NAMI Vermont

02/25/2026

✨ Get ready for NAMIWalks Vermont 2026! ✨

We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help us make this event the best one yet! 💚

Join us for a virtual volunteer Q&A meeting on March 2nd to learn how you can get involved in our annual walk! Whether you want to create or join a team, rally your friends, or volunteer on the day of the event, our Events Coordinator, Kathleen, will guide you every step of the way!

Get involved at www.namiwalks.org/vermont

If you’re interested in other opportunities, we have you covered! There are plenty of volunteer options available that can help you make a positive impact in your community. Whether you’re an individual living with a mental health condition, a family member, a student, or a passionate advocate, there’s a perfect fit for everyone! 🙌

🔗 Check our calendar for the Zoom link: www.namivt.org/events/

Questions? Please reach out to info@namivt.org or 802-876-7949. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

02/23/2026

There’s still time to register for the March Lunch & Learn Series!

Join Katie Wilson and Jane Winterling from the Copeland Center as they explore, Taking Action for Whole Health & Wellbeing, a peer-led approach that helps people create personalized, practical wellness and recovery plans. Based on SAMHSA’s Taking Action curriculum and over two decades of peer-led expertise, this Lunch & Learn will introduce you to the program’s core values, tools, and strategies for diverse communities.

Date: March 4, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom

Register today at: www.namivt.org/lunch-learn-series

You can sign up for just one session or all of them! Just be sure to use an email you check regularly to receive the Zoom link and reminders.

Don’t forget to mark this opportunity on your calendar!

02/20/2026

✨ Donate to NAMI Vermont's Silent Auction for this year's Walk! ✨

Our NAMIWalks 2026 event is only a few months away, and we are seeking donations for our Silent Auction through GiftDrive.

If you have items you’d like to contribute and want to make a meaningful difference, we are accepting additional Silent Auction donations at our NAMI Vermont office. Feel free to drop by at any time during our regular business hours! Donations could include new unopened items, gift cards for basic needs and experiences, and meditative coloring books. Anything you donate is greatly appreciated and will go directly toward supporting people affected by mental health conditions. 💗

👉 Donate today: www.giftdrive.org/drive/337

If you haven’t already, start your own NAMIWalks Vermont team today! Be part of a movement that supports mental health for all: www.namiwalks.org/vermont

Get in touch with Kathleen Kilbourne at events@namivt.org with questions about the Silent Auction or our 2026 Walk!

Thank you for your support! 🙌💚

02/19/2026

🗨 Let’s talk about mental health!

NAMI Vermont is excited to announce our new Community Conversation series! From March through August, a panel of experts will share their knowledge on various mental health topics in an open, honest, and welcoming environment. This series will take place in person at different locations in Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties.

This is a unique opportunity for family members, peers, advocates, or anyone interested in mental health to learn how each topic relates to mental health, access services and supports in your community, and connect with others in your area. Audience members are encouraged to engage, ask questions, and share their own lived experiences.

We’re kicking off our first Community Conversation with local Vermont authors, Jodi Girouard and Omega Jade. They will be sharing their topic, Healing Words: Local Authors Share Their Mental Health Journeys and Texts, offering insights into their personal mental health journeys and how their experiences have shaped and inspired their writing.

🗓 March 5, 2026
⏰ 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
📍 Worthen Library of South Hero
🍽 Light refreshments will be provided!

Thanks to the University of Vermont Medical Center Community Health Investment Fund, this event is FREE for all participants!

Choose one or two conversations to attend, or sign up for all of them! Learn more & register here: www.namivt.org/community-conversations

Community Conversations is a free series of expert-led panel discussions on a variety of mental health topics.

02/18/2026

NAMI Vermont is looking for passionate young individuals who want to make a difference in mental health policy reform!

In Vermont, young people experiencing mental health challenges continue to face long wait times, inconsistent access to services, and barriers to getting support. Yet too often, policy conversations happen without youth at the table.

NAMI Vermont’s Uplifting Youth Voices to Advocate for Mental Health Policy Reform project aims to change that by equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to advocate for the mental health policy solutions they believe will make the greatest impact.

We are seeking:

- Youth Participants (ages 14+)
- Adults Representing Younger Youth
- Partner Organizations
- Legislators

If you want to get involved, please complete the Youth Mental Health Interest form at www.namivt.org/youth. For questions, please contact lemerson@namivt.org.

Participate in a project as a student or professional and amplify youth voices. Learn how you can advocate for meaningful change.

02/17/2026

Join us for our upcoming Lunch & Learn on March 4th featuring TWO amazing speakers from the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery!

In this session, Katie Wilson and Jane Winterling will be exploring Taking Action for Whole Health & Wellbeing, a peer-led approach that supports people in creating personalized, practical wellness and recovery plans. Based on SAMHSA’s Taking Action curriculum and over two decades of peer-led expertise, this Lunch & Learn will introduce you to the program’s core values, tools, and strategies for diverse communities.

Date: March 4, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom

Meet our speakers:

Katie Wilson, MS, Chief Operations Officer for Wellness and Recovery

Katie collaborates with various systems and organizations to implement the Copeland Center's evidence-based peer group model. She oversees the Doors to Wellbeing monthly Peer Specialist Webinar Series, reaching over 30,000 professionals annually. Her educational background is focused on international human rights and mental health.

