Local health resources are plentiful
By Barrie Silberberg Special to The Acorn

Often when a family member is diagnosed with a disease, disability or disorder, we don't know where to turn. But there are a variety of support groups and facilities in the Conejo and San Fernando valleys designed to assist families and their loved ones in their time of need.

Melissa and Jack Berenstein of Thousand Oaks (jacknmelis@adelphia.net) organize an email list of over a hundred families with children who have special needs. Monthly, Melissa plans a mom's night out and Jack arranges nine holes of golf and a dinner for dads so they can receive support, share their joys and sorrows,or just get a badly needed break. Their e-mails are full of events, ideas and support tips. Parents are encouraged to email the group with questions and concerns about their children, or ask about a service they might require.

Disabled adults in search of employment can call the California Department of Rehabilitation at (805) 3716279 in Thousand Oaks or (818) 596-4202 in Canoga Park. The agency's website www.rehab.cahwnet.gov.

Upon calling you will be connected to the "counselor of the day." They will ask you questions and possibly set up an appointment for you to meet with a job placement expert. If found eligible, individuals can be assisted with school, training, resume writing and other skills needed to obtain a job and remain gainfully employed.

The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura in Westlake Village (www.twcvv.org) offers support groups and programs for cancer patients and their loved ones. The organization has several satellite offices in the area and can be reached at (805) 379-4777. The services are always free thanks to donations from the community.

Anyone interested in joining a Wellness group must attend an orientation class either Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. or Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Cancer survivors help lead the orientations.

There are support groups for both patients and survivors, as well as a separate group for the significant others. The support groups are led by licensed psychotherapists.

The Wellness Community also holds group meetings with activities for children ages 511 and another session for teens who have a parent or grandparent with cancer.

Events, workshops and other activities for cancer patients and their families are often on the calendar and provide a healthy outlet for those dealing with the disease.

Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center has a special annex at their East Campus in Westlake Village that caters to the elderly. The Senior Behavioral Health Center at (805) 3704416 is a voluntary inpatient program available to patients 55 and over who are experiencing difficult times due to depression, anxiety, and other emotional and psychological problems. A staff psychiatrist visits patients daily. Activities and group settings run by mental health professionals are also held each day to help patients regain their place in the community.

When someone is suffering from a mental illness- schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, borderline personality disorder, OCD, panic disorder, severe anxiety disorder, cooccurring brain disorders and addictive disorders- the challenge placed on loved ones is great.

Thanks to an organization called NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org), family members can learn about resources, advocacy and support services, and can become educated as to how they might help their loved ones who are suffering.

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization, dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with a serious mental illness.

Several NAMI support groups are offered for families- one is in Thousand Oaks on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Contact the Ventura office for information at (805) 6412426 or send an e-mail to namiventura@gmail.com.

NAMI meetings in the San Fernando Valley are on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Call (818) 9946747 or send an e-mail to namisfv@sbcglobal.net for more information.

The FamilytoFamily Education Program is offered free at various NAMI facilities. The course helps parents, friends, siblings and significant others gain understanding and information about mental health issues and how to seek help for those in need.

When a loved one is affected by an illness, a disability or a disorder, there is help. One of the newest and best ways to seek help is to call 2-1-1 and explain what it is that you're seeking. You should be pointed in the right direction.

Barrie Silberberg of Thousand Oaks works part-time teaching American Sign Language to Mommy and Me groups, elementary aged children, teens and adults. She is also a job developer and placement counselor with the State of California, working with individuals who have disabilities. Her website is www.puttingyourkidsfirst.com.