Volunteer Opportunities
We’re looking for more volunteers to help us provide education, support, advocacy, and awareness to individuals and families affected by mental illness — and we’d love to have you join us!
NAMI Family-to-Family Teacher
Co-leads the NAMI Family-to-Family education course, which is a free, 8-session educational program for family members, significant others, and friends of people living with mental health illness. The course is designed to facilitate a better understanding of mental health illness, increase coping skills, and empower participants to become advocates for their family members. This is an evidence-based program.
Ending the Silence Lead Facilitator or Young Adult Speaker
Speak to students in middle school classrooms and high school classrooms throughout Washington County as part of a national effort to help break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The need is for adult lead facilitators who will provide educational material about mental illness, signs and symptoms, community resources, suicide, and how to help someone who may be dealing with a mental illness. In addition, we need young adults ages 18-35 years of age who are living well with a mental illness to share the story of their journey with mental illness from onset of symptoms until current day.
Family Support Group Facilitator
Facilitates support group for adult family members of individuals with mental illness. Topics include community resources, personal experiences, coping methods, and support from others who are dealing with like challenges.
Teen Connections Group Co-Facilitator
This is a lead support group co-facilitator role. Groups typically meet one day per week for 1.25 hours. Co-facilitators are responsible for ensuring group format follows NAMI Wisconsin training, ensuring group members understand the purpose and rules for the group, offering options and support to teens sharing within the group, and ensuring all enrollment forms and attendance sheets are turned in following the group session.
Adult Support Group or Activity Group Facilitator
This is a lead support group co-facilitator role. We are in special need of someone willing to facilitate an adult support group for those living with a mental health condition. Groups typically meet one day per week for 1.25 hours or every other week for 1.25 hours. As a lead facilitator, position is responsible for ensuring group format follows NAMI Wisconsin training; ensuring group members understand the purpose and rules for the group; offering options and support to peers sharing with in the group; and ensuring all enrollment forms and attendance sheets are turned in following the group session. All training is supplied by NAMI Washington County.
Second or Substitute Group Facilitator
This position acts as the second facilitator or substitute second group facilitator on-site for support groups, activity groups, or drop-in hours. This position is contacted for scheduled as well as unscheduled absences.
Blanket Maker
Do you know how to make a fleece tie blanket, or would you like to learn? NAMI Washington County volunteers make personalized blankets for teens who have experienced trauma or are in foster care. Along with the blanket, teens and their families get information on NAMI-WC’s free teen and parent programs. NAMI-WC supplies the space and directions to anyone willing to spend the time making these special items of comfort. This project could be done alone or with others.
Welcome Center Ambassador
Ambassadors are responsible for opening and closing the center, greeting guests, providing direction, and collecting enrollment and attendance paperwork. The ambassador helps orient new guests to the center, introduces them to other guests and checks in with guests to make sure they are finding activity materials and socialization opportunities. The person in this role should be comfortable interacting with individuals affected by various mental illnesses.