National Alliance on Mental Illness       

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Becoming a Part of the Solution:

Becoming involved in the Consumer Council's activities will enable you to become part of the solution.  Every person has talent, ability, and interests.  Meeting and volunteering with others strengthens and encourages even amidst suffering.  By giving you will receive.

NAMI Illinois' Consumer Council Strategic Plan

 2007-2008 Goals

                 The Executive Committee laid out its goals for the 2007-2008 year during their October meeting. The identified goals are the responsibility of the full membership of the Consumer Council to implement and are not intended solely to be the responsibility of the CC Executive Committee. They will serve as a guide of the work, we, as active members of the Consumer Council do to move the NAMI consumer membership in a forward direction:

1.       Utilize NAMI Illinois Stateline newsletter to share recovery activities and stories of hope and living.

2.       Use NAMI Illinois consumers  to make announcements, post meeting minutes, write short stories and poetry and have media venues related to wellness and recovery and NAMI (and other recovery) information for consumers to access.

3.       Develop consumer membership potential through such activities as:

a.       IOOV education, training and presentations

b.       Peer-to-Peer education, training  and groups

c.       NAMI Connections education, training and  support groups

d.       Encourage consumers active in local affiliates to invite other consumers to affiliate support meetings and network as peer mentors to build membership and action locally and statewide.

e.       Connect to consumers no longer active through setting up a ‘phone tree’ by those who have long distance calling as part of their phone package and other suggested venues to provide outreach and develop Consumer membership and active involvement in all aspects of NAMI-IL and its affiliates.

f.        Develop leadership potential within the CC with leaders taking more active roles in mentoring others within local affiliates and statewide.

                                  i.      Develop and utilize phone tree as a means of networking and providing support.

                                  ii.      Affiliate representatives to encourage involvement in open statewide CC meetings.

                                  iii.      Promote consumer information through local NAMI support groups.

4.       Build Legislative power of NAMI consumer members’ voice through the annual rally, but also throughout the year.

a.       Provide training on giving public testimony.

b.       Encourage review and involvement of legislation important to consumers on mental health issues as well as community issues.

c.       Post information of bills in people friendly manner (if possible) on consumer webpage.

d.       Encourage consumer presence and testimony at legislative events statewide and locally.

e.       Encourage relationship development with local representatives, and senators, both statewide and federally.

5.       Increase awareness of NAMI-IL Board of Directors and statewide committees.

6.       Encourage involvement in local affiliate support group and affiliate Board of Director activities.