“I couldn't believe what they were talking about, they were talking about what I was going through. I'm like, oh my gosh, they know exactly what I'm feeling. I broke down in tears because I couldn't believe other people were experiencing the exact same thing that I was,” describes Rachel Callahan, Jones County Coordinator, recalling her first time attending a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Dubuque support group. Like Rachel, all current team members or volunteers with NAMI Dubuque first walked through the doors looking for support.
Britni Farber, President & CEO, explains the organization’s person-centered approach to wellness opportunities throughout Dubuque, Jones, and Delaware counties “Our primary focus is providing no-cost mental health services by way of education, support, and advocacy for peers and their families. We focus on the measure of lived and shared experiences through our trained peer providers. Whether they are peer recovery coaches or peer support specialists, Americorps VISTAs, or individuals that support our additional programming, we all have lived or shared experiences.”
Dubuque-based peer recovery specialist Theresa Wilson facilitates support groups and educational classes at the Dubuque Center, "At the center we have the ability to provide support through one-on-one individual coaching or in groups. It truly depends on the individual and their comfort level. The women in the jail really respond to the opportunities in a positive way. They want to grow, to learn and to break the cycle. We see the changes. One of my favorite programs that I get to do is at the jail.”
In Jones County, the focus is providing virtual, mobile peer support options as well as working to support the older adult population. Farber describes the development of this outreach effort, “We are working to ‘meet people where they are at’ and have received feedback that meeting at various public places such as coffee shops or local libraries can be more comfortable for someone seeking care. This feedback is important to us as we work to have a consistent presence in Jones County and keep our services accessible.”
Samantha Petersen, Delaware County Program Coordinator, shares how uplifting it is to hear feedback from some of the Manchester wellness center participants, “They have told me that since they have started coming to NAMI that they don't feel as stressed out about life. And another one had told me that it's really nice to have someone to connect to. And I really appreciated that. I like to know that I'm helping people not feel alone. And it also helps me, too. I feel like I'm benefiting from this a lot, as well.”
During Suicide Awareness month in September, NAMI Dubuque organizes a Suicide Prevention Walk. Farber points out, “Everything we do is suicide prevention. All of our groups, all of our classes, everything we do helps support the ongoing need for communication and coping skills, wellness and crisis plans, and touch-points for troubleshooting lived experiences. NAMI Dubuque’s mission is to serve our community in the best way we can, and when your mission at its core is about saving lives, we want to make sure we are as accessible and resourceful as possible.”
NAMI Dubuque team members pictured above from left to right: Theresa Wilson, Britni Farber, Rachel Callahan
NAMI Dubuque Website: https://www.namidubuque.org/
NAMI Dubuque Program Center
225 W 6th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001
General Email: nami@namidubuque.org
Phone: 563-557-6264
NAMI Dubuque Jones County Rural Support Services
Virtual format options
One-on-one meetings by appointment
Email: rachel@namidubuque.org
Phone: 563-845-2573
NAMI Dubuque Delaware County Program Center
601 Grant St. Manchester, IA 52057
Email: samantha@namidubuque.org
Phone: 319-435-8384