Learn more about NAMI Yakima

Serving Our Yakima Valley Communities with Mental Health Education, Support and Advocacy Services

Become a NAMI Yakima Member Today!

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Volunteer for NAMI Yakima!

NAMI Yakima is a group of mental health
peers, family members, friends, community partners
& other volunteers.

Our mission is to serve our members and our
Yakima Valley communities by providing family
and peer led mental health support,
education, and advocacy services.

NAMI Yakima has been in existence since 1981
and is a grassroots, volunteer-driven organization.

We are always in need of committed, passionate volunteers that want to make a difference! Here are a few of our current volunteer opportunities ...

Download your volunteer packet and application here!

Ongoing Volunteer Positions

Project Based Volunteer Jobs

Joining a NAMI Yakima Committee

Ongoing Volunteer Positions

Group Facilitator

NAMI Yakima support group facilitators are trained volunteers who provide facilitation services for the organization’s support groups. NAMI Yakima underwrites training costs and ongoing support needs for group facilitators.
Expectations of support group facilitators include:

Facilitators should be NAMI Yakima members

Facilitators should have some lived peer experience relative to leading a NAMI group – either as a family members, person with a mental illness, friend, or some combination thereof.

Reliability – Given the nature of leading a support group, facilitator reliability is a key component for success. Notify the Executive Director and/or other agency staff as soon as possible if unavailable for a given activity

A minimum one-year commitment to support group facilitation

A close, ongoing relationship with the Executive Director, other staff, or designated volunteers

Open, honest communication as to support group happenings, needs and related issues

Any records or information gathered in support group settings is the property if subject to strict confidentiality and is to be shared and when necessary, housed in the NAMI Yakima office.

The next group facilitator training is scheduled for Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 10am – 6pm. New group leaders should attend this training and/or demonstrate previous training or skills necessary to lead a NAMI Group.

Class Resource Person

NAMI Yakima Family to Family and Basics volunteers are family members or others endorsed by NAMI Yakima for the purpose of providing support and assistance to NAMI Yakima class facilitators and students. Both classes are educational opportunities for family members and mental health consumers taught in a variety of formats.
Expectations of Family to Family instructors include:

Reliability – A volunteer commitment to attend each session is a significant one, and reliability is essential. Notify the Executive Director and/or other agency staff as soon as possible if unavailable for a given activity.

A close, ongoing relationship with the Executive Director, other staff, or designated volunteers must be maintained

All contact and related information gathered from class participants is the property of NAMI Yakima and must be shared and housed accordingly. Family to Family instructors may not use contact information gathered in class for non NAMI Yakima purposes.

Strict confidentiality must be maintained.

Volunteer Coordinator

The NAMI Yakima Volunteer Coordinator works closely with the Executive Director and/or other NAMI Yakima staff to aid in the administration of the NAMI Yakima volunteer program.
Job duties and desired skill sets are likely to include:

Administrative and/or clerical support for NAMI Yakima volunteers
Assistance in the planning and implementation of volunteer schedules, projects, meeting and related events
Serving as a contact person and resource for NAMI Yakima volunteers
Assistance in planning and implementing volunteer recruitment and retention strategies
Other duties as assigned

The Volunteer Coordinator will report directly to the Executive Director and/or her/his designee. This position will encompass approximately 2-5 hours per week of volunteer time, and schedules may vary accordingly.

Office Assistant

The NAMI Yakima Office Assistant will provide administrative, clerical and related support to the Executive Director and/or other office staff.
Job duties and desired skill sets are likely to include:

Administrative and clerical support in the NAMI Yakima office – typing, filing, etc.
Phone reception, mailing and related tasks
Data entry through a variety of sources
Other duties as assigned

The Office Assistant will report directly to the Executive Director and/or her/his designee. This position will encompass approximately 5-10 hours per week of volunteer time, and schedules may vary accordingly.

Resource Librarian

The NAMI Yakima Resource Librarian aids in the acquisition and ongoing maintenance of the organization’s Resource Library, currently housed at the NAMI Yakima office. The library consists of books, videos, DVDs, brochures and related materials.

Job duties and desired skill sets are likely to include:

Research and recommendations as to new library acquisitions
Data entry and ongoing library maintenance tasks
Assistance in the planning and implementation of library systems
Other duties as assigned

The Resource Librarian will report directly to the Volunteer Coordinator. This position will encompass approximately 0-3 hours per week of volunteer time, and schedules may vary accordingly.

Project Based Volunteer Jobs

Mailing & Production Specialist

NAMI Yakima mailing and production specialist(s) will assist in the production, assembly and mailing of larger-scale NAMI Yakima publications. These may include agency newsletters, membership mailings, donation solicitations or other projects.
Job duties and desired skill sets are likely to include:

Sporadic availability for mailing assembly – folding, labeling, etc.
Other duties as assigned

The Mailing and Production specialist will report directly to the Volunteer Coordinator. This position will encompass approximately 0-3 hours per month of volunteer time, is likely to occur less than monthly, and schedules may vary accordingly.

