NAMI of Washington County

NAMI of Washington County (Oregon) is a non-profit and volunteer-based service organization.

NAMI is dedicated to providing support, education and advocacy for consumers, families, and friends of people with severe and persistent mental illnesses. This includes illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.

Saturday, July 4, 2009
"Famous Faces of Mental Health"

Cheerleaders — that describes the kind of volunteer spirit NAMI is looking for to be part of our presentation in the Hillsboro parade on July 4. We plan to replicate our very popular theme, "Famous Faces of Mental Health" which drew high fives, thumbs ups, loud applause, waves, and whistles along the parade route in 2008.

Volunteers may sign up to be riders or walkers. Rider will sit on bales of straw on the truck, hold posters, and smile and wave to the crowds. Ten riders are needed. Walkers (three on each side of the truck) are needed to distribute NAMI leaflets and flyers along the parade route. Three young people are needed to pull the Candy Wagon and toss candy to the crowd.

Donations of individually wrapped candies are being solicited from everyone. There is a bin at NAMI for your donation. Let's fill that bin!

Call (503) 356-6835 to sign up.

Seeking Board of Directors & Advisory Board Members

In addition to felling the remaining seats on the Board of Directors, Board members are actively recruiting member for NAMI's Advisory Board. Candidate for the Advisory Board are persons with experience, broad contracts, and name recognition who support NAMI, but who's existing commitments preclude meetings and other involvements. What we need is the benefit of their advice in their areas of expertise. You can direct your suggestions to any current Board member (see names on the 'who we are' page) or the current Executive Director.

New Computer Center

Step into the Volunteer Room and take a look at our new Computer Center! The computers, which were donated by FreeGeek, are up and running. They are available to consumers, members, and volunteers to assist them in job searches, looking up information, designing their own web pages, checking email, etc. NAMI will be posting hours for their use, as well as courtesy guidelines that govern their use.

Volunteer Outreach extends to include Saturdays
F2F Graduates wanted

We have added to our volunteer outreach at St. Vincent's Hospital. On Saturday afternoons from 1:00 - 1: 30 PM, NAMI volunteers attend the Outpatient Treatment Family Group to let family members of persons in treatment there hear about NAMI's Family-to-Family classes and Support Groups.

The role of the NAMI volunteers, who must have graduated from a Family-to-Family class, is to share enthusiastically the benefits they, themselves, have gained from the training and encourage members in the St. Vincent's group to consider enrolling in F2F classes.

The volunteers also describe our support groups and distribute our flyers about both the training and the support groups. Feedback from St. Vincent's staff has been 100% positive and enthusiastic.

Anyone interested in participating in this outreach opportunity should call Polly at (503) 356-6835. Thirty minutes once or twice a month - where would you ever be able to do so much good for others in so little time!