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Educating Southwest Florida on Mental Wellness since 1957
55 Years of
providing Services June 2012
throughout
SWFL Join us in Celebrating 55 Years
of Service to Southwest Florida!!
Coming Events:
♦ June 1, 2012
Choices in Recovery
Norris Community Center
♦ June 9 2012
Putting Children First
♦ June 23 2012
An Evening with Wambui Bahati
♦ June 23, 2012
Putting Children First
♦ August 4, 2012
shooting for the stars
Basketball Clinic
Support Groups: New Board Member Tina Streeter
In 1996, Tina received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the
• Here for Life University of North Carolina while active duty in the U.S. Army.
She received her Master’s Degree in Education in 1998 from the
1st Tuesday every Month University of North Carolina.
7:00 PM
Streeter began with the Children’s Advocacy Center since December of
• Veterans 2005. She has been the Director of Development since September
2011 and was the Senior Case Coordinator for the Child Protection
Wednesday Team prior to that. She manages all aspects of development including
7:00 - 8:30PM fundraising, public awareness and event preparation and planning.
• Depression Prior to working at the Children’s Advocacy Center, Streeter was enlisted in the United
States Army in a Special Operations Unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After completing
Thursday eight years, she returned to her hometown of Naples, Florida where she worked as a tutor
10:30AM - Noon and education consultant for local private schools. She then worked for the Collier County
Sheriff’s Office as a Drill Instructor for their boot camp style juvenile program. She has been
with the Children’s Advocacy Center for 6 years. Streeter is currently a Quality Assurance /
Improvement reviewer for the Florida Department of Health Child Protection Teams.
Streeter has one child who is currently in the sixth grade at Corkscrew Middle School.

2. Page 2 Mental Health Matters
“Shooting for the Stars” Basketball Clinic”
As the HEAT’s former community affairs liaison, Jones has made it his
life’s ambition to motivate South Florida’s youth to action, both in and out
of the classroom. He is the founder and director of the National Shoot for
the Stars program, providing complimentary "Books and Basketball"
clinics for underprivileged youth. Jones has conducted international clinics
in Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Bahamas, Antigua, Jamaica, Bermuda and other
islands throughout the Caribbean. Jones’ dedication to youth and education
is unmatched. He also serves as the Director of Educational Research and
Study for the Tournament of Champions in Florida and is also the
Co-Director of the Best of the Rest Stars, Education Through
Sports Camp.
Prior to joining the HEAT, Jones worked for the Department of Education
and the federal government as a human development trainer at the Center
for Education Development in San Antonio for seven years.
There he supervised a 10-state region, which encompassed over 400 school districts, educating teachers in
classroom management and teaching techniques through neuro-linguistical
programming.
Additionally, Jones leads basketball camps and clinics which teach academics, AIDS education, health
nutrition and career exploration. His tireless schedule takes him to more than 250 sites each year.
In January of 1999 he received national honors as he was presented with the President’s Award by
President Bill Clinton during the Stop the Violence program.
Of course, many still recall Jones for his on-court achievements. A 10-year veteran of the NBA, Jones was
drafted in the third round (20th overall) of the 1964 NBA Draft by Detroit after averaging 19.5 points as a
standout guard at Villanova where he was a two-time All-East Regional selection. He won a championship
ring alongside Wilt Chamberlain on the vaunted 1967 Philadelphia 76ers team, which was voted into the Hall
of Fame as the best team in the NBA’s first 25 years. In addition to his two stints with the 76ers, Jones saw
action with the Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Baltimore Bullets of the NBA and spent one year with the Utah
Stars of the ABA. Upon retiring from active duty, Jones served as a scout for Philadelphia for seven years.
The 62-year-old Jones remains active on the court, participating in senior celebrity tournaments and on the
USA Senior Dream Team, which, led by tournament MVP Jones, won a gold medal at the 1996 Master’s
International Senior Games. He also captured MVP honors in 2003 at the Masters National 60-and-over
Tournament. Jones holds an economics degree from Villanova.

3. June 2012 Page 3
”SHOOTING FOR THE STARS”
Basketball Clinic
2012
A day of fun and learning for Children ages 8-17
Make a memory for a lifetime……….
The Clinic will be lead by Wali Jones (former Philadelphia 76er’s) features human develop-
ment training, emphasizing academics, problem solving, self esteem and teamwork.
The Clinic will be held at The Community School of Naples on Saturday August 4th.
Registration starts at 9 am with the Program beginning at 9:30 am.
For more information and sponsorship contact:
The Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida
2335 Tamiami Trail N. Ste 404
Naples, FL 34103
(239) 261-5405/ www.mhaswfl.org
This is a Free Clinic provided as a com-
munity service through the Children’s
Mental Wellness Program of The Mental
Health Association of Southwest Florida
“ We Are Making A Difference”

