H.R. 3717 practiced for reaching rural Oklahomans to OKC - Edmond

NAMI Edmond Affiliate utilizes the evidence based practice of reaching the undeserved and rural populations, a section of Representative Tim Murphy's bill H.R. 3717, The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, to teach its signature class, Family to Family, for educating family members about their loved one's mental illness crisis who live too far from Oklahoma City to make a round trip practical to attend the class in person by including them by teleconference.  The students in the September class are comprised of family members who have experienced their first mental health crisis where their loved one has recently received their first mental illness diagnosis.  The family members have no experience or education in mental health.  It is the beginning of a true love story.

As a community based service, the Crossings Community Church provides the required hardware at no cost to the students.

A large video screen displays the remote students where their computer screen displays the local class to create a seamless learning environment.

Audio features allow the remote students to participate like any other student in the class.

The class is cost free to the student.


The class material is cost free to the students.

NAMI Volunteers are trained to teach.the class without being a mental heath provider.  They do not practice providing mental health services.  It is strictly an educational class where all material is provided by NAMI.  It is true love that takes the burden of the costs

H.R. 3717 legislation is modeled on a successful project in Massachusetts, the bill advances tele-psychiatry to link pediatricians and primary care physicians with psychiatrists and psychologists in areas where patients do not have access to mental health professions.

True Love Prevails.

Please make an ask to your representative to contact Dr. Murphy at his congressional office, (202) 225-2301 and sign the co-sponsor list.

(from left to right) Congressman Tim Murphy, Family to Family teachers Jean Williams and Eileen Morefield, Randy Conyers, Family To Family Resources

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