Join Our Team of Dedicated Volunteers​ at NAMI-NYC Metro!

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Do you want to become a part of a national movement of family members and mental health consumers who work to help people who live with mental illness, and thereby contribute to real change in the mental health system? NAMI-NYC Metro volunteer programs are reserved primarily for family members, mental health consumers, and friends. However, we do welcome applications from anyone who supports the mission and goals of NAMI.

All interested should email me for an application at programs@naminyc.org and RSVP to one of our monthly info sessions held every third Monday at 2p. Once the application is completed, you can scan/email it to me, fax it to me at 212.684.3364, or mail it attention to Support Programs Coordinator, NAMI-NYC Metro, 505 8th Avenue #1103, New York NY 10018 (please include cover letter & resume if available).

Volunteer Positions
Helpline: Provide support, information and referrals to individuals living with mental illness, family members, and mental health professionals about services for those who struggle with mental health recovery, and their loved ones. This 'warm line' operates Monday through Friday, 11-6p. You must be able to dedicate 6-7 hours per week to volunteer on the Helpline. This can be done in one day or split into two shifts.

Resources Assistant: Assist us with researching new and assessing current resources provided through the NAMI helpline. This position requires comfort with contacting community-based resources by phone to ensure that NAMI provides excellent information. This role may also include inviting representatives of these community-based organizations to present to NAMI volunteers and staff on their services. Experience with Wikispaces a plus! Volunteer shifts available 11-6p Mondays-Fridays.

Library Assistant: Assist us with managing our collection of books, periodicals, and videotapes on mental health and mental illnesses. We need volunteers with computer and organizational skills who can work in the library on a regular basis to catalogue and organize library materials, and help develop the library’s collection. Volunteer shifts available 11-6p Mondays-Fridays.

Clerical/Reception | Mailings | Data Entry: Volunteers assist us with office help, including mailings, answering phones, organizing files, making phone calls, creating documents in various computer applications (Word and Excel), and other office tasks. Whether you have office experience or not, we could use your help, either on a weekly or as-needed basis. Mailings are generally once a month for about 3 hours.

**The following volunteer opportunities require completion of a specialized training provided by our state affiliate. Generally, these trainings are only offered annually or bi-annually**:

In Our Own Voice (IOOV) Presenter: For adults living with mental illness only. Develop your public speaking skills and share your personal experience of recovery from mental illness to decrease stigma and increase public awareness about mental illness. IOOV is a structured outreach presentation with which you can become a role model for hope and recovery for other mental health consumers in the community. The presentation puts a human face to mental illness and is also used to provide insight into the consumer experience of recovery for mental health professionals, students, and family members.

Family-to-Family Course Leader (only for graduates of the course): For family members only. Learn to teach this 12-week course that reviews aspects of mental illness, support, coping, medication and treatment, and navigating the mental health system.

Support Parent: For parents of adolescents or young adults under 25. Experienced parents provide a small amount of telephone support to parents whose children have been recently diagnosed or who are struggling with new challenges. This commitment is approximately six hours a month and is done from home.

Basics Course Leader (only for graduates of the course): Parents of children who became ill before the age of 13 only. Learn to teach this 6-week course for parents of children and adolescents that reviews the impact of mental illness on the family, treatment, support, coping, and navigating child serving systems.

Peer-to-Peer Course Leader (only for graduates of the course): For adults living with mental illness only. Learn to teach this 9-week experiential learning program for individuals who struggle with a persistent mental illness and who are interested in wellness and recovery.

Support Group Facilitator (for active members of a NAMI Support Group): For family members and adults living with mental illness only. Become a peer support group leader and provide support, education, and practical knowledge to other consumers and family members. Groups meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly throughout New York City. If you are interested in becoming a Support Group Facilitator, please begin actively attending one of our groups before applying to volunteer.

Connection Support Group Facilitator (for active members of a NAMI Support Group): For adults living with mental illness only. Learn to become a peer support group leader and facilitate the sharing of support, education, and practical knowledge among adult consumers through the NAMI Connection group facilitation model. Groups meet weekly. If you are interested in becoming a Support Group Facilitator, please begin actively attending one of our groups. If you are interested in becoming a Connection Support Group Facilitator, please begin actively attending one of our groups before applying to volunteer.

Volunteer Commitment
Volunteering at NAMI-NYC Metro in most program areas requires specialized training and supervision by a staff member. Because of this, we ask for a one year commitment for most volunteer positions.

Orientation
All new volunteers are provided an orientation to our programs, office space, staff, and the specific position to which s/he has been accepted. As a volunteer you will be asked to agree to a standard Confidentiality Agreement and volunteer contract, which outlines specific NAMI-NYC Metro's policies and procedures.

We look forward to joining the NAMI-NYC Metro Family!