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NAMI Eastside 

Description

NAMI Eastside is a grass-roots community-based non-profit organization that provides services that focus on the concerns of local individuals with brain disorders and their families. People that utilize our services are family members and friends, and individuals with a mental illness. We provide monthly educational forums, support groups, classes for family members and those with a brain disease, a library, newsletter, information and referral service, all of which are free and open to public. We function under the precepts that together we can give each other strong support; the illness is treatable; it's not anyone's fault; you don't need to explain anything--we already know; you can survive as an intact family; and with dedication and unity, we have enormous strength through which we can accomplish constructive change.

Mission Statement
Our mission is to advocate for effective diagnosis, treatment, support, research and recovery that improves the quality of life of persons of all ages who are affected by mental illness. We do this by providing support, education and advocacy for individuals and families in East King County.

All of our programs and services are free and open to the public.
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NAMI Eastside
Together Center 
Redmond 
WA
98052 
(425) 885-6264 

Barbara Thompson 
Executive Director 

Programs

NAMI Eastside Programs

Our support groups and classes provide an opportunity to share coping strategies and insights, as well as problems and concerns with others. NAMI Eastside hosts 6 support groups for family members which meet once each month.  Groups are located in Bellevue (near Factoria), Issaquah, Redmond, and Kirkland (two at Fairfax Hospital). We have two groups for family members and individuals with a mental illness; one group is for Spanish speakers. The other, Mental Health and Spirituality meets twice each month in Bothell.

We also offer support groups for individuals with a brain disease. "NAMI Connections" meets every Wednesday at the Together Center in Redmond, every Friday at the City of Snoqualmie Fire Department and on the first and third Wednesday at the Newport Hills Fire Station #9. We have a group for young people, ages 18-30 that meets monthly.       

Our "Family-to-Family" class is the best thing that NAMI does. It is a free 12 week class for family members of people impacted by mental illness. We also offer a class for parents of young children with an illness and a class for adults with a mental illness. The courses include accurate, up-to-date information about brain disorders, treatment modalities and medications as well as information about local crisis and mental health services and support groups.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Our annual children's conference was held in March of 2013. More than 200 family members, educators, and clinicians attended. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Dan Reidenberg of SAVE.  We also offered Q&A panels of experts in 8 different areas related to mental illness in children.  Each participant could attend two. The program was free.

Like other human service agencies NAMI Eastside is struggling with a loss of city and county funds as we try to meet the needs of Eastside residents. One family in four is affected by mental illness and the additional struggle people face as a result of the economic crisis only exacerbates an already serious problem. We need sustainable funding so that necessary programs can be established and maintained.

Evaluation

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/22/2007 $25,000.00support general operating expenses of HERO House.

Financials

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