About Nami Wood County
What is NAMI?
National Alliance on Mental Illness
"NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need."
- nami.org
More importantly, we are your local contact for information on mental illness. We provide education, support and advocacy for people living with a mental illness, the family and friends that support them, and the Wood County community. Browse our programs or contact us to find something to suit your needs.
Our mission is to offer help and hope to families and individuals affected by mental illness through support, education, and advocacy.
History
In the late 1980’s, a group of concerned families requested information and education about mental illnesses. The local treatment agency that helped was Wood County Mental Health Center (The Clinic). The agency cared for individuals who were living with severe mental illness. The families desired education to assist their loved ones most appropriately. The Clinic presented a class on medications, treatment options and ways to cope. From the individuals that participated, a group of people emerged. They founded an affiliate with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Throughout the 1990’s, group members attended state and national conferences, trained to teach the Family to Family education classes, and provided regular family support and education to the community. For 18 years, NAMI Wood County grew in the community with members serving on the Wood County ADAMHS Board and other local agency boards.
The need for NAMI was great
But coordinating all the programs was difficult. For instance, volunteers had limited time. In April 2007, the Wood County Alcohol Drug Addiction Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board granted funding for fiscal year 2008 and supplied immediate funding. The group could now initiate the establishment of an office and begin hiring a part-time executive director. In June 2007, NAMI Wood County held an open house to increase publicity and spark new interest.
Where we are now
We are now staffed with both full-time and part-time staff as well as volunteers and interns. We now provide a host of mental illness awareness programs and services: regular peer support group meetings, family support meetings, free educational classes, seminars offering continuing education units, and daily availability of phone contact for information and referral. New services and members are being added as we continue to grow.
Our Impact