Nami Illinois Inc

Programs: Nami illinois is the primary entity to certify state trainers for all state mental health signature programs and support groups that then work to train local nami affiliates, and provide them additional resources and technical assistance. In addition, nami illinois provides capacity building, membership engagement and retention, marketing and communication, and nami national policy adherence to the 21 affiliates located across illinois . We provide help especially to smaller affiliates and rural affiliates with fewer resources and less organizational capacity. Nami il has three overarching goals: 1) advocate--bring the need of persons with mental illness and their families to the attention of legislators, service providers, medical staff, and the general public, while protecting the rights of persons living with mental illness and pressing for added community support services; 2) support--focuses on family-to-family and consumer-to-consumer support and interaction through support group meetings, and peer- based recovery support; 3) educate--nami provides training and educational materials for families, persons with mental illness and professionals. Nami il offers all programs and services at no cost to the participant. The most accessed peer support training programs include: 1) family to family- a 12 week course for family caregivers of adult individuals with severe mental illnesses. 2) nami basics for parents - a 6 week educational course for parents/caregivers of school age children - grade through high school. And 3) peer-to-peer - a 10 week course taught by trained mentors and people living with mental illness to provide a unique, experiential learning program for people with any serious mental illness who are interested in establishing and maintaining their wellness and recovery. In addition to training programs, nami illinois provides on-going peer support including: connection recovery support groups (for adults recovering from mental illnesses who can talk with others to share coping strategies and insights in an encouraging and supportive environment), family support groups, and parent support groups. Our newest and fasting growing program is ending the silence -- a free classroom presentation that educates students on the signs and symptoms of mental illness, the importance of early detection and treatment, and how to help themselves or their friends. Some highlights of nami illinois' accomplishments this past year: nami illinois trained and certified 150 illinois department of corrections (doc) staff that then trained the entire doc staff of over 11,500 in the nami illinois mental illness awareness curriculum. Nami illinois trained over 100 teachers and facilitators for nami family to family, nami basics, nami connection, family support group in our own voice and other nami signature programs. Nami illinois sent six individuals to arlington, va in april to become state trainers in various nami signature programs. A new namiillinois. Org website launched, with a state map guiding users to local resources. The annual nami illinois state conference was held, drawing hundreds of attendees from across the state who learn about innovative programming and best practices in mental health. Responded to thousands of calls from people affected by mental illness and offer them the support and resources needed. Nami signature programs served over 33,000 individuals across the state of illinois. The number of participants served in the family to family program in illinois increased by 46% from fy16 to fy17 and participants in the family support group increased by 107% from fy16 to fy17.

annual conference