NAMI SLOCO is a non-profit organization of families and friends of people with severe mental illnesses. Members provide educational and emotional support for each other and advocate for better understanding, treatment and care of people with mental illness. Extensive training is provided by NAMI for those members leading support groups and classes. NAMI SLOCO is affiliated with the NAMI California and NAMI National.

The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a 12 week course for families of individuals with severe brain disorders (mental illnesses). The course is taught by trained family members. All course materials are furnished at no cost. The curriculum focuses on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), clinical depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The course discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively.

NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses. The NAMI Basics course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13 years. All instruction and course materials are free to class participants.The program was developed around elements that have been extensively tested and found to be highly effective in the field, including:

  • Recognition of mental illness as a continuing traumatic event for the child and family
  • Sensitivity to the subjective emotional issues faced by family caregivers and well children in the family
  • Recognition of the need to help ameliorate the day-to-day objective burdens of care and management
  • Gaining confidence and stamina for what can be a lifelong role of family understanding and support
  • Empowerment of family caregivers as effective advocates for their children

The NAMI website offers a current schedule of classes: http://www.namislo.org/