Web Site Administrator

The NAMI Yakima Web Site Administrator will offer assistance in the design and ongoing maintenance of NAMI Yakima’s Internet presence at www.namiyakima.org. Related activities like Facebook pages, Twitter, blogs and other web-based resources are likely included here.

Ongoing maintenance and updates of web site information
Other web-based projects
Other duties as assigned

The Web Site Administrator will report directly to the Executive Director and/or her/his designee. This position will encompass approximately 5-20 hours per month of volunteer time, is likely to be carried out at a location other than the NAMI Yakima office, and schedules may vary accordingly.

On-Call Support Volunteer

The NAMI Yakima on-call support volunteer(s) will provide phone-based support services for NAMI Yakima’s outside-office-hours support system. Support volunteers sign up for calendar month coverage and agree to take calls as necessary.
Job duties and desired skill sets are likely to include:

Ability and willingness to carry a NAMI Yakima cell phone that serves as a reliable phone number for callers
A good working knowledge of NAMI Yakima, its services and related questions
Ability to utilize the resource box and other tools provided by NAMI Yakima to assist callers
Maintenance of a close, communicative relationship with the NAMI Yakima Volunteer Coordinator.
Providing and sharing NAMI Yakima all information gathered from support-based calls

On-Call Support Volunteers will report directly to the Volunteer Coordinator. This position will encompass approximately 0-3 hours per month of volunteer time, is likely to be carried out at a location other than the NAMI Yakima office, and schedules may vary accordingly.

2011 Walk for Wellness Volunteer

The second annual NAMI Yakima Walk for Wellness is scheduled for Sunday, May 15, 2011. We will need a variety of event volunteers that day.

Download your volunteer packet and application here!

Joining a NAMI Yakima Committee

NAMI Yakima relies on its committee members to give input and leadership about programs throughout the agency.

Download your committee packet and application here!

NAMI Yakima is a mission-driven organization that provides support, education and advocacy services. Committees are structured around that mission and operate to further those goals. The structure, policies and procedures outlined here are designed to better facilitate the process.

Committee Norms

Start and end meetings on time.
Attend committee meetings reliably. Attendance will be reflected in minutes – present, excused, not excused
Be well prepared for committee work. Bring your passion, ideas and solutions to the table.
No talking while others have the floor. Be respectful.
Respect the individual opinions of others – no personal attacks.
Minimize side talking.
Maintain confidentiality – nothing inappropriate leaves committee meetings.
Make decisions based on the best interests of NAMI Yakima – avoid personal bias and interest.
Have fun!

Committee Chair

Sets the tone - in accordance with NAMI Yakima’s mission, strategic plan and current goals – for committee work
Ensures that committee members have the information needed to do their jobs effectively
Oversees the logistics of committee operations – helps craft agendas, ensures that minutes are recorded and distributed, etc – in accordance with office staff
Submits an annual budget request – by March 1 of each calendar year – for inclusion in the next fiscal year’s budget
Reports to the Board President-Elect and the Executive Director
Works closely with the Executive Director, other staff and/or other volunteers
Assigns applicable tasks and projects to committee members and facilitates committee meetings
Plays a leading role committee’s annual self and agency evaluative processes

Support Committee

Is comprised of group facilitators, on-call support system volunteer, and other interested volunteers
Works to further and deepen NAMI Yakima’s capacity for community support services in peer led, culturally competent ways
Maintains oversight - through feedback and reporting - of the organization’s support group program, on-call support system, and other support-oriented NAMI Yakima programs
Reports directly to the NAMI Yakima Board President-Elect

Education Committee

Is comprised of a class instructors and other interested volunteers
Works to further and deepen NAMI Yakima’s capacity for community education services
Maintains oversight of the organization’s Family to Family and Basics curricula
Generates Community Education ideas and programming
Seeks new educational initiatives appropriate to NAMI Yakima’s mission
Reports directly to the NAMI Yakima Board President-Elect

Public Affairs & Advocacy Committee

Is comprised of volunteers with an interest in and/or expertise around mental health public policy and other advocacy-related issues
Monitors legislative issues applicable to local, state and national mental health issues
Plays a leading role in the planning and implementation of NAMI Family Education Day
Reports directly to the NAMI Yakima Board President-Elect

Funding Sustainability Committee

Is comprised of volunteers with expertise in fund development and related concerns
Meets sporadically to serve as an advisory arm to NAMI Yakima’s Board of Directors
Actively reviews and provides input to NAMI Yakima fund development programs

Walk for Wellness Steering Committee

NAMI Yakima holds its annual community education, awareness and fundraising Walk for Wellness each May. The 2011 event is scheduled for Sunday May 15th. The Steering Committee will meet from November through June of each calendar year in order to assist in planning and implementing this important event.

Download your committee packet and application here!