Jane Winterling, Director of the Vermont Recovery Education Project

Having experienced both sides of the mental health system, Jane is a passionate advocate for peers and professionals alike. She emphasizes that the collaboration between these two groups is key to creating system change. She is one of the original members responsible for the idea and creation of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).

Registration is required! Visit www.namivt.org/lunch-learn-series to register and learn more about our Lunch & Learn Series. Feel free to sign up for one session or all of them! Remember to use an email address you check frequently to receive the Zoom link and reminders. Don’t forget to add this opportunity to your calendar!

02/14/2026

The NAMI Vermont office will be closed on Monday, February 16, in observance of President’s Day.

If you need to reach us, please email info@namivt.org or leave a message at 802-876-7949, and we will respond as soon as we return to the office.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988.

For additional mental health resources, visit www.namivt.org/resources.

02/13/2026

🌟 Attention parents and caregivers! 🌟

Registration for NAMI Vermont’s 2026 Spring NAMI Basics class is filling up fast! If you are caring for a youth under 22 who is living with a mental health condition, this FREE, six-week virtual course will provide you with support and knowledge to help your child get the care they need.

Starts: March 3
When: Tuesdays, 6:30–9:00 p.m.
All materials will be provided FREE!

Connect with those who truly understand what you’re going through! Classes will be led by trained volunteers who have personal experience. You will gain essential skills and tools to effectively advocate for your child in both school and mental health systems.

Course topics include:

➡️ Why mental health conditions are no one’s fault
➡️ Brain biology and getting a diagnosis
➡️ Treatment
➡️ Communication skills and crisis preparation
➡️ Navigating mental health, school, and juvenile justice systems
➡️ Advocacy, self-care, and evaluation

Register now at www.namivt.org/basics to secure your spot! If the schedule doesn’t work for you, don’t worry! Join our waitlist for our next Basics class.

NAMI Basics is a free 6-week course for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illness.

02/06/2026

NAMI Vermont’s in-person Milton Connection Support Group meets TOMORROW!

Looking for a supportive space to talk with peers who understand what you’re going through? Join a NAMI Connection Support Group! A new Connection Recovery Support Group will be available in Milton, starting tomorrow. Meetings will be held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Milton Family Community Center (MFCC). This group is open to all Vermonters who live with mental health challenges and need a safe space to be heard and understood. Our structured model ensures that everyone has a chance to share.

All our Connection Support Groups are free, confidential, require no registration, and are facilitated by NAMI-trained volunteer who have their own lived experience with mental health challenges.

For more details, support group reminders, and to find a group near you: www.namivt.org/csg.

If you have questions or are interested in facilitating a group, please contact our Program Coordinator: program@namivt.org.

02/05/2026

Registration is OPEN for NAMI Vermont’s Spring 2026 Basics class!

This FREE six-week virtual educational program is designed to help families support a loved one aged 22 and younger with mental health challenges.

Led by trained volunteers with lived experience, this interactive format equips participants with essential skills and tools to advocate effectively for their child across school and mental health systems.

Class details:

📆 March 3 - April 7
🕡 Every Tuesday, 6:30-9:00 pm
💻 Virtual via Zoom to maximize accessibility
📑 All materials will be provided!

Connect with others, gain valuable insights, and learn about valuable resources! A big thank you to our facilitator teachers, Kathleen K. and Margie L., for leading this essential program! 🙌 Please note that registration is required. Sign up today to save your spot!

For more information about this program, please visit www.namivt.org/basics or contact our Program Coordinator at program@namivt.org.

NAMI Basics is a free 6-week course for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illness.

02/04/2026

February is Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate Black history, culture, and the achievements of leaders in the Black community. It’s also a time to talk about mental health within the Black community.

Unfortunately, the Black community continues to experience barriers and inequalities in mental health care. Many face socioeconomic disparities and are excluded from resources related to health, education, economics, and social support. Furthermore, healthcare provider bias, whether conscious or unconscious, and stigma surrounding mental health are factors that contribute to worse mental health outcomes.

NAMI Vermont is committed to advocating for high-quality mental health care for all. Mental health is health; it is a fundamental human right. The Black community deserves equitable access to mental health care that prioritizes cultural responsiveness by respecting and integrating the Black experience.

Throughout this month, we will be sharing resources from NAMI, Black-focused mental health organizations in Vermont, and more!

For additional info and resources, please visit: www.nami.org/community-and-culture/black-african-american.

02/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Support Groups in January! We are glad that folks across Vermont continue to join our groups, whether virtually or in person, to access this free, confidential mental health service. If you're seeking support this month, consider joining our groups!

We have more exciting news for February! A new in-person Connection Recovery Support Group will be available in Milton, starting February 7. Meetings will be held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Milton Family Community Center (MFCC). More details can be found on our website.

This month, all our support groups will meet as scheduled. Be sure to check our events calendar at www.namivt.org/events/ , and sign up for reminders to stay up to date on any last-minute schedule changes.

All NAMI Vermont Support Groups are free, confidential, and facilitated by trained volunteers who truly understand what support group participants are going through, because they've been there - whether they're living with a mental health condition themselves or support a loved one. No registration is required for our support groups, and you're welcome to join at any time! Find all the details about our groups at www.namivt.org/support-groups.

Don't see a support group in your area? Share this post with someone who may be interested in facilitating one. Please contact program@namivt.org to learn more.