Programs
NAMI educational programs
NAMI Educational Programs
Sign up for local NAMI sponsored educational sessions and courses at no cost for families, peers, and for any person with serious mental illness who wants to recover and maintain their recovery.
A no-cost, 12 class course for families, partners, and friends of individuals with serious mental illness. (Available in Spanish/Disponible en español)
A no-cost, 8 class, peer-led recovery education course open to any person with serious mental illness.
(Available in Spanish/Disponible en español)
A no-cost, 50 minute presentation designed to give students an opportunity to learn about mental illness through discussion and short videos.
If interested, please contact Maria Mendoza at mmendoza@namisa.org.
A no-cost, 6 class education program developed specifically for caregivers of children and adolescents who have either been diagnosed with serious mental illness/serious emotional disturbance or are experiencing symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed.
What is NAMI FaithNet?
NAMIFaithNet is a program that supports faith communities who want to develop a mental health ministry or simply educate their clergy, staff and congregations about mental illness and available community resources.
What can NAMI FaithNet do for your faith community?
* Initiate a mental health ministry to educate congregations and to welcome and support persons and families living with mental illness.
*Present educational sessions on mental illness and the vital role spirituality plays in recovery.
*Provide information about community mental health resources.
*Provide a NAMI resource table for your health or community event.
*Collaborate with your faith community during the annual Mental Illness Awareness Week and our Community Walk for Mental Illness- NAMIWalks.
Train persons in your congregation to provide caring support to person with a mental illness and their families through prayer, hospital and home visits, support groups, and inclusion in worship and other social activities.
NAMI Southern Arizona’s Training Programs
The overall goals for NAMI Southern Arizona’s training programs are to ensure that members of the
community who are interested in a career in the mental health field are given ample opportunities to achieve
their individual goals. These programs allow NAMI Southern Arizona to educate, advocate, support and implement NAMI’s mission to improve the quality of life for all those affected by mental illness.
We currently have two signature trainings and Peer Mentor training.
PEER MENTOR TRAINING
Upon successful completion of our 8-class Peer-to-Peer education course, participants have the opportunity to apply for our three-day Peer Mentor training. This training demonstrates how to co-facilitate a Peer-to-Peer class as a mentor, allowing participants to come full circle and view the Peer-to-Peer class from multiple perspectives. This is the second phase required toward becoming a certified Peer Support Specialist.
PEER SPECIALIST TRAINING
After completing the Peer Mentor training participants have the option to become certified as Peer Support Specialist. This training prepares participants to be better equipped to acquire a job in the behavioral health field. This training lasts for three full days. To become state certified, participants will complete 64 clock hours of cumulative training, which includes completion of the Peer-to-Peer class; Peer Mentor training; and Peer Support Specialist training. Upon completion of all three training opportunities, participants receive a state certified identification number provided by Cenpatico Integrated Care.
What is Heart to Heart?
Heart to Heart is an organization of volunteers that are dedicated to helping people with serious mental illness live fuller, happier lives.
Becoming a Heart to Heart Volunteer
As a Heart to Heart volunteer, you have the opportunity to become a friend to someone with whom you can go shopping, to the library, a movie or to the park for a few hours of trusting companionship each week.
What are the benefits of becoming a Heart to Heart volunteer?
- Through the simple action of friendship you can help someone,whose illness has limited their options, to lead a more fulfilling life.
- You will learn about serious mental illnesses and the challenges of the people who live with these disorders.
- Inspiring people, whose lives may be limited to their participation in their mental health treatment, to become more productive and better integrated into our community.
- You will discover your own ability to understand and empathize with the needs and problems of others.
- Discovering the opportunity to be a friend to someone special.
For more information on this program, please contact:
Lollie Butler
lbutler@namisa.org
(520) 622-5582
Heart to Heart bridges the gap between the community at large and the population of people living with a mental illness by matching trained volunteers with people who are living with these disorders; individuals with a mental illness, who might otherwise find themselves on the outskirts of society, forgotten and lonely. They begin their integration back to society with the help of Heart to Heart volunteers.
Advocacy
Our Advocates serve both people with mental illness and family members. Additionally, advocates assist professionals, students, or other individuals from the community seeking information.
All information shared between Clients and NAMI of Southern Arizona Advocates is kept CONFIDENTIAL unless the Client signs a Release of Information form to have all or certain information released to the specified parties.
Make sure to ask for an Advocate when calling in. Advocates do not attempt to act in place of the professionals with whom our clients work with. If NAMI of Southern Arizona cannot assist an individual within the context of our mission, an advocate will always attempt to make an appropriate referral for the individual.