About Us
NAMI Sonoma County (NAMI SC), an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a grassroots, family and consumer self-help organization.
Worth Magazine recently ranked NAMI in its "Top 100 Charities Most Likely to Change the World".
Mission
The mission of NAMI Sonoma County is to provide education, support and advocacy for all people affected by mental health challenges.
Vision
NAMI Sonoma County collaborates with community partners to increase public and professional awareness of mental health challenges and eliminate stigma. We strive to positively impact mental health systems, provide direct support and educational services, and offer hope to families and individuals living with mental illnesses.
Board of Directors and Sonoma County Staff
Link to NAMI's Board of Directors and Sonoma County Staff
2011 Financial Overview
Link to NAMI'S 2011 Budget Overview
Overview and History
NAMI Sonoma County is an affiliate of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and of NAMI California. We were founded over 25 years ago. We operate as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit organization in Sonoma County. Our nonprofit tax number is 68-0041644. NAMI Sonoma County's membership includes people with mental health challenges; their family members, relatives, friends, partners and caregivers; mental health professionals; and all who share NAMI's vision and mission.
NAMI was founded in 1979 by 254 caring people and now has grown to more than 210,000 members in over 1,200 affiliate groups in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam. NAMI is getting stronger every day.
NAMI Sonoma County offers understanding, support, education and advocacy to anyone concerned about mental illness. We work with public agencies, private businesses and the media to increase knowledge and awareness, while advocating for improved services in the field.
NAMI Sonoma County engages in the following:
- Maintains a speakers' bureau of clients, family members and advocates.
- Conducts monthly education and advocacy meetings that address a wide range of topics; including research, medications, financial planning, disability benefits, and recovery.
- Publishes a monthly newsletter with news from our community and from both state and national.
- Provides community presentations and representation at health fairs and community events.
- Holds large community education events to increase understanding and reduce stigma. We have featured authors, films, art events, lectures and physicians.
Our Strategic Plan
NAMI Sonoma County must represent the community in which we exist. Achieving a diversity that genuinely reflects the community requires purposeful effort, including seeking and identifying emerging leaders, membership recruitment and retention efforts, and development of culturally appropriate resources and materials. In speaking of diversity, we include race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, families with children with a serious mental illness, and the unique needs of rural communities. We will pay particular attention to providing culturally competent and linguistically appropriate programs and resources in African-American, Asian-American/ Pacific Islander, Native American, and Hispanic/Latino communities.
