Affiliate Development

"NAMI North Carolina is being recognized for its long-standing status as a leader and innovator among NAMI’s state organizations. The Affiliate Tool Kit developed by NAMI North Carolina has been adopted nationally and has been proven to be an invaluable tool for preparing affiliates for leadership." Dr. Fred Frese, National NAMI Vice-President, officially informing NAMI North Carolina of its award as Outstanding State Organization, March 30, 2000.

The strength of NAMI North Carolina – indeed, the backbone of the entire National Alliance on Mental Illness across the country – is in the local affiliates. In North Carolina there were 30 such affiliates as of August 1, 2001, plus several more in development. They range in size from as few as five members (the minimum membership to be recognized as an affiliate by the national NAMI Board) to over 100 members in the chapters serving North Carolina’s larger cities. Some are brand new, some older than NAMI North Carolina (formed as a state organization in 1984).

Why are these local affiliates so important? It is here that persons with mental illness and their families find the education and support that is so important. Affiliates include both long-time members who have "been there and done that" and new members who desperately need to learn about their illness or their loved ones’ illness. These new members need to rub elbows with the "veterans" to know that they are not alone and to learn that there is hope.

Your contribution to NAMI North Carolina supports the development of new affiliates and the growth of current chapters as well. NAMI North Carolina has developed a written Affiliate Tool Kit: Resources for Organizing and Operating Your Affiliate, which has been shared with national NAMI and other State chapters. The Tool Kit has received high praise from those in North Carolina who have used it to get started, and from staffs in other states. Our Affiliate Services Director, himself a former local affiliate president, provides workshops for small groups in communities trying to start affiliates, and workshops for existing affiliates needing reorganization or upgrading.

NAMI North Carolina also provides funding for local affiliates through a small grant program. Fifteen grants in the last three years have helped with: fees for legal incorporation and applications for non-profit status; brochures and advertising; help with programs such as police training and in-school anti-stigma presentations; and such "basics" as rental of a post office box and listing in the local Yellow Pages.

Much more is needed, and you can help! Many North Carolina families grappling with serious mental illness are many miles away from the nearest NAMI affiliate, which means that we need to develop more of them (1). The NAMI North Carolina Board of Directors has concluded that we need a system of regional offices, in addition to our Affiliate Services Director in Raleigh, to adequately support our affiliates: all affiliates are operated by volunteers entirely, and only NAMI North Carolina has paid staff.

Our current affiliates, with contact persons’ names and phone numbers, appear elsewhere on this web site (click here). You can help by becoming an active member of the affiliate in your community, and by helping NAMI North Carolina provide strategic affiliate grants!