The Community Education Project is a partnership between Rehabilitation Support Services and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Delaware & Otsego County (NAMI Delaware & Otsego).
The philosophy of the Community Education Project is that mental health disorders are treatable and through education the stigma that keeps people from seeking treatment can be reduced there by creating a community of support for both the individual and their families.
The focus of this Project is to break down the sigma of mental illness by providing educational opportunities to the community. The Project has hosted over 25 public educational forums. These forums have consisted of video presentations with local experts available to answer questions from attendees. Topics have ranged from understanding the various diagnoses such as bi polar or schizophrenia to discussing system issues such as SPOA, the involvement of the criminal justice system, the Otsego County Crisis system.
The Community Education Project has sponsored education programs such as NAMI Family to Family Education and Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP). The Community Education Project has connected families the NAMI support groups and Individuals to PALS (Peer Alliance) support groups.
The Community Education Project produces a guide of community services. This guide is distributed . The guide provides information regarding mental health providers and contact numbers to area agencies that assist people in the community. Agencies and providers can order this guide to have on hand in their facilities. People can access the guide at the new Community Education Project Web site or stop by at the Library site located at 35 Main St Oneonta.
The Project has sponsored educational shows that have been aired on the local public access television station, and have participated in educational programs on WZOZ radio.
Over the years, the Community Education Project has set up informational booths and exhibits throughout the county, and has gifted books to area Libraries and Schools. The Project has participated in helping to organize a county wide Health Fair.
The Otsego County Community Education Project Library is located at 35 Main St Oneonta, NY. The library is open Tuesday 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm for housing support, Friday 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm and by appointment. The library has books, magazines, pamphlets, brochures, videos and DVDs that focus on mental health topics available for loan. The project can be reached by calling 433-0661 or 433-1714 ext 201.