THANK YOU CICS REGION/JASPER COUNTY!!!!  We are proud and humbled that our first project in the name of Zac, our beloved son/brother, has received a grant from Central Iowa Community Services Region/Jasper County.  The grant funding is the first step in the implementation of a multi sensory simulation of a psychotic event which puts an individual in the shoes of someone who has mental health symptoms.  This will provide some education and understanding to the thought process of someone experiencing mental health symptoms.  In addition, there is empathy training and we are taught how to reach out to those who need help. We will save lives when mental illness is seen for what it is: a medical issue.  Through this and continued efforts Zac's Foundation goal is for those with mental illness not to feel shame or a stigma, but to accept, access and participate in treatment.  CICS Region/Jasper County is just the beginning.  We need everyone's support to make this happen whether through personal empowerment, advocacy, education or donations.  Let us wipe out the negative stigma associated with mental illness. 

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August 22, 2017 8 hours ago, my intelligent, loving son Zac hung himself from the rafters of our farm shed. The reason that accepting treatment for bipolar disorder was so hard as our society would rather claim an STD or addiction before they would ever admit to having a mental illness. Just like many, his symptoms developed during his junior year in college. His family and friends did not know how to react. While he was trying to overcome his delusional and fears his friends were either sep arating from him or continuing their own lives. As friends and family we rally around those we love who have medical conditions, with the exception when that medical condition is a chemical imbalance of the brain. My Zacy did not want to accept his medical condition because society does not consider mental illness as a medical condition, rather a lack of character or a self condemning personality trait. SHAME on those who ignore, condemn or blame the individual. Remember me, my husband and Za...
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First Project

This is a long-term project that we hope to implement in stages.  We have located a non-profit provide located in another county who has developed empathy training which incorporates hands on features.  This non-profit is willing to work with our foundation and other Iowa non-profits to train our trainer(s), come on-site for initial presentations to agencies, schools, etc. any interested group, and share their technology.  We then hope to have dollars to do our own productions, more specific to individual diagnosis, that can be shared, not only for empathy training but also for provider agencies providing services to individuals with mental illness,   The application of this program is very broad.  We hope to make our foundation non-profit (doing an L.L.C. is quicker and easier) so we can apply for grants, etc. directly to help fund our project.  Currently we will work through non-profits to first obtain funding to 'train the trainer'.  If you wan...
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