NAMI Washington County is an affiliate of NAMI Minnesota. We are a non-profit organization run by volunteers and led by community input. Our goal is to support, educate, and advocate for community members who live with mental health symptoms that impact them, as well as their friends and family members. We serve all of the cities within the Washington County borders and are in a unique position to focus on the needs of our community at a local level. Volunteers of the NAMI Washington County affiliate meet on a monthly basis to share information and explore new ways to support our community.
Click here to learn more about the history of NAMI Minnesota!
Ongoing efforts of the affiliate:
- Assist planning, attend, and present to County CIT classes
- Assist planning, attend, and present to MN Dept of Corrections CIT classes
- Participate in ‘Local Advisory Council on Mental Health’ for Washington County
- Participate in ‘CONNECT Washington County’ consortium of youth serving agencies
- Participate in ‘Woodbury Thrives’ citizen led health initiative for mental health interests
- Partner with YSB, Make it OK, Suicide Prevention Collaborative and other agencies in public events and ‘tabling opportunities’
- Partner with NAMI St Croix (Wisconsin) for annual picnic event
- Operate Support Groups
- Provide Support for NAMI MN operated classes and presentations in the county
- Participate in Washington County Fair
- Provide material support for “crisis preparedness” with tri-fold cards
- Develop and maintain relationships with Sheriff’s Office, Mobile Crisis, Community Service, Public Health, County Commissioners and administration, etc.
Recent Highlights:
- Cohosted My Ascension screening + panel discussion (October)
- Hosted a booth at suicide prevention 5k (October)
- Hosted a booth at the Washington County Fair
- Restructured volunteer group to operate like a board
- Started a virtual Family Support Group so people who attended our in-person support groups can see some familiar, supportive faces. Register via HeyPeers.com.
- Co-hosted multiple local screenings and panel discussions of the documentary “Screenagers”, for families and youth
- Donated $4,000 to the National Alliance on Social Workers (NASW) to support their Diverse Workforce Initiative, which provides assistance for BIPOC social workers to obtain licensure and supervision as a Social Worker.