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About
Us
The
brainchild of Alice Cohen, the Friendship Network was inspired by
difficulties experienced by a member of her family. Alice realized that those
recovering from mental illness are often isolated from their peers and
unable to make and/or sustain friendships.
Recognizing
that establishing a social life is a crucial part of recovery, Alice
founded the Friendship Network to bring people together. Berna Case
shared Alice's vision and felt that together they could help people
make these vital connections.
The
Friendship Network's goal is to help alleviate the feelings of
isolation and loneliness its members feel because of their illness.
Through the Network, they meet members of the same or opposite sex and
develop friendships. Most feel freer to be themselves because they
have an even stronger bond than similar interests.
These
introductions offer members a chance to develop or redevelop the
social skills they may have forgotten and, eventually, to develop the
self-confidence necessary to expand their social life beyond the
Friendship Network. The Friendship Network offers members the option
to have pen or phone pals as well.
Alice
Cohen began the Friendship Network (nee Friendship Exchange),
thirteen years ago, through her local chapter of NAMI Queens/Nassau.
The demand for this service was and continues to be great.
As an integral part of NAMI Queens/Nassau, the Friendship
Network falls under its 501(c)(3) non-profit status. The
Friendship Network, however, is obligated to be self-supporting.
Alice and
Berna spend an inordinate amount of time with members on the phone.
Members require help with the logistics of travel, where to go
and what to do. Sometimes, a member needs to be eased into a
situation by role-playing. Members call any time of the day or
night. All calls are returned within 48 hours.
During the
twelve years of the Friendship Network's existence, there has never
been any issue of safety for the members. They are advised to meet
in public places initially and not to give anyone their address,
until and if, after several meetings, they feel comfortable with the
person.
All members,
having met a new person, are required to contact Alice or Berna. If there
is any hint of a potential difficulty, a call is made to the
therapist immediately.
Directors
Berna
Case has been working with Alice for the past eleven years.
When she read an article about the Friendship Network in
The New York Times, she was determined to help Alice because
of an analogous situation in her family.
Alice Cohen
is well suited to direct the operation of this service. She is
empathetic, sensitive, caring, supportive and personable. Her
personality exudes the warmth necessary to relate to the Friendship
Network's members.
Urgency
of Financial Aid
Many
participants do not have sufficient funds to pay the membership
fee. They are not working,
and even if they are, their salaries don't cover even their basic
necessities. Additionally, many are fearful of traveling from one area to another.
With a larger database, more members can be helped. Usually, several
introductions are made before one is successful!
At the
present time, there are approximately twenty paying members and some
two hundred who cannot pay. Occasionally, people contribute, but
often, it is necessary to draw from the non-paying list to introduce
to those who do pay.
The Friendship Network,
therefore, is in dire need of monies for scholarships
for those without alternative resources. It is sinful to
deprive the very person who needs this service the most because
he/she has no money. However, without the requisite fee, present
expenses cannot be met. Currently, operations continue on a
shoestring budget.
Weekly, there
are between fifteen and twenty inquiries about the service. Of this
number, perhaps one or two can afford the fee or have family willing to pay. Until the year 2000, the Friendship Network operated
in two of Alice Cohen's bedrooms, without even basics. Thankfully,
NAMI Queens/Nassau came to the rescue and offered the use of a room
in their office. Although the Friendship Network's operation still
requires one bedroom in Alice's home, for nighttime use, having an
office has been a lifesaver. Alice and Berna work day and night,
seven days a week. Many members contact the Friendship Network at
night since they work during the daytime hours.
Although
Alice has directed the Friendship Network for the past thirteen years
and Berna has been associated with it for eleven, until this past
year, neither received any kind of remuneration. At the present
time, Alice receives a small salary, not commensurate with the hours
she works. Berna volunteers her time and energy.
Often,
Alice and Berna travel great distances to acquaint organizations
with the Friendship Network. They do not receive any remuneration
for these trips, either.
Psychiatrists,
psychologists and social workers continually refer their patients to
the Friendship Network. They believe the Friendship Network fulfills
a vital need by providing a socially interactive service to an often-ignored segment
of the population.
Aspirations
Statewide,
over the years, the Friendship Network has received numerous
inquiries from parents, friends and consumers regarding the
possibility of expanding its reach. With proper guidance and
sufficient funding, the Friendship Network's goal is to reach out
and touch as many lives as possible.
The
long-range plan of the Friendship Network is to facilitate its
members mainstreaming for friendships, employment and happiness.
To
become a member or to request more information contact Alice or
Berna by e-mail:
