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Strategic Plan

The path ahead

Growing our partnerships and strengthening our network across the city for better cross-sector coalition building.​
On this page:
Strategic Goal 1
Strategic Goal 2
Strategic Goal 3
Strategic Goal 4
Strategic Goal 5
STRATEGIC GOAL 1

Health equity & community-rooted partnerships

NAMI Chicago will be the mental health partner of primary resort in the neighborhoods where care access is lowest, not because we parachute in, but because we show up consistently and are accountable to community leaders.

Key initiatives

Mental health partnership integrations in South and West Side communities
Embedded presence at anchor institutions such as churches, park districts, community centers, and health hubs
Culturally grounded programming co-developed with local organizations
Annual South and West Side Mental Health Summit convening leaders and residents
STRATEGIC GOAL 2

Youth & young adult engagement

NAMI Chicago will equip young Chicagoans not only to understand their mental health but to navigate the digital landscape, including social media and artificial intelligence, with critical awareness skills.

Key initiatives

Amplify Young Adult Peer Ambassador programming in schools and community settings
Uplift Parent and Caregiver Digital Literacy Workshops on what children encounter online
Deepen education partnerships with student support structures and pilot youth digital wellness
Artificial Intelligence and Mental Health Public Forum Series positioning NAMI Chicago as a thought leader
STRATEGIC GOAL 3

Decriminalizing mental illness

NAMI Chicago will be Chicago’s leading advocate for the principle that a mental health crisis is not a crime and every person with serious mental illness who encounters the justice system deserves a pathway to care and recovery.

Key initiatives

Develop Jail In-Reach Peer Support Pilot at Cook County Jail with transition planning
Formalize Crisis Intervention Team partnership with the Chicago Police Department and advocate for expanded co-responder models
Support pre-arrest diversion and deflection coalitions
Deploy family navigation for justice-involved loved ones and advocate at the state level
STRATEGIC GOAL 4

Internal workforce development

NAMI Chicago will invest in its own people with the same intentionality we bring to the communities we serve by building a workplace where staff are developed, supported, and retained.

Key Initiatives

Professional development pathways with transparent career tracks and certification support
Staff wellness program including wellness days, peer support, and workload management
Recognize lived experience as a professional asset across the workforce

Workforce pipeline partnerships with local institutions for placements and internships

STRATEGIC GOAL 5

Organizational sustainability

NAMI Chicago will operate with the governance rigor, financial resilience, and relational depth of an organization that plans to be here for decades by building trust through transparency and measurable impact.

Key Initiatives

Board professionalization including targeted recruitment, term limits, giving policy, and self-assessments
Diversified funding across grants, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and government contracts

Refined impact reporting shared proactively with current and prospective funders

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Our impact

See how this work is taking shape across Chicago, including the people we reach, programs we deliver, and progress we are making over time.

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