National Alliance On Mental Illness

THE ROLE OF PEER & FAMILY SUPPORT IN MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY - THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF NEW YORK CITY’S (NAMI-NYC’S) PROJECT, THE ROLE OF PEER & FAMILY SUPPORT IN MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY, WILL PROVIDE PEER-BASED CULTURALLY AND AGE-APPROPRIATE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO 1,500 INDIVIDUALS IN NEW YORK CITY LIVING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI) AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS/CAREGIVERS AND FRIENDS. NAMI-NYC’S PROGRAMS ARE TARGETED TO INDIVIDUALS AGED 13 TO 55+ AND STAND APART BECAUSE THEY ARE LED BOTH FOR AND BY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY SMI. IN ADDITION, THESE PROGRAMS ARE FREE OF CHARGE REGARDLESS OF ONE’S INCOME, INSURANCE, OR IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND NAMI-NYC DOES NOT REQUIRE PARTICIPANTS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS. THIS MODEL HELPS TO BREAK DOWN THE HISTORICAL BARRIERS-TO-ENTRY THAT MANY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE WHEN SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, SUCH AS RACISM, DISCRIMINATION, STIGMATIZATION OF SMI, AND MISTRUST OF THE U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. THE PRIMARY PROJECT GOAL IS TO INCREASE NAMI-NYC’S VISIBILITY WITHIN THE CITY’S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY ARE MADE AWARE OF AND HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE. FUNDING WILL ENABLE NAMI-NYC TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF ITS HELPLINE, CLASSES, SUPPORT GROUPS, FAMILY MATCH PROGRAM, PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENTS, COMMUNITY-BASED PRESENTATIONS (IN OUR OWN VOICE) AND SCHOOL-BASED PRESENTATIONS (ENDING THE SILENCE). NAMI-NYC WILL ALSO EXPAND ITS PROGRAMMING TO REACH MORE INDIVIDUALS IN UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CLASSES AND/OR SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED IN SPANISH AND MANDARIN AS WELL AS ADD PROGRAMMING TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE BIPOC AND LGBTQ COMMUNITIES.

NAMI CLACKAMAS AND MULTNOMAH MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS GRANT

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES - NAMI ALBUQUERQUE EXPANSION - THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) ALBUQUERQUE WILL IMPLEMENT A CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECT TO EXPAND ITS EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND INCORPORATE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SUPPORT ACROSS THE ALBUQUERQUE METROPOLITAN AREA, INCLUDING BERNALILLO, SANDOVAL, TORRANCE, AND VALENCIA COUNTIES. NAMI SIGNATURE CLASSES, PRESENTATIONS, AND SUPPORT GROUPS, DEVELOPED BY CLINICAL AND PEDAGOGICAL PROFESSIONALS THROUGH NAMI NATIONAL AND RECOGNIZED AS EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, WILL BE EXPANDED TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS. BECAUSE ALL PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE, THE PROJECT REMOVES FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS. GOALS INCLUDE EXPANDING EVIDENCE-BASED AND SPECIALIZED PROGRAM OFFERINGS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH STRUCTURED OUTREACH. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE LAUNCHING A DEDICATED CO-OCCURRING SUPPORT GROUP, LAUNCHING THE NAMI HOMEFRONT PROGRAM FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES, TRAINING ADDITIONAL FAMILY AND PEER FACILITATORS, AND INCREASING COMMUNITY OUTREACH BY 100% OVER THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR BASELINE. THE PROJECT EXPECTS TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AT OVER 50 EVENTS AND REACH APPROXIMATELY 100 PEOPLE THROUGH FAMILY AND FRIENDS PRESENTATIONS DURING THE GRANT PERIOD.