Thank you for your interest in volunteering.
In 2021, NAMI WC’s 42 volunteers served our organization by contributing 2,257.75 hours to provide education,
support, advocacy, and awareness to individuals and families affected by mental illness. Won’t 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.
NAMI 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.
NAMI 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.
Support Group or Activity Group Facilitator
These positions are for adults living well with a mental illness. Facilitators will lead activity/support groups with the intention of creating an open, confidential environment where everyone in attendance feels comfortable participating at their own level and gains insight into managing their well-being with a mental illness.
Blanket Maker
Do you know how to make a fleece tie blanket, or would you like to learn? NAMI volunteers make personalized blankets for teens in who have experienced trauma or are in foster care. Along with the blanket, teens and their families get information on NAMI’s free teen and parent programs. NAMI supplies the material, pattern and directions to anyone willing to spend the time making these special items of comfort. This project could be done alone or with others at NAMI’s Welcome Center.
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.
For more information on these volunteer positions, such as training requirements and time commitments, please email executivedirector@namiwashingtonwi.org.
