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Pardon
us if we blow our own horn,
but just look at what TARA has accomplished.
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Thanks to your membership dollars
and generous contributions, we have been able to raise awareness of Borderline Personality
Disorder to on unprecedented level. TARA brought BPD issues to the attention of
key national policy makers, including leaders in both houses of Congress.
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For the very first time,
members of the Senate and of the House Appropriations Committee will include BPD
in their committees report to NIMH, suggesting on increase in research funding for
BPD.
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We hove become on important liaison
for the Personality Disorder community with the National Institute of Mental Health.
Steve Hyman, Director of NIMH has written TARA:
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"Your advocacy community had
a lot to do with helping NIMH see the needs of people with BPD and their families.
It is a good partnership."
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We are participating in the National
Advisory Mental Health Council (NAMHC) where, for the first time, we are bringing
BPD issues to the attention of this important national council.
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More First Time TARA Accomplishments
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BPD is now included inthe National
Co-Morbidity Survey Replication. BPD sufferers will finally be counted.
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NIMH produced their first public
information on BPD, which can be accessed on their web site. In addition, at TARA's
urging, they have agreed to develop the following:
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Request For Applications
(RFA) for BPD research, independent of any activities of any other organization.
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Program Announcement for BPD.
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Request for Applications
(RFA) for "A Gold Standard Assessment Instrument," that will be easy to use for
diagnosing BPD in community mental health and public health settings.
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Exploration of alternative methods
for review of BPD grants, especially cross-disciplinary grants that require expertise
in more than one field.
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Exploration of the consequences
of time delays in the scoring and funding of grants.
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At a Washington DC meeting attended
by John Oldham, MD, and Valerie Porr, MA, of TARA, we successfully advocated for
inclusion of BPD issues in future Surgeon General's reports.
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On Nov. 21 1999 we achieved an important
first-time media event with National Public Radio. The Infinite Mind Explores Borderline
Personality Disorder was featured on a national radio program. Hosted by
Fred Goodwin, MD, former director of NIMH, it featured Marsha Linehan, PhD, Valerie
Porr, MA, TARA APD president, and Sally Bedell Smith, author of Diana, Portrait of
a Troubled Princess. The program reached over eight million people. Tapes
and transcripts are available through TARA.
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TARA is the only national mental
health organization providing BPD information for families and providers. Each caller
receives a customized info packet including our educational brochure, Understanding
BPD.
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TARA sponsors workshops, educational
seminars and symposia at various local, national, and international conferences
such as the American Public Health Association, National Social Workers Association
on Addiction, and the International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders.
We will be holding seminars at the upcoming NAMIconvention and ISSPD meeting in
New York City.
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TARA attends cross-disciplinary
conferences bringing current treatment, research findings and anti-stigma messages
to areas where prevalence of BPD is not generally recognized, such as substance
abuse, domestic violence, road rage, stalking, eating disorders and other forms
of addiction.
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Helping Families, Consumers,
and Professionals
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We operate the only "National Hotline"
for BPD: 888-4-TARA APD.
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TARA operates the only National
Resource and Referral Center for BPD. A Referral Directory is under development.
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We have developed a Family BPD Educational
Curriculum This not only teaches families about BPD, but also provides hem with
coping skills and suggestions as to how to best help their loved ones.
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In meetings with NIMH, Congress,
the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Surgeon
General, we have focused national attention on the lack of appropriate diagnosis
and treatment options for teens with BPD.
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TARA has begun national teen advocacy
by coalescing family members and articulating the treatment needs of BPD teens with
mental health administrators, both locally and nationally.
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We participated in the first Surgeon
General's Children and Adolescent Conference. This is the first time BPD adolescent
needs were represented at a national conference.
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Growth and Expansion of
TARA APD
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Based in New York City, TARA
has established chapters in for more states as well as Canada:
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Chicago, Illinois: Operates
family support groups and Educational seminars in the Chicago area.
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San Francisco California:
Operates family support and advocacy groups. Advocates for appropriate BPD treatment
throughout the California mental health system.
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
Operates family support groups and a committed advocacy group This longest running
group also helps produce BPD information and advocacy literature for dissemination
across the country. TARA Pittsburgh vigorously advocates with key Congressional
leaders
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Washinaton, DC: Operates
a family support and advocacy group which actively advocates with key legislators,
NIMH, SAMHSA, as well as administrators of local mental health systems. Participates
in national mental health advocacy.
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Northwest Canada: Family
support groups are growing.
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TARA as a Catalyst for
Research and Change
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TARA has initiated development of
a Domestic Violence Research Project in New York City. This would bring together
pharmacologists, domestic violence (DV) experts, DBT experts, a community mental
health organization and the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office. Our aim is to treat
DV perpetrators who meet the criteria for BPD (1 of 3 perpetrators) with methods
of treatment shown to be effective with BPD.
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We are initiating a Teen Research
Project for treating BPD teens with appropriate pharmacological interventions, such
as Depakote and with Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Our Hotline data and our communication
with the research community helps bring family observations and experiences to the
attention of researchers.
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TARA is committed tp decreasing
the stigma of Borderline Personality Disorder by continuous attempts to reframe
BPD in the light of current research. We are participating in the American Psychiatric
Associations efforts to change the name of BPD and reclassify Axis I and Axis II.
This will help to diminish the trivialization of the illness and would permit BPD
coverage by insurance plans and inclusion in future parity legislation.
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Much has been accomplished.
More has yet to be done.
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We are proud of what we have achieved
but by no means satisfied. BPD is an illness that has been overlooked for so long
that whatever progress has been made in recognizing, treating, and funding resembles
how the condition improves? "in baby steps." Because so many people are affected
by BPD (2%-3% of the general population), as well as their families, we need to
take giant steps. With your continued support, tax-free contributions, new and renewed
membership dollars, we believe we can take a giant step forward.
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Helpline: 1-888-4-TARA APD
Valerie Porr, MA, President
TARA Association for Personality Disorder
23 Greene Street
New York, New York 10013
TARAAPD@aol.com
(212) 966-6514
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