In Our Own voice presentation venues needed

Hi
 I am schedualing presentations through the summer and fall for the In Our Own Voice program. . I am trying to reach out to more venues.  We have done over 2000 free presentations and would like to add your class,agency,civic group, places of worship ect, to our family.I am especially trying to reach more first responder audiences.  Please let me know what date and times work best. I am including the information regarding the free program below. Thank you.

In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a NAMI program, developed nationally and sponsored round the state by NAMI New Jersey, designed to train individuals with various mental health conditions, to give presentations about their illness and recovery. The program is a powerful tool for community education and reducing stigma by putting a human face on an often misunderstood area of human suffering.

The program is intended to help reduce the discrimination often faced by people who deal with mental health illnesses and issues, those who care about them, and those who care for them. One or two program speakers go to a location, and present their first-hand lived experience, backed by other presenters appearing on a DVD. The live and taped presenters speak about their dark days, acceptance, treatment, coping skills, and successes, hopes, and dreams. With questions and answers, which the presenters are trained to deal with, the program takes approximately one hour.

IOOV has been successful for NAMI NJ since it was first presented in the state in October, 2002. By the end of 2013, the team has made its 2000th presentation, and have reached over 50,000 audience members! Presentations have taken place in all twenty-one counties of the state. Audiences have included:

• mental health treatment programs (psychiatric hospitals/units and day treatment)
• mental health self-help groups
• social work and psychosocial rehabilitation conferences
• staff in general hospitals
• churches, temples, and clergy in-service trainings
• public employees in social services, housing, law enforcement, child welfare, corrections, and air traffic control
• high school and college classes (including psychology, nursing, education, and special education)
• college and high school clubs (including service clubs, psychology clubs, and the neuropsychiatry club at the NJ School of Osteopathic Medicine)
• in-service trainings for health and special educators
• community and service clubs
• disability awareness programs at private companies

Currently, a team of four coordinators and forty active presenters are available to make the free presentations day or night, at any location in the state. We encourage interested parties to contact Jill Zwick, Scheduling Coordinator, at 732-571-2136 or ioov@naminj.org, to discuss scheduling an IOOV presentation, or to consider volunteering in the program. You may also join in the “buzz” about NAMI NJ’s IOOV program at www.facebook.com/naminjioov.