Pre-registration is recommended for some programs. Please click the REGISTER ME link located below our program descriptions and reserve your space. Or call the NAMI Welcome Center at (262) 339-1235 and leave your name, phone number, and the name and date of the program you would like to attend.
NAMI Welcome Center Program Descriptions
All programs are held at 279 S. 17 th Ave., Ste 7, West Bend (enter parking lot off of Chestnut Street driveway)
Crafting Connections
This group appeals to adults who are newly diagnosed, or those who have been in recovery for a long time. The relaxed atmosphere encourages socialization to help begin building a support network. Peer-led art projects demonstrate how creativity can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and increase happiness.
Offered every Monday from 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Offered 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
For more information, email executivedirector@namiwashingtonwi.org or call the NAMI Welcome Center at (262) 339-1235 and leave a message.
Mindful Creativity Adult Art Therapy
Facilitated by a professional art therapist, art materials are used to help improve cognitive functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, and enhance social skills, to facilitate improved conflict resolution.
This program is on hold
Wellness Self-Management
This nationally recognized evidence-based program is for adults living with serious mental illness. Facilitated by peers, the curriculum is designed to assist adults in effectively managing serious mental health problems while leading productive lives.
Currently not being offered
R.I.S.E. Adult Support Group
Facilitated by Certified Peer Specialists, this weekly group is an open forum and welcomes adults living with mental illness to gather and share their experiences, celebrate their successes, offer an empathetic listening ear, share resources, and provide options and ideas for positively managing a mental illness, and achieving a daily over well-being and healthy lifestyle.
Offered weekly on Wednesdays from 5:30 – 6:45 pm
Let’s Connect Young Adult Support Group
Designed for young adults, ages 18 to 30, this is an open forum for discussion, building support networks, and encouraging community involvement. Topics may include interpersonal skills, relationship management, goal setting, and accessing additional resources to maintain recovery. The first Tuesday of the month will be focused on art activities. Monthly social outings (3rd Tuesday of each month) are offered free as part of this program.
Offered every Tuesday from 6:00-7:15 pm
Please contact Robin at (262) 707-0792 or robin.namiwashington@gmail.com for more information.
Hope Connections
The death of a loved one by suicide presents challenges with the grieving process. For adult survivors of suicide loss, this is a safe space to share loss, grieve, and receive support from those with similar experiences.
Offered twice monthly on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 – 7:45 pm
Please contact Suzanne at (262) 629-5187 or suzanne.namiwashington@gmail.
Teen Connections
Led by trained facilitators, this group is for teens who live with a diagnosed mental illness or suspect a mental
health condition.
This is a safe place for teens to talk with peers and trained facilitators about the challenges of managing their illness while trying to build a support network with other teens who are not affected by mental illness.
Offered every Thursday from 4:15 – 5:30 pm at the NAMI Welcome Center, 279 S. 17th Ave., Ste.7, West Bend (enter driveway off Chestnut Street)
Please contact Suzanne at (262) 629-5187 or suzanne.namiwashington@gmail.
Offered every Monday during the school year on a rotating schedule at Germantown HS (for Germantown HS teens) and West Bend High Schools (for West Bend HS teens)
Contact Stephanie (Germantown HS) at (262) 502-7121 for more information.
Contact Jamie (West Bend HS) at jthomas@wbsd-schools.org for more information.
NAMI Family Support Group
This group is not intended for the individual living with a mental illness but rather those who are caring for them. This open forum is an opportunity for parents and caregivers to build a support network, learn from others who are in similar situations, help others identify options for dealing with challenges, share resources, and learn about the importance of self-care.
Offered the THIRD Monday of the month from 7:00 – 8:30 pm at the NAMI Welcome Center, 279 S. 17 th Ave., Ste.7, West Bend (enter driveway off Chestnut Street)
Teen Art Expressions
Led by a licensed art therapist, teens use a variety of art materials as a means of self-expression. The process of using these materials to create a product helps teens gain self-awareness, build resiliency, share and talk through difficult emotions and learn how being creative is another valuable coping method.
Offered twice every Thursday
Session 1 – 4:15 – 5:30 pm for middle school teens who do not attend Teen Connections Support Group
Session 2 – 5:30 – 6:45 pm for high school teens and those who attend Teen Connections Support Group
Please contact Bethany at (262) 404-7883 or Bethany.namiwashington@gmail.com for more information or to register for this group.
NAMI Peer to Peer Education Class
This 8-session recovery-focused course is for young adults with mental health conditions. Each weekly meeting is two hours long and offers great resources on mental health and recovery. Weekly lessons build on the strengths and resilience of participants.
This course is currently not being offered. Please email executivedirector@
Arts & Craft Open Studio
This will be an opportunity for creativity and socialization. Participants will be able to use any of the art or craft supplies at NAMI WC to create their own work of art. There will be no peer facilitated project. Participants may bring in art projects or craft projects they are working on outside of the Welcome Center, however they may not leave them at NAMI WC between sessions as we do not have storage space for them.
The course is offered the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 12:30 – 2:00 pm. Please email executivedirector@
Community Education Program Descriptions
Offered throughout the year as scheduled. Please call (262) 339-1235 for more information.
