Assists people affected by mental illness in finding the treatment and services they need. Works to improve private and public behavioral health systems and related resources serving persons with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and to erase the stigma of mental illness. Offers support groups for people with mental illness, their families and friends.

NAMI Yavapai | NAMI Yavapai

Divisions of businesses or nonprofit agencies that are responsible for developing products or delivering designated services to the public. Departments of NGOs are generally led by a manager, supervisor, director or vice president.

Nongovernmental Agency Departments

Mutual support groups whose members are people who have specific social or emotional concerns or mental illnesses. Families and friends may also be welcome. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; and provide an opportunity for participants to share information, practical tips for daily living and encouragement about issues related to their concerns.

Mental Health Related Support Groups

Programs that sponsor events whose purpose is to mobilize large numbers of volunteers to help local organizations who need assistance, to work on a special, one or two-day project, or to lend their support to a special issue, e.g., youth services. Mobilization events also serve to increase long-term awareness of volunteerism.

Volunteer Mobilization Events

Programs that intercede on behalf of individuals to help them establish eligibility for or obtain needed services when they have been denied benefits or services for which they are eligible, when they need assistance to communicate their needs to a service provider or to otherwise effectively represent themselves, or when they have a complaint about a service. Individual advocacy attempts to reach equitable settlements without resorting to litigation and seeks to meet individual needs without attempting to change social institutions.

Individual Advocacy

Programs that seek changes in community conditions, structures or institutions when modifications in the service delivery system as a whole are required to ensure the adequate availability of essential community services, to contribute to human growth and development and to prevent unwitting support of conditions which are injurious to individuals and families who are residents. The objective of system advocacy is to make changes that are required to benefit the community as a whole rather than focusing on the needs of a particular individual, family or group of residents.

System Advocacy

Organizations that are actively seeking individuals with the requisite skills and experience who are willing, on a voluntary basis without remuneration, to take responsibility for planning and coordinating special events. Activities may include arranging event logistics, renting  suitable space, overseeing decoration of the facility or other preparations, assigning tasks to supporting staff/volunteers and supervising their activities, and ensuring that the event runs smoothly.

Event Coordination Volunteer Opportunities

Organizations that are actively seeking individuals with the requisite skills and experience who are willing, on a voluntary basis without remuneration, to facilitate the discussions of any of a wide variety of mutual support groups, i.e., autonomous groups of individuals who share a common problem or concern, either directly or through their partners and families, who meet together to fulfill a need, overcome a disability or cope with a crisis.

Support Group Facilitation Volunteer Opportunities

Organizations that are actively seeking individuals with expertise in public speaking, writing, desktop publishing, graphics or other aspects of communications who are willing to contribute their skills on a voluntary basis without remuneration and work on projects benefiting the agency or the people it serves.

Communications/Marketing Volunteer Opportunities

Programs that engage in a form of advocacy that focuses on marshaling public and legislative support for a particular social or political goal.

Issue Advocacy

Organizations that are actively seeking individuals with the requisite skills who are willing to do general office work on a voluntary basis without remuneration.