During it’s August meeting, the United Way Board of Directors extended Community Care Team status to NAMI Gulf Coast. Located in Alvin, NAMI Gulf Coast educates family members and professionals about series mental illnesses and advocates for services for people with brain disorders.

NAMI Gulf Coast will join other local agencies whose programs and services are, in part, funded through United Way’s fall fundraising campaign.

Carolyn Karbowski founded NAMI Gulf Coast in 1988, two years after her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her family’s struggle to cope with this devastating illness led her to discover that there were few services, no education programs, and no community support for families of those with mental illness.

Mrs. Karbowski resolved to change this, and with compassion, determination, and love for her son, she founded NAMI Gulf Coast and has worked tirelessly for the past 19 years to ensure that other families in her community wouldn’t have the lonely and disheartening experience that she endured.

"NAMI Gulf Coast is excited to be a part of United Way of Brazoria County. We will be working diligently to provide education, support and referrals," said Mrs. Karbowski. "Our hope is that one day mental illness will be treated with the same compassion and understanding as any other illness."

One of NAMI Gulf Coast’s programs teams families with children newly diagnosed with mental illness with a family who has parented or is currently parenting a child with mental illness. The experienced family assists the novice family navigate the complicated array of services and doctors.

In 2006 NAMI Gulf Coast gained certification to teach Crisis Intervention Training to local law enforcement and certification to train teachers for Vision for Tomorrow education classes.

Visions for Tomorrow (VFT) is a curricula that addresses the needs of younger families who have a child or adolescent with mental illness. Taught by primary caregivers, VFT classes offer families a safe and supportive place to share experiences and learn from other adults who care for children with mental illness. Primary caregivers not only include parents, but also grandparents, aunts, uncles, respite care providers and foster parents, as well. By providing education, empathy and empowerment, families will now have the tools to build visions for their families tomorrow.

In May of this year, NAMI Gulf Coast received a Community Building Grant from United Way of Brazoria County to assist the Peer Support Programs in Alvin and Angleton.

Essential to the recovery and well being of persons with mental illness is involvement in socialization activities and peer support groups. The Peer Support Programs offer a safe place for those with a mental illness to socialize, share a meal and enjoy crafts and games while providing a great source of support to each other. Participants facilitate interactive educational lessons on topics such as coping skills, symptoms of mental illness, and supportive services.

NAMI Gulf Coast began the process to become a United Way community care team agency in May. The dedicated volunteers who serve on the United Way Community Planning Committee met with agency representatives to review the agency’s services, programs and finances. After agreeing that NAMI Gulf Coast offered vital services that greatly benefit the County’s mentally ill and their families, the committee recommended extending community care team status.

"We look forward to the partnership with NAMI and together we will continue to positively impact the community", said Gregg Dykes, United Way’s Vice President of Community Planning.

NAMI Gulf Coast serves residents of Brazoria and Galveston Counties. Last year, the agency served over 630 individuals in Brazoria County alone, which is a 95% increase from 2005.

NAMI Gulf Coast is a member of the national NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and the state organization, NAMI-Texas. The agency is located at 319 E. South Street in Alvin. For more information on NAMI Gulf Coast visit their website at www.namigulfcoast.org or call 281.585.3100.

United Way of Brazoria County directly funds health and human service programs that help strengthen children and families, improve community health, and increase independence. For more information, contact us at 800.997.6677.