4. Page 4 Mental Health Matters
Teen Self - Esteem:
Feeling Good About Yourself
" Self"-that's easy. That's you! "Esteem" -this word is a bit trickier. It is not a word that most
young people use on a daily basis. If you look it up in the dictionary, you will find-- "Esteem-
to hold in high regard" which means "to really like a lot." For example, you really like your best
friend or your grandmother. You get the picture. These are people you trust, respect and en-
joy spending time with.
So, let's look at the word self-esteem again.
Self(you)-esteem(to like a lot)…means you really like yourself a lot, both inside and
out…how you look as well as what you believe in.
Sometimes it's easy to like who you are. You feel great when you score a goal, ace an exam, or
tell a joke that everyone laughs at. But, how do you feel about yourself when you just said
something mean, or when you think you got a bad haircut? You start wishing you were some-
one else or that you could change how you look. You think you aren't good enough…in school,
on the team, or for the cool crowd. This is "low" or "negative" self-esteem.
Self-esteem…means you like yourself…all the time, not just when things are going
great!
The good news is you can learn to like yourself or have positive self-esteem all the time. You
are the one in control; you can make the difference. But sometimes, you let others tell you how
to feel about yourself. From the day you were born, your family, then your teachers and
friends, have been influencing your decisions. TV shows, movies, music videos and magazines
influence what we wear, how we feel and how we act..
So why is it important to have positive self-esteem if everyone is going to tell you
what to do, what to wear and what to think?
As a young adult, you now have more responsibility to choose between right and wrong. You
become accountable for your actions. Positive self-esteem gives you the courage to be your
own person and to believe in your own values when the pressure is on to make a big decision.
Your friends can put a lot of pressure on you.
You want to be part of a group or crowd. Belonging to a group is a part of growing up, learning
to be a friend and learning about the world around you. It's OK to want to be liked by oth-
ers. But not when it means giving in to pressure. Your friends are now making many of their
own decisions. And their decisions may or may not be good for you. It's never worth doing
things that could hurt you or someone else. For instance, abusing alcohol or other drugs, hav-
ing sex before you are ready, joining a gang, or quitting school can all lead to trouble.
Think about what can happen if you give in to the wrong decision. Drinking or doing drugs and
driving can lead to serious injury or death. Unprotected sex may lead to pregnancy, STD's
(sexually transmitted diseases) or AIDS. Joining a gang may lead to illegal behavior and maybe
jail. And quitting school takes away your best chance to be successful later in life. It is not al-
ways going to be easy to stick to your values, but you will be happier if you do
Think for yourself!
Only you know what is best for you. If you let your friends think for you, you won't be working
toward your personal goals for your future. When you value and respect yourself, it keeps you
from making bad decisions that may affect the rest of your life.
Feeling good about yourself helps you to:
Accept challenges. Try a new sport or audition for a play. And if you don't make the team or
get the lead in the play, you will at least enjoy trying and learning more about yourself!

5. June 2012 Page 5
Enjoy your life. Happy people are fun to be around. A happy outlook helps you to make and keep friends.
Believe in yourself. If you think you can do something, you are more likely to do it!
Stay flexible. Life is changing all the time. You can't stop it but you can learn to change with it.
OK. You think that having "positive" self-esteem is a good idea. How do you get it?
-Be honest with yourself. Figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are. Don't beat yourself up over your weaknesses. Don't
compare yourself to others. Learn to accept yourself.
-Set realistic goals for yourself. Try to get the most out of your strengths without demanding or expecting too much of yourself.
Take one day at a time.
Do your best each day.
-Trust your own feelings. Listen to yourself. Pay attention to your emotions.
-Enjoy yourself when you have achievements. Celebrate your successful efforts. Don't downplay them.
Do you know these answers?
1.Is it easy to change your self-esteem?
2.Does self-esteem guarantee success?
3.Does self-esteem mean self-centeredness or being stuck-up?
4.Can I help others feel good about themselves?
Is it easy to change self-esteem? No. It means taking some time to understand who you are--what you like, don't like, feel
comfortable with, and what goals you have. Ask for help from your parents, a school counselor and your friends to find the an-
swers. This takes time and hard work. It's a life-long process, but it's worth the work!
Does self-esteem guarantee success? Success in school? Success playing sports or musical instrument? Success with friends?
No, but if you keep trying and do your best, you are a success. Remember, having positive self-esteem will help you to achieve
what you want. But when you don't succeed, it helps you to accept the situation and move on.
Does positive self-esteem mean "being stuck-up, snobby or on an ego trip"? No. Kids who act this way usually are trying to
pretend they are something they are not. In fact, they often have low self-esteem.
Can I help others feel good about themselves? Yes. Don't put others down for how they feel, look or act. Be patient with your
friends and family when they fall short. We all make mistakes from time to time.
If you are having a hard time deciding what is the right thing to do, look to your mom or dad or a favorite teacher or counselor to
help. Learn from them. They want to help you. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. You are never too old or too young to
ask for help.

