Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering with NAMI Northern Virginia, please fill out our volunteer interest form here.

Below are descriptions for all of our current volunteer positions. Each program has its own requirements and application processes. Please contact the corresponding program coordinator with any questions.

Programs for Adults Family Members
  • NAMI Family Support Group: NAMI Family Support Groups meet once or twice each month to provide peer support to family members, friends, partners, or other caregivers of an individual living with a mental health condition. Support group facilitators must have lived experience as a family member of an individual living with a mental health condition. Facilitators must be 18 or older and be able to commit to monthly meetings for at least one year.
    ​Program Coordinator: Esther Lee
  • NAMI Family-to-Family: NAMI Family-to-Family is an 8-session course for family members, partners, or other caregivers of an individual living with a mental health condition. The course provides information and strategies for taking care of a loved one, while also providing an environment of support. Class facilitators must have lived experience as a family member of an individual living with a mental health condition. Facilitators must be 18 or older and be able to commit to two courses within two years after the training. 
    Program Coordinator: Esther Lee

Programs for Adults Living With a Mental Health Condition

  • ​NAMI Connection Support Group: NAMI Connection Support Groups meet once or twice each month to provide peer support to individuals living with a mental health condition. Support group facilitators must have lived experience as an individual living with a mental health condition. Facilitators must be 18 or older and be able to commit to monthly meetings for at least one year.
    Program Coordinator: Esther Lee
  • NAMI Peer-to-Peer: NAMI Peer-to-Peer is an 8-session course for individuals living with a mental health condition. The course provides a safe and confidential space to connect to others with lived experience while learning coping strategies. Class facilitators must have lived experience as an individual living with a mental health condition. Facilitators must be 18 or older and be able to commit to two courses within two years after the training.
    Program Coordinator: Esther Lee

Programs for Youth and Young Adults

  • ​NAMI Ending the Silence for Students, Parents, or School Staff: NAMI Ending the Silence is a presentation that provides information on warning signs of mental health conditions in youth, resources, and how to get help for someone who is exhibiting warning signs. Lead presenters for Ending the Silence must be either an adult who lived with a mental health condition during their teen years or a parent of a child who experienced a mental health condition during their teen years. Each presentation also features a young adult presenter (18-35 years old) who shares their personal story of living with a mental health condition during their teen years. All presenters must be 18 or older and be able to commit to quarterly presentations for at least one year.
    Program Coordinator: Megan Souza
  • Youth Leadership Council: The Youth Leadership Council is a group of teens and young adults serving as an advisory board to NAMI Northern Virginia. Members help plan youth events and programs, represents NAMI i the community, and works on projects to reduce stigma and support youth and young adults in the region. Members must be 15 to 23 years old. Youth with lived experience with mental health conditions are encouraged to apply, but lived experience is not required.
    ​Program Coordinator: Megan Souza

Programs for the Community

  • NAMI In Our Own Voice: NAMI In Own Voice is a presentation program for adults that features two presenters sharing their personal stories of living with a mental health condition. Presentations are done for churches, colleges, businesses, law enforcement, and more. Presenters must be an individual living with a mental health condition. Presenters must be 18 or older and able to commit to quarterly presentations for at least one year.
    Program Coordinator: Lee Duffy-Ledbetter
  • NAMI Northern Virginia Helpline (no volunteers needed at this time): Our helpline answers calls and emails from community members, providing support and connecting individuals to community resources. Helpline volunteers must have lived experience either as an individual living with a mental health condition or a family member of an individual living with a mental health condition. Volunteers must be 18 or older and able to commit for at least one year.

NAMIWalks Northern Virginia

  • Walk Committee: Our Walk Planning Committee members plan our NAMIWalks Northern Virginia event from the kick-off to the wrap-up. Walk planning may include connecting with team captains, managing walk-day logistics, and assisting with marketing and social media efforts. All Walk Planning Committee Members will be expected to register for the Walk, participate in Walk-day activities, and share Walk information and resources with their networks. Walk committee members are encouraged to commit assisting for at least one walk season. Interested volunteers can fill out this form.
  • Walk Day Volunteer: Volunteers looking for a short-term volunteer opportunity are encouraged to participate in our annual NAMIWalks event. Walk day volunteering activities may include t-shirt distribution, registration, setting up walk signs, or directing walk participants on the walk trail. Virtual walks may have opportunities to volunteer before walk day to help with tasks such as t-shirt distribution.

Community Outreach

  • ​Community Outreach Team (not currently available): Community Outreach Team members attend resource fairs to represent NAMI Northern Virginia. Volunteers will share resources and information about our services and answer questions about how others can get involved, donate, or participate in our programs. Community outreach volunteers are not required to have lived experience with mental health conditions but will be required to complete a training to learn about NAMI Northern Virginia's programming. Volunteers must be 18 or older.
  • Iris Project: The Iris Project is an opportunity for volunteers to help us spread hope and awareness to the community, while also fundraising for our programs. Volunteers distribute silk irises for a small, suggested donation. Free information about mental health and our local programs is also available. Proceeds help fund NAMI Northern Virginia's programs of education, support, and advocacy. Volunteers must find a location themselves but will be provided with all the materials needed. Interested volunteers can complete this form and send it to info@nami-nova.org.

Administrative Volunteer Work

  • Volunteer Coordinator: The Volunteer Coordinator assists the programs staff in connecting interested volunteers to the right program or position. Volunteer Coordinator will manage the volunteer email account, coordinate phone calls with interested volunteers, and direct interested volunteers to the correct staff contact. The volunteer coordinator does not need to have lived experience with mental health but will be required to complete a training to learn about NAMI Northern Virginia's programming. Volunteers interested in this position must be 18 or older and able to commit to 1-3 hours per week for at least one year.

    Other administrative volunteer opportunities may pop up throughout the year. Please fill out the volunteer interest form to receive more information.
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