Education Free one-half day lectures by trained speakers, knowledgeable on specific mental health issues, are provided quarterly to educate families and the public. NAMI Orange County plans various seminars with plenary speakers and questions and answer workshops to fully cover important mental health issues. In our School Outreach program, trained family volunteers provide lessons in the classroom to help junior high and high school students identify the symptoms and treatments of mental illnesses and their impact on society. The Public Awareness Program provides NAMI Orange County speakers and information tables as another outreach to the community at large. Consumer Services We provide clothing to needy mentally ill individuals in hospitals and board and care homes and Holiday Bags.
Volunteers provide arts and crafts workshops in some board and care homes.
Volunteers and some paid work opportunities are available to consumers. The ESSA Project stand for Emotional Support Service Animals. This program has been formed to help people with mental illness become aware of their rights with a Service Animal. Helping them obtain the documentation for landlords, provide the education and to provide consultation if or when discrimination is made to that person. We also hope to accomplish an educational workshop for the benefit of the community members in an attempt to de-stigmatize the mental health views held by others and our rights to have a service animal in all public places.