NAMI Vermont is offering a free NAMI Smarts for Advocacy training on January 9, 2027. The NAMI Smarts program equips participants with the knowledge and practice they need to share their mental health lived experiences as an individual, family member, or advocate in a powerful, moving way to effect legislative change.
The training session will take place virtually on Zoom, allowing advocates from across the state to participate. It will cover Modules 1 and 2, from 12:00 to 5:00 PM. Registration is required to attend. For more information and to register, please visit namivt.org/advocacy-training.
Module 1 (Telling Your Story) will teach participants:
- Why mental health advocacy is so important
- Telling a compelling personal story that is inspiring and makes an “ask” in 90 seconds
- Writing and sharing your own personal story in seven steps
Module 2 (Policy Making 101) will train participants on how to:
- Demystify Vermont’s legislative process
- Identifying opportunities to share your story to advocate for people with mental health conditions
- Combating frustration and giving yourself (and others) grace
Our mission is to support, educate, and advocate so that all communities, families, and individuals affected by mental illness or mental health challenges can build better lives. Stigma discourages individuals from getting help and is a key barrier to winning public support to improve our mental health system of care. This stigma will only be reduced through consistent, effective outreach and public awareness that highlights the recovery stories of individuals who have lived experience with mental health conditions. NAMI Vermont believes that advocacy for a better system of mental health care is more effective when individuals living with mental illness, family members, and healthcare providers work together.
We call upon providers, government agencies, and legislative representatives to listen to the voices of family members and peers when considering funding decisions related to services that support families and individuals living with mental health conditions in Vermont.
For more information on NAMI Vermont’s advocacy efforts, visit namivt.org/advocacy. To learn more about the NAMI Smarts program, call 802-876-7949 x102 or email [email protected]
