My brother Joe was born July 3, 1961. If he had lived long enough, he would’ve turned 50 last week.

On the day before Joe was born --- July 2, 1961 --- the legendary author and outdoorsman Ernest Hemingway, after decades battling alcoholism and bipolar disorder, took his own life with a shotgun.

I mention the proximity of Joe’s date of birth with Hemingway’s date of death for a reason: Because it reminds us of how commonplace mental illness and the tragedy of suicide are in our world. How they can beset both our closest family members and the most celebrated members of society. And how both leave in their wake a burden of grief, pain and confusion that are beyond words to describe.

As the editor of the inaugural edition of the Karla Smith Foundation newsletter, I realize that most of you already know these things. The same is true, I suspect, with respect to the foundation: how all of you know this organization founded by the Smith family has provided a remarkable harbor for families coping with the demands of mental illness or with the aftermath of a loved one’s suicide.

After 20 years battling depression, my brother Joe ended his life on Feb. 13, 2008. Since then, there has not been a day that I don’t think about him. Yes, the pain and grief are still there. But with the foundation’s help, I have come to terms with his death, gaining insight into it while finding some measure of peace amid the heartache.

It is my hope that this newsletter becomes a helpful tool for KSF members, supporters, and their families. I look forward to it evolving into a valuable resource center and guide, a wellspring of ideas and encouragement.

With your help and feedback, it will.

All the best,

Mike Fitzgerald      

The Karla Smith Foundation took a big step forward in April, when they hired Christina “Chris” Hendrix to serve as the Foundation’s first Director of Programs and Events.

Hendrix brings to the job a wide and varied background gained during 15 years in the human services field. Early in her career she worked as a Program Coordinator for the Center for Independent Living, in Alton.  Later, she took a job as Program Director at the YWCA in Alton, and then served as its Interim Director. Her career eventually led her to serve as State Regional Coordinator for ICMHP (Illinois Children Mental Health Partnership) & Wellspring Resources, of Alton, overseeing 33 counties in the southern part of the state.

Her energy and hard work paid off. In May, she journeyed to San Diego to receive the Award of Excellence for Family Advocacy from the National Council for Behavioral Healthcare.

Hendrix, who works out of her home office in Worden, was drawn to KSF because she shares the foundation’s mission of “assisting families with support and services,” she said. What’s more, she’s known foundation founders Tom and Fran Smith for a long time, she said, “I truly believe in what they do and how they support families… And having that experience myself, it just felt like a good fit.”
Her goals for KSF?

“To help them grow and expand their programs, carry out their message, and to get the word out about the Karla Smith Foundation,” she said.

In this connection, Hendrix is a busy woman. As the foundation’s Program Director, she facilitates two of the family support groups, one in Belleville and one in Alton.
Hendrix is participating in the planning of the “Erase the Stigma of Mental Illness” conference set for Aug. 26-27 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, in Belleville. She’s also partnering with Emily Smith during Smith’s final year as Coordinator of the annual KSF Dinner Auction, scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, in Fairview Heights.

“I am working with her very closely and learning all the aspects of it,” she said.
Chris has been married to her husband Lloyd for 31 years and is the mother of three children. She answers to “Nana” for two granddaughters.

Hendrix said she is excited about the chance to work with KSF because it fills such a remarkable niche, based on her own experiences navigating the mental health system on behalf of close family members.

“There are a lot of resources and services out there for children and the consumer,” she said. “But I think the uniqueness of the Karla Smith Foundation is that we are there for the families and to let people know they are not alone. The consumers have counseling, medication and services available. But there are few services and supports available for the families and loved ones.”

There were about 200 KSF supporters in section 270 of Busch Stadium the night of Saturday, June 25, for the Cardinal – Toronto Blue Jays baseball game. Many of these supporters gathered in Kiener Plaza before the game, and we walked together to the stadium wearing our new KSF t-shirts and carrying a sign with our logo on it.

This event was not a fundraiser but an awareness-raiser.  The goal was to be visible with our slogan of “supporting families affected by mental illness and suicide.”  With our white t-shirts, sitting together near Big Mac Land, our name on the jumbotron, and people asking us what we represented, we believe we clearly reached our goal.  It was also encouraging that people from many different backgrounds, who didn’t know one another beforehand, all came together to support our mission.  The bonus was that we made $105 on the event when our objective was not to lose money.  It was a fun night, the game ended before the rain, the stigma against mental illness and suicide is a little less, and there are now more people who know about KSF.  Thanks to all of you who supported this event, either by being there or donating.  The Cardinals lost the baseball game but KSF clearly won.

“Journey Through the Maze” is the theme of the fifth annual Erase the Stigma conference hosted at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL on August 26-27. It is a conference for those who journey with someone with mental illness, and the maze is the illness itself as well as the services available for those people on this journey. KSF has been a major financial sponsor and organizer of this conference since its inception.  It is the primary educational conference that we support, and the four previous gatherings have all been very successful.  This year also promises to be helpful and encouraging.  Along with the inspiring and informed speakers, there will be many local mental health providers present for personal consultations and valuable resources.

The keynote speaker for Friday, August 26, is Dr. Karl Wilson, the President/CEO of Crider Health Center which integrates mental health care with primary health care.  Dr. Wilson has also taught at Washington University in St. Louis for over 30 years, and is a dynamic speaker with obvious credentials and a passion for mental health care.

On Saturday, August 27, the keynoter is Gina Hill, the wife of Iraq war veteran, Ret. Staff Sergeant Allen Hill, who was diagnosed with PTSD and Brain Injury.  Gina is an advocate for families whose loved ones suffer from PTSD, and who, among other things, recently testified to Congress about these issues and who, with Allen, was interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey Show in May, 2009.

Other speakers, including a special break-out session with Gina on Saturday for military personnel, veterans and their families, round out the conference.  

To register, contact the Shrine at 618-397-6700 x6270 or programs@snows.org.  Please join us for this important and inspiring conference.

Mark your calendar now! The Fifth Annual KSF Dinner Auction is Saturday, November 12 at the Fountains Conference Center in Fairview Heights. Since it is the 5th dinner auction, the theme this year is on growth and stability. You will hear more about this annual event later, but the planning committee tells us that many exciting things are planned for this always enjoyable evening. Save the date!

It’s Back to School Time!
While most Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 meetings are held at the end of the school year, a number of things can occur over a summer that might impact his or her needs. It is your right as a parent to ask that a team meeting be convened, even if it is not time for the annual review.

• Illinois Educational Rights and Responsibilities
  http://www.isbe.net/spec-ed/html/parent_rights.htm
• Student Records Keeper
  http://www.isbe.state.il.us/spec-ed/pdfs/student_records_keeper.pdf
• U.S. Department of Education by state
  http://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html