DATE: Thursday, October 16, 1997            TAG: 9710160002

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B14  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:   40 lines

CITIZENS HELPING CITIZENS LIFELINE CONFERENCE

About 300-400 people are expected to show up Saturday for the third-annual Citizens Helping Citizens Conference at Norfolk's Booker T. Washington High School. Any Norfolk resident wondering where to obtain help for the mentally retarded, the mentally ill, substance abusers or the homeless could gain enlightenment there.

The conference bears an encouraging message: assistance abounds for those suffering mental retardation or illness, addiction or misfortune. The 25-year-old Norfolk Community Services Board sponsors the event. With its $14.3 million annual budget, the agency manages 7,000 cases a year and fields about 15,000 calls for information, guidance and help.

The Community Services Board runs its own aid programs, such as the Hospitality Center, whose mission is to help people impaired by mental illnesses, mental retardation or substance abuse to enter or rejoin the work force. That effort is often frustrated by a shortfall in jobs and housing for the afflicted or those overcoming afflictions.

Nonetheless, an extensive network of public and private helping services exists. Citizens Helping Citizens aims to acquaint the community with them. On Saturday's daylong conference schedule are training workshops offering in-depth information about homelessness, mental retardation, mental illness and substance abuse plus a workshop on the ``African-American Church and Mental Health Activities.''

Norfolk State University President Marie V. McDemmond is keynote speaker. Representatives of churches, public schools, human-service and health-care agencies, the Navy, civic leagues, soup kitchens, employers, youth groups, job-training programs and CSB clients will attend.

Also on hand will be residents seeking to learn about the many programs in place to deal with challenges spotlighted by the conference.

Citizens Helping Citizens is a lifeline. The Community Services Board hopes that many will grab it.

For information about the conference, call the Norfolk CSB at 441-5300.

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