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NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is 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 raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need.

Our collaborative partnership with the local NAMI chapter spans many years and includes joining forces on advocacy and prevention efforts, grant writing, treatment referrals, program development and community-wide strategic planning initiatives that have greatly impacted the one in four families in our community we jointly serve.

In recent years, this successful community partnership has produced some amazing results including having a Certified Peer Specialist employed by NAMI on the Crisis Stabilization Unit; the successful submission of two grants resulting in the development of the Collier Health Under Guided Systems program and the Collier Forensic Intensive Reintegration Support Team; the development of Crisis Intervention Training; and successfully advocating to stop state budget cuts during last year’s legislative session.

To show our support and commitment to this partnership, a David Lawrence Centers team made up of nearly 40 employees, their family members and our supporters walked in their 10th Annual Fundraising Walk held in April which also celebrated their 25 years of changing minds and changing lives in Collier County.