Seeking Volunteer Mentors for National Alliance on Mental Illness Metropolitan Baltimore University of Maryland Medical Systems Program

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore partners with the University of Maryland Medical Systems (UMMS) to provide peer mentors to support patients in the psychiatric and geriatric psychiatric units. The goals of this program are to 1) provide patients with hope of recovery and information about peer community resources through direct contact with consumers who have progressed in their recovery 2) provide families of patients with hope of recovery and to connect them with community resources that provide support and education. Mentors receive a $8/hour stipend for their service.

Role Requirements:
▪ Currently living well with a mental illness diagnosis OR a family member of an individual with a mental illness.
▪ Strong commitment to support individuals dealing with mental illness and their families.
▪ Complete a half day training provided by NAMI Metro Baltimore and an annual refresher.
▪ Complete additional volunteer application, orientation, health screening and immunizations, and training requirements set forth by UMMS.
▪ Complete a NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore Stipend Volunteer Agreement. Volunteers are responsible for notifying the Volunteer Coordinator of changes to their IRS Form W-9 information on an annual basis.
▪ Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers are kindly asked to make a regular, weekly commitment to serve on the same 3-hour shift for a 12-week session. Volunteers are scheduled weekdays 3:00-6:00pm or 6:00-9:00pm. Volunteers can serve 2 shifts maximum per week. Exceptions to the service maximum are made on a case by case basis.
▪ Minimum Age: 18 years old.

Volunteer Responsibilities:
▪ Maintain confidentiality of patients and their families.
▪ Willingly engage with and be a good listener for patients and their families while maintaining a pleasant, supportive, and positive outlook.
▪ Mentors are not counselors; rather, they are present primarily to offer respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope.

Visit www.namibaltimore.org to download a volunteer application.

Questions? volunteer@namibaltimore.org