Nami Washington

Education: nami washington offers an array of peer education and training programs and services for individuals living with a mental health condition, family members/caregivers of people living with a mental health condition, providers and the general public at no cost to participants. These education opportunities provide critical information and support not found elsewhere in the mental health and addiction system. These programs draw on the lived experience of people living with a mental health condition and family members/caregivers who have been extensively trained in nami's signature education program to help others through these programs. Nami washington holds teacher, facilitator, and presenter trainings for its core education and support group programs: connection recovery support group, family support group, peer to peer class, family to family class, basics class for parents with young children, homefront class for family member/caregivers of active duty military of veterans, provider education presentation program for frontline workers, ending the silence presentation for middle/high school students; parents; educators, and in our own voice presentation program for any group interested in hearing from a person living with a mental health condition in recovery. Staff and volunteers also field information and referral calls from individuals and families about treatment and support services in their local communities across washington.

Advocacy: nami washington is the largest membership-based mental health organization in the state of washington and is recognized as the leading voice on mental health issues among state lawmakers and among local mental health policymakers across the state. Nami advocates continue to fight for policy changes and health care transformation that raises the bar on mental health treatment and support services which promote recovery and timely access to services and supports, reduce barriers to effective treatment, and preserve families and communities. Nami's grassroots advocates and volunteers are active with their state legislators, informing them of positive developments in the mental health system and advocating for improvements that will lead to more positive mental health and health care outcomes. They also advocate with local mental health authorities, county commissioners, city leaders, law enforcement and first responders, and others in local communities across the state.