over and let your family member take control of their own lives
Learn To Forgive
- Yourself for things you say or do that are not helpful to your family member
- Your family member for things s/he does that may feel hurtful but are a result of the mental illness
(Taken from the FACES family education class, edited 4/2012)
FACES’ 8th Annual Fundraiser
SAVE THE DATE!
October 6th, 2012
FACES’ 8th Annual Fundraiser
Swift Creek Mill TheatreTake a musical trip down memory lane with The Marvelous Wonderettes as they take us to the 1958 Springfield High School Prom. You’ll be dancing in the aisle as they perform you favorite songs from the 50’s and 60’s such as “Lollipop,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Dream Lover,” “It’s My Party,” and so many more! Have a fun night for a great cause. See You There! Another fun evening with Dinner, Theatre and a Silent Auction.
Start thinking of what you can donate for the Silent Auction
FACES Donor Contributions
January 1, 2011 - December 14, 2011
The generous support that you have provided FACES over the past year has made it possible for us to expand our support into the community. A few of the services which you have helped provide include: more frequent Community Forums with guest speakers from many specialist in the mental health field, support to the recovering apartment residents at Gateway Homes as they prepare to move back into the community, donations to support the healthy eating program at the Friends 4 Recovery Center, and funds to help maintain the FACES center whose use is so generously donated by St. Marks Church. We are able to continue our Support Groups on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month providing support and hope to families whose loved ones are dealing with brain disorders as well as provide resources and information in the newsletter and on our website. Won’t you consider making a year end tax deductible donation to help FACES to continue our work? Consider making your gift in honor of or in memory of a loved one. Even a small gift will enable FACES to greatly impact the lives of many more Richmond area families touched by mental illness.
- St. Marks United Methodist Church
- J & H Ahalt
- R & H Anderson in memory of Steve Watt
- K & B Baker in memory of Steve Watt
- W & C Barnes for Matt
- L. Barnett
- T & L Berry in memory of Steve Watt
- P. Boyle
- C & C Brecht
- L. Brooks
- F & J Bruce in memory of Steve Watt
- J. Burger in memory of Justin and Ed Myers
- Q & D Corbett
- G Couch
- B Crocker
- J & K Curley in memory of Steve Watt
- V Darden in memory of Steve Watt H & M Dorn
- J & J DuFresne
- D Edwards in memory of Michael Neisz and Steve Watt
- J Edwards
- G & S Elmore in memory of Steve Watt
- J Faszevski
- S Fogg in memory of Michael Neisz
- PR & Mike Francisco
- Kim Giancaspro
- Nancy Gibbs in memory of Steve Watt
- G & E Hanks in memory of Steve Watt
- Hanover Ins Group Foundation/Johnson
- R & D Hansen
- W & S Henn
- J & A Henson in memory of Steve Watt
- R & M Herman
- J & J Hudgins
- J & K Hughes
- T Johnson
- A Kabatznick
- L Lane
- Gail Lentz in memory of Steve Watt
- D & G Lloyd
- A Lucas in memory of Steve Watt
- S & J Markowitz in memory of Steve Watt
- R & M Martinez
- S & M Mason in memory of Steve Watt
- Lee McCown
- E & S Munson in memory of Steve Watt
- Pat Myers in memory of Steve Watt
- P & K O’Keefe
- S Parker
- D, R Pitts
- J & R Potter in memory of Steve Watt
- Sue Proveromo in memory of Steve Watt
- D Prillaman in memory of Steve Watt
- E & N Pugh
- Bonnie Reid
- G & D Reynolds
- D & N Roberts
- R Scott
- G & P Sproveri
- S & F Steadman
- D Streicker
- M Travis
- Trusit, S Johnson
- R Tucker in memory of Michael Neisz
- W & D Tucker
- B Turner in memory of Steve Watt
- United Way
- D Wallace in memory of Steve Watt
- D Warrick
- S Warwick
- Steve Watt
- Candy Watt in memory of Steve Watt
- C Webster-Brecht
- Pam Weiseman in memory of Steve Watt
- Gary Wendt in memory of Steve Watt
- Jeanie Wendt in memory of Steve Watt
- C & R Wintzer
- T & P Wriston
- T & D Yehl
- Anonymous
Thank You!
FACES held their 7th annual fundraiser on Oct. 15th and with the help of so many volunteers and support from the community we were pleased to raise funding that will help us continue our mission of support, education, and reducing stigma.
- Deb Haut
- Susan Gail
- Jill Weiseman
- Vinceta Hancock
- Lauren Myers
- Sue Poveromo
- Pat Myers
- Swift Creek Mill, Gilbert Schill, Jr.
- Laura Reid
- Terri Fowler
- Bonnie Reid
- Candy and Steve Watt
- Gary Yaw
- Danielle Venturo
- The Weiseman Family
Thanks also to The Swift Creek Mill Theatre and the entire staff for helping to make the evening run smoothly.
The hard work of the members and the donations from our local businesses are greatly appreciated. Please remember these businesses as you do your holiday shopping and entertaining.
- Texas Road House
- Extra Billy’s
- Arbys
- Emerson Fine Wines
- Chick-Fil-A
- Buzz & Neds
- Famous Daves
- Glory Days
- Cheesecake Factory
- Applesbees
- Hooters
- Outback Steakhouse
- Melito’s
- O’Charleys
- American Family Fitness
- Don Bright
Daylily Landscaping
(804) 794-6908- The Original Basket Boutique
- Hubbs Peanuts
- Jerry Gibson
LeTop Children’s Clothing Company- Peter Blair Accessories
5413 Paterson Ave
(804) 716-9099- Random Dreams
- River City Dinner
- Bills Barbeque
- Carrabba’s
- Random Dreams
- Swift Creek Mill Theatre
- Richmond Kickers
- University of Richmond, Athletic Dept.
- Flying Squirrels
- VCU Department of Athletics
- Holiday Inn Kroger Center
1021 Kroger Center Blvd.
Richmond, Va.
(804) 379-3800- Chesterfield Diner
11306 Hull Street Rd
Midlothian, Va. 23112- Lynn Pearson
Creative Hair and Co.
1260 Alverser Place
Midlothian , Va.- Castaway Sporting Goods
11600 Jefferson Davis Highway
Chester, Va- Osaka Sushi and Steak
5023 Huguenot Rd
Richmond, Va 23226- Milby’s Just Kids
3016 Stony Point Rd
Richmond, Va. 23238
(804) 330-8158- Children’s Museum of Richmond
2626 West Broad Street
Richmond, Va. 23220-1904- Science Museum of Richmond
- Randall Hall Insurance Agency Inc.
10047 Midlothian Tpk/Ste 200
Richmond, Va. 23235- W. Baxter Perkinson Jr. DDS and Associates
1612 Huguenot Rd
Midlothian, VA
(804) 794-9789- James Limousine
1207-D North Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23230- Gloria Morgan
The Bailey Bays Children’s
Clothing Company- Birkdale Golf Club
- Carriage House Products
- Food Lion
- Larry and Patricia Cohen
Feltman Brothers
Children’s Clothing Company- Barry’s Berries & Jan’s Jams
8200 West Cool Hill Rd
Providence Forge, Va. 23140