Nami - Ventura County

Outreach programs(1)to provide support and education to families and persons affected by major mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, 2)advocate for persons with major illness in the community, in treatment settings and in jail, and advocate for legislation on the national, state, and local levels for quality treatment for those living with mental illness 3)educate the community about major mental illness in order to promote understanding and help remove the associated stigma and discrimination and 4)work for funding of research, housing, and improvement of treatment modalities for persons with major mental illness.

Education programs(1)family to family education course is a twelve week course for family members whose relative suffers from a mental illness. There is no cost to the participants taking the course. (2) spanish family to family education course is a twelve week course for the family members whose relatives suffers from a mental illness. The course is taught in the spanish language and is free of charge to the participants. (3)provider education course is a ten week course taught by Nami state trained instructors educating providers on all aspects of mental illness from the family and consumer perspective. (4)parents and teachers as allies is an in-service program for school professionals, teaching them about early warning signs of mental illness, intervention strategies, and available services.