Organization: NAMI ILLINOIS INC
Mission: ORGANIZE STATEWIDE EDUCATION, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.
Activities: TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. NAMI ILLINOIS IS THE DESIGNATED ENTITY TO PREPARE AND CERTIFY VOLUNTEER TRAINERS, FACILITATORS, AND TEACHERS WHO DELIVER NAMI SIGNATURE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. NAMI ILLINOIS DELIVERS PROPRIETARY CURRICULA AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO VOLUNTEERS FROM 20 LOCAL AFFILIATES, WHO DIRECTLY PROVIDED SERVICES TO 41,349 ILLINOISANS DURING THE 2019-20. IN ADDITION, NAMI ILLINOIS PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, DATA COLLECTION, AND OTHER SUPPORT TO ENSURE LOCAL AFFILIATES MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROGRAM QUALITY AND FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY. WHILE DIRECT SERVICE NUMBERS WERE AFFECTED BY COVID 19, NAMI ILLINOIS CATALYZED AND/OR SUPPORTED THE TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AND OTHER SPECIAL ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ISSUE ADVOCACY. NAMI ILLINOIS DIRECTLY PUBLISHES A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER CONTENT TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AFFECTING PEOPLE ACROSS ILLINOIS. IN ADDITION, NAMI ILLINOIS LEADERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PROGRAM CONTRACTORS REGULARLY SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE TO ENSURE THE NEEDS AND VOICES OF PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WITH DIRECT EXPERIENCE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE CONSIDERED IN MATTERS RELATED TO PUBLIC POLICY, SERVICE DELIVERY, AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE. EXAMPLES INCLUDE MEDIA APPEARANCES, INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS ORGANIZED WITH AFFILIATES AND PARTNER AGENCIES, AND PROVIDING ISSUE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TRAINING TO AFFILIATES AND VOLUNTEERS.
STATEWIDE CONFERENCE. NAMI ILLINOIS FACILITATES LEARNING AND COLLABORATION AMONG AFFILIATES, VOLUNTEERS, AND ANY INTERESTED ILLINOISANS AT AN ANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE. THIS CONFERENCE CONSISTENTLY DRAWS OVER 200 PARTICIPANTS, ATTRACTS PROMINENT NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, AND OFFERS 24+ WORKSHOPS THAT OFFER CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS TO A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL FIELDS. SPONSORSHIPS, GIFTS, AND DONATED SERVICES ENABLE NAMI ILLINOIS TO OFFER DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, ENSURING THESE IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND SHARE IDEAS AS ANY OTHER ILLINOISAN.
NTEE category: Mental Health & Crisis Intervention
Secondary category: Voluntary Health Associations & Medical Disciplines