NAMI Family & Friends Education Seminar
This 90-minute seminar is for people who have loved ones living with a mental health condition. Participants learn to understand diagnosis and recovery, effective communication strategies, the importance of self-care, crisis strategies, and what other community resources are available to support themselves and their loved one.
Please contact us at (262) 339-1235 to learn of the next offering of this seminar and to be placed on the waiting list.
NAMI Ending the Silence Education Program
The goal of this evidence-based program is to create a generation of students who are well-positioned to end the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness. This program is suitable for classroom presentation as well as community youth groups. There are similar programs designed for parents, school personnel and other organizations’ staff members. Contact programcoordinator@namiwashingtonwi.org for more information.
With the start of the 2022-23 school year, NAMI-WC has facilitated 8 years of Ending the Silence by going into health classrooms throughout Washington County. We reach approximately 1800 teens each school year.
NAMI Family-to-Family Education Class
This 8-week class is specifically for family members and caregivers of adults with mental illness. The team of teachers have had extensive NAMI training and have family members living with a serious mental illness. Through a variety of exercises, participants gain empathy, learn new techniques for problem-solving, and strengthen active listening skills. Participants acquire strategies for handling crises, learn methods for coping with anxiety, and receive guidance on locating supports within the community.
Please contact us to learn of the next class at (262) 339-1235 and to be placed on the waiting list.
Mental Health Chat
This program is a fun, interactive, high-energy presentation developed to bring awareness and provide education about mental illness to elementary students in the fourth grade. Program goals include educating students about mental illness, helping students understand that getting help for a mental illness is good, providing positive coping skills for dealing with strong emotions, and teaching students how to help themselves or a friend identify an adult they can talk to if feeling sad, depressed or anxious.
Q.P.R. Suicide Prevention Training Program
This 90-minute presentation familiarizes community members and professionals with the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. Class participants learn to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide, persuade the person to seek and accept help, and refer the person to appropriate resources. Trainees receive a QPR booklet and wallet card as a review and resource tool that includes local referral resources.
Offered the second Thursday of every month from 6:30 – 8:00 pm in person or via Zoom (participants are encouraged to arrive at 6:15 to complete required paperwork)
Also offered by appointment at your site in person or via Zoom. Call 262-339-1235 to arrange.
C.I.T - Crisis Intervention Training
Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is a program that provides the foundation necessary to promote community and statewide solutions to assist individuals with a mental illness and/or addictions. The CIT model reduces both stigma and the need for further involvement with the criminal justice system. NAMI Washington County facilitates this 40-hour training for law enforcement officers and other first responders in Washington County. The program creates connections between law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency services, other social service agencies, and individuals living with mental illness and their families. Through collaborative partnerships and intensive training, the CIT program improves communication, identifies resources for those in crisis, and ensures officer and community safety.
The next CIT Training is scheduled for October 10 – 14, 2022. For more information, email executivedirector@namiwashingtonwi.org
NAMI Programs OnDemand (available online)
NAMI Basics OnDemand (for parents and caregivers of elementary age children)
NAMI Basics OnDemand is a free, online, 6-session education program for parents, caregivers and other family who provide care for youth (ages 22 and younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms. The OnDemand program is guided by parents and family members with lived experience but is self-paced and available 24/7. OnDemand offers the flexibility of participating in the course on your schedule. This format provides information, strategies and the opportunity to connect with other parents and caregivers.
By participating in NAMI Basics OnDemand, you’ll realize that you are not alone. You’ll find support and shared understanding—compassion, reinforcement and empathy from people who truly get your situation. And don’t forget: Your experiences may also help others in the course. Together, you will all learn that recovery is a journey, and there is hope.
The course covers:
- The impact mental health conditions can have on your entire family
- Different types of mental health care professionals, available treatment options and therapies
- An overview of the public mental health care, school and juvenile justice systems and resources to help you navigate these systems
- How to advocate for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings
- How to prepare for and respond to crisis situations (self-harm, suicide attempts, etc.)
- The importance of taking care of yourself
What People Are Saying
“This is such a great step-by-step program that walks parents through every step. It’s as if they’re holding your hand through it all.”
“This class was unexpectedly wonderful! I did not expect to learn so very, very much! This program is well-written with excellent segues between topics. It covers so much more than BASICS—the title doesn’t do it justice.”
“I find it truly remarkable that this is free to those who are interested.”
Let’s Talk About Mental Illness (for parents/teachers of elementary school-age children)
A fun and engaging video made for elementary age kids to start the conversation about mental illness. After watching the video with your children or class, check out our free downloadable worksheets to continue learning about mental illness. You can find the videos and worksheets free to use on NAMI Wisconsin’s website at namiwisconsin.org/lets-talk-about-mental-illness
NAMI Homefront (for families, caregivers, & friends of military service members and vets)
NAMI Homefront is a free, 6-session educational program for families, caregivers and friends of military service members and vets with mental health conditions.
NAMI Homefront Mental Health Resources is a suite of online resources for military service members, veterans and their families! To register and learn more, visit: https://homefrontresources.nami.org
Learn more about NAMI Homefront
