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NAMI DuPage Named Outstanding Local Affiliate of 2007

NAMI DuPage has been named Outstanding Local Affiliate of 2007 by the 1200-chapter strong National Alliance on Mental Illness, based in Washington D.C.

The award presented at the NAMI National Convention in San Diego (June 23, 2007) recognizes exemplary efforts to achieve NAMI’s goals on the local level.

NAMI DuPage was impressive on several fronts, according to the NAMI National Board of Directors:

• "The leaders and members of this affiliate deserve commendation for their development of programs for children and their educational efforts in local schools;
• for their educational efforts to faith communities and law enforcement officials;
• and for the wealth of information available to consumers, families, and the general public on their Web site."

"NAMI of DuPage County has also undertaken successful efforts for consumer inclusion on a broad scale in all their activities," the national board concluded.

NAMI DuPage is a grass roots organization, funded primarily by individual donations and supported by volunteers with first-hand experience as caregivers.

Donations are supplemented by two annual benefits: "NAMI In Bloom," a Spring luncheon and "Run For The Mind," a 10k/5k walk and run held each Fall. The 2007 "Run" is slated for Saturday, September 29, at Danada Woods in Wheaton.

NAMI DuPage also sponsors a lecture during Mental Illness Awareness Week in October.  This year, award-winning author Pete Earley will discuss his book: “Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Madness,” an investigation of conflict between people with mental illnesses and our justice system.

NAMI DuPage was formed 23 years ago by parents who could not find needed services for their children diagnosed with a mental illness or brain disorder. Today, it serves over 5,000 residents a year with programs ranging from a 12-week family education course, to on-going support groups for parents and family members of children and adults with mental illness, to vocational training and information regarding residential options for consumers. All of NAMI’s services are free of charge.

“One in four American families is dealing with serious mental illness,” says NAMI DuPage Executive Director Mary Lou Lowry. “The statistic is higher than that for cancer, yet mental illness remains a disease that too often is misunderstood, denied, hidden or spoken about only behind closed doors.”

“The toll of untreated or under-serviced mental illness is taken not only on individual families, but on business, the community and the entire fabric of our society”, Lowry said. “What we do to improve the lives of individuals with mental illness benefits us all.”

NAMI DuPage owns three group homes in Naperville, Glen Ellyn and Winfield, operated in cooperation with the DuPage County Health Department and New Beginnings, Inc.

Vocational programs include Parkview Catering and the Encore Resale Shop and Annex in downtown Wheaton.  Encore is celebrating its tenth anniversary and the opening of the furniture Annex this year. At Encore, consumers mentored by NAMI volunteers learn real-world business skills on the job, including sales and customer service, management and operations.  Encore profits are put back into NAMI programs.

Six times a year, NAMI offers Family to Family courses taught by trained volunteers with hands-on experience.  Class sites are in Wheaton and Naperville.  A Family Support group meets two evenings a month and a Parent Support group meets one evening a month.

For more information or to volunteer your services, contact NAMI DuPage at (630) 752-0066 or e-mail resource@namidupage.org.

NAMI DuPage is located at 2100 Manchester Road, Building B, Suite 925 in Wheaton, IL, 60187.  The Encore Shop and Annex are located at 207 W. Front Street, Wheaton, IL.