6. Page 6 Mental Health Matters
Women’s Health Resources Planned Parenthood, May 25th

7. June 2012 Page 7
Gollee’s Tip
Treatment for Learning Disabilities
Sometimes individual or family psychotherapy (“talking”
about your child’s problems) will be recommended.
Psychotherapy may help to strengthen your child’s
self-confidence; which is vital for healthy development.
Therapy also helps parents and other family members
better understand and cope with the realities of living
with a child with learning disabilities. Medication may be
prescribed for hyperactivity or distractibility.
Work With A Mental Health Professional
Such problems deserve a comprehensive evaluation by an ex-
pert who can assess all of the different issues affecting the
child. A child and adolescent psychiatrist can help
coordinate the evaluation and work with school professionals
and others to evaluate and test your child to determine if a
learning disability exists. After talking with the child and fam-
ily and reviewing the educational testing and consulting with
the school, the child and adolescent psychiatrist will make rec-
ommendations on appropriate school placement, the need for
Learning special help such as special educational therapy or
speech-language therapy, and help
disabilities parents assisting their child in maximizing his or her
affect as learning potential.
many as 15 Seek help when necessary!
percent of
otherwise If you are worried about a child’s reaction or have
able school. ongoing concerns about his/her behavior or emotions, con-
tact a mental health professional at school, your commu-
nity mental health center, or MHASWFL at
261-5405/www.mhaswfl.org.

8. Page 8 Mental Health Matters
About Wambui Bahati
Wambui Bahati has always enjoyed entertaining and empowering others.
As an actress, author, speaker and 'holistic mental health' and
'empowerment over domestic violence' advocate, she has inspired and
motivated thousands of people all over the United States and Canada.
She began her formal theatrical studies at New York University School of
the Arts (The School was later renamed the Tisch School of the Arts.) and
made her professional theatrical debut in Godspell at Ford's Theater in
Washington, D.C. She went on to perform in the Broadway productions of
Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Wambui's regional and touring credits include starring roles in The Magic
Show, Joseph Papp's rock version of Two Gentlemen of Verona, Little Ham,
Nunsense, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, Gone With the Wind –the
musical, The Wiz and Crowns. (Click here to visit Wambui's actor site.)
Wambui wrote, produced and stars in the one-woman musicals Balancing
Act and I Am Domestic Violence. Both of these shows have received na-
tional acclaim for the unique way that they provide outstanding
entertainment while dealing with important issues in our communities.

9. June 2012 Page 9
Some of her awards include a Woman of Achievement Award from the
Greensboro Commission on the Status of Women, a Belle Ringer Image
Award from Bennett College, the Lionel Aldridge Award (a national honor
recognizing individuals who provide extraordinary service and courage on
behalf of people with mental illnesses), the National Alliance for the
Mentally Ill, North Carolina's President's Award, and a proclamation from
the mayor of the city of Toledo, Ohio. Named John Ann Washington at
birth, Wambui Bahati is her new legal name taken on during the
"reinvention of herself." In Swahili Wambui means "singer of songs,"
Bahati means, "my fortune is good." The native North Carolinian lives in
New York City and is the proud mother of two adult daughters.
Wambui holds the title of 2nd Runner Up as
"NYC's Most Awesome Comedian 2011"
Wambui has appeared at:
• Gotham Comedy Club, NYC (Headliners included Jimmy Failla, Karen
Bergreen, Cory Kahaney and Jim Gaffigan.)
• Broadway Comedy Club, NYC (Presented by The World Comedy Club)
• NYC Friar's Club: Tuesday Night Laughs
Carolines on Broadway (Opener for Robin Schall)
Her passion: "Reminding You of Your Magnificence."

10. June 2012 Mental Health Matters Page 10
To Advocate for Mental Wellness through Education,
Prevention, and Support
The Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida identifies unmet needs and
develops culturally sensitive services and programs to improve the lives of those
facing the many challenges of today’s world in our community.
If you are interested in becoming a member, e-mail us at info@mhaswfl.org Or Simply fill out the application and mail a check
payable to MHASWFL or donate online using a credit card. Your contribution is tax-deductible and crucial to helping us continue
our work. If you have any questions about Membership please contact our office by phone at (239) 261-5405
or mail The Mental Association of Southwest Florida 2335 Tamaimi Trail N, Ste 404, Naples FL 34103.