Just when we need hope and energy they have appeared at NAMI-Dane County. Lindsay Wallace, the new executive director, and the board of directors have launched several initiatives that will help members meet the obvious challenges ahead.
The board went through a strategic planning process designed to establish priorities and methods to measure success. The three broad goals are: sustainability (fundraising-development), youth mental health, and advocacy. Each goal has specific objectives to be met, often with target dates.
The redesigned website provides a staff blog. A recent entry offers lessons learned from a MOSES-sponsored meeting on the mental health implications of crimeless revocation. Such revocation occurs when a person is sent back to jail for a parole violation instead of committing a crime. Executive Director Wallace was a speaker.
The strategic plan appears on the website, as do board minutes. Recently, members heard an update on Housing Initiatives, a program that provides housing for people with mental illness. Board members also are working on problems related to the criminal justice system.
NAMI-Dane County’s advocacy committee meets the 2nd Monday of every month from 5:30 to 7:00 at the United Way Building, 2059 Atwood Ave. Currently, the committee is working on issues concerning youth mental health.
The website address is: http://www.namidanecounty.org.
