Volunteer Peer Facilitators Needed for Homeless Shelter Support Group

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The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Volunteers are needed to serve as Support Group Facilitators for NAMI's Connection Peer Support Group program. The group meets at a homeless shelter on Monday afternoons to discuss issues they are coping with related to mental health, stress, employment, and housing. It is helpful for facilitators to have experienced homelessness in their past. Support Group Facilitators provide support, education, and practical knowledge to other people living with mental illness. Groups meet weekly under the guidance of 2 Volunteer Facilitators.

Role Requirements:
▪ Personal experience having a mental illness and living well in recovery
▪ Complete a 2-day training program provided by NAMI. Available weekends only.
▪ Current member of NAMI, or willingness to join
▪ Volunteers are kindly asked to make a 6 month commitment upon completion of training. Facilitators are scheduled on a rotating basis; minimum 2 hours per month. The homeless shelter support group meets Monday afternoons.

Volunteer Responsibilities:
▪ Offer respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope to peers in the group coping with mental illness
▪ Facilitators are not counselors or teachers; rather, they are present primarily to give the group structure by opening and closing each support group session, guiding discussion, and shifting discussion when necessary.
▪ Maintain confidentiality of support group attendees
▪ Work cooperatively with a co-facilitator to conduct the group
▪ Report attendance to Program Director