Burdman group sets events

The forums are free and focus on how to access current services.

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR

YOUNGSTOWN — Forums highlighting the services offered by Burdman Group Inc. will be Tuesday and May 21 in Warren and Youngstown, respectively.

The Friends and Family Forum will be at Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority, 4076 Youngstown Road S.E., Warren, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

In Youngstown, the forum will be at the Drop In Center, 1344 Fifth Ave. from 6 to 8 p.m. May 21.

There is no charge for either forum, and light refreshments will be served. Call (330) 743-9275 for reservations.

Burdman Group is a nonprofit organization that helps people look for work who suffer from mental illness and who have been victims of domestic violence. It is funded in part by the Mahoning County Mental Health Board, Trumbull Lifelines, Mahoning and Trumbull County Departments of Jobs and Family Services, Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and the Mahoning and Columbiana Training Association.

The forums will provide a multifaceted exchange of information, ideas and opinions about Burdman’s employment/job retention services; residential outpatient mental health services and domestic violence programming, Burdman officials say.

Present and potential service recipients as well as their family and friends are invited to attend.

The focus will be on how to access current services and an opportunity for participants to critique the services will be offered. A discussion will take place on the types of new services needed in the community.

Participants will have small group discussions to explore the various issues and a panel will give brief presentations on different topics.

The presenters are:

U Representatives from the local chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness.

U People in recovery from serious mental illness.

U Burdman Group program directors explaining the agency’s services.

Burdman has programming in the tri-county area. In Mahoning County, there is the Doris Burdman Home, Horizon House, Sojourner House Domestic Violence Program, outpatient services and employment and job retention services, which also offers services in Columbiana County.

In Trumbull County, services are provided through the Intensive Community Treatment Team, Riverbend Center, Crossroads and Employment and Job Retention Services.