National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Collier County is moving administrative offices and all services into the former Naples Senior Center building at 5025 Castello Drive in Naples. The move will take place in March and the building will be open April 3.
Previously, NAMI Collier’s programs were held in several rented spaces, with the administration offices in a building on the other side of town. The move brings all programs under one roof, providing the ability to expand programs and seamlessly expose members to the services and programs available.
“NAMI Collier helps people and families navigate the complex mental health system and offers unique, nonclinical programs and support groups that focus on wellness and personal recovery journeys,” said Beth Hatch, CEO of the organization since July 2022. “Our goal is to recognize the whole person, and not just their diagnosis. We are excited to have the space to be able to grow our much-needed free programs all in one building.”
The two-story space has a kitchen, pantry, offices, board room and training room. The building also has four offices and a reception area that NAMI Collier, a nonprofit, can sublease to generate additional revenue.
The Sarah Ann Center, a safe, welcoming drop-in center for anyone over the age of 18 with a mental health diagnosis, will also be relocated into the new building. It offers daily support groups, outings to encourage socialization and community engagement, daily lunch and activities to enrich the quality of life for members. The new space will allow for a possible shift to a club house model, as well as offering more outings, support groups, activities and a dining hall/restaurant.
NAMI Collier’s free programs include:
- Support groups for members and their families and caregivers including groups for recovery skills, hearing voices and seeing things, DBT peer-run skills training and NAMI Connection, a recovery support group for adults living with various mental illnesses.
- Health Under Guided Systems (H.U.G.S.), supported by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, responds to the complex needs of children at risk of or with behavioral health problems in Collier County. The program provides English, Spanish and Creole universal screenings. It also offers parenting classes and family support, as well as facilitates referrals for early identification and access to care.
- Supportive Housing helps people with mental illnesses overcome the barriers and challenges of homelessness to work on recovery and wellness. NAMI’s Supportive Housing Specialists work with participants to find a secure home, work toward employment and engage local resources for community-based living. Since July 2022, NAMI has served 107 adults and 31 children with supportive housing. The need is so great that NAMI Collier has a waiting list of participants it could serve if it had more funding.
- Florida Self-Directed Care (SDC) allows program participants to make their own healthcare choices and actively participate in their recovery from serious mental illnesses. Life coaches help participants establish measurable recovery goals. SDC serves about 90 people each year.
- CLEAR: Clearing the Way for Change in Florida is a peer-run service for any individual in search of connecting with someone who has lived experience in mental health recovery. The service is available statewide from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and receives more than 400 calls per month.
With roots dating to 1987, NAMI Collier County remains a nonprofit dedicated to helping people navigate their mental health journey through an array of programs. For information or to donate, visit namicollier.org or call 239-260-7300.
ABOUT NAMI COLLIER
NAMI Collier provides free mental health support, education, advocacy, and outreach to those affected by mental illnesses. NAMI Collier envisions a community where those living with mental health conditions can live healthy fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.
For additional information about NAMI Collier, please visit www.namicollier.org.
