May/June Beans for Bags Spotlight: NAMI Jefferson County (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Since 2005, NAMI Jefferson County (NAMI Jeffco) has been a vital resource for individuals and families affected by mental illness throughout the Olympic Peninsula. As a state and federally recognized nonprofit, NAMI Jeffco offers free Support Groups, Workshops and Classes for individuals living with mental health conditions—as well as for their loved ones, mental health professionals, and the broader community. These programs blend lived experience with the expertise of educators, providers, and researchers to create meaningful opportunities for connection, learning, and healing.
In recent years, NAMI Jeffco has expanded its reach through key partnerships with Recovery Café, Jefferson County Behavioral Health Court, and Washington State’s Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training program. This collaboration equips first responders across Western Washington with the tools and understanding needed to support individuals in crisis with compassion and care.
Looking ahead to 2025, NAMI Jeffco is excited to continue sharing skills and resources with first responders, advocates, and community members. Funds raised through local partnerships—including those from The Food Co-op—will directly support the printing and distribution of published materials used in workshops, community presentations, and classes. These resources are essential to making mental health education more accessible across Jefferson County and beyond.
Among its many accomplishments, NAMI Jeffco is proud to offer the only NAMI-produced Suicide Prevention/Intervention workshop in the state of Washington. This, along with its long-standing Family-to-Family education classes and bi-monthly support groups, reflects a sustained commitment to building a more informed and resilient community.
Beyond programming, NAMI Jeffco remains a vocal advocate for improved mental health legislation at the local, state, and national levels—ensuring that voices from our rural and underserved communities are heard in policy discussions.
To learn more or get involved, visit: https://namijeffcowa.org/
