NAMI Central Texas—the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness—is dedicated to improving the lives of all individuals affected by mental illness through education, support, and advocacy programs.

Please Note: All board positions are volunteer-based.

About the Role & NAMI Central Texas

About the Role

Does the prospect of overseeing and supporting an organization that’s creating community around mental illness ignite a spark within you? Does the excitement, challenges, and opportunities brought by expansion and growth of an established mental health nonprofit organization excite you?

NAMI Central Texas wants to hear from you.

NAMI Central Texas (NAMI) is seeking additional members for its board of directors to oversee the organization during a pivotal moment in the organization’s history as we aspire to continue our positive momentum and meet the ever-increasing mental health needs of our community in the wake of the pandemic. We’re also adapting as the area’s rapid growth persists, fueled by innovative industries and economic opportunity, and as the Texas Legislature shows ongoing dedication to improving mental health policy each session. The mental health landscape in Texas is changing, and NAMI Central Texas is rising to the occasion.

NAMI is in an organizational growth stage and seeks to continue managing this expansion strategically and effectively. NAMI’s  growth includes outreach to residents of a 5 county region, the scope of programs and services, program evaluation, revenue expansion and diversification, as well as strengthening the outcomes-based impact of the organization. Board members at this juncture will oversee the organization as it applies critical thinking to strengthen and advance the organization’s mission and vision.

About NAMI Central Texas

In keeping with the national NAMI model, NAMI Central Texas is a grassroots organization driven by a large network of volunteers—individuals, family members, professionals and friends—all impacted by mental illness. The organization has a nearly $1 million dollar budget and 9 employees, and works with third party firms for financial management services, talent management/human resources, grant writing and public relations. Additionally, the organization is diversifying its funding sources which at this time are primarily generated from special events, grant funding, and individual contributions.

NAMI creates community around mental illness in several ways, including through its volunteer-led classes and support groups for individuals and families and friends of individuals living with mental illness, as well as a full range of community presentations, workshops and trainings that raise awareness, change perceptions, offer hope, and teach advocacy for schools, faith communities, community organizations, law enforcement and other professional groups.

NAMI Central Texas has continued to achieve major milestones in many areas of community participation and in the successful expansion of both NAMI signature programs and locally developed programs across the Greater Austin area and the surrounding 5-county area.

How to Apply

We ask that all interested candidates review the NAMI Central Texas Board Agreement and Strategic Plan before completing the form below.

At the end of the form, you will be asked to submit a CV or résumé. Once forms and résumés are received, qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the interview process. Candidates invited to join the Board will be required to sign the Board Member Agreement and complete a background check.

NAMI Central Texas maintains a continuing policy of nondiscrimination in all employment practices and decisions, ensuring equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals without regard to of race, disability, ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, culture, language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, faith, socio-economic status, lived experience, religion, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status. This applies to both NAMI Central Texas employees and applicants for employment.

DEI Statement

NAMI Central Texas’ mission is to improve the lives of all individuals affected by mental illness through education, support and advocacy programs. In service of our mission, we believe that staff members and volunteers that have lived experiences can relate to others who also have lived experiences with mental illness. We recognize that while mental illness affects all communities, public stigma of mental illness and mental health conditions have historically and

disproportionately impacted marginalized communities, often those experiencing systemic racism, discrimination and oppression, from seeking help or resources for their mental health conditions. Therefore, in order to more fully accomplish our mission, we believe that we must center our work on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as well as culturally responsive services and programs.

NAMI Central Texas is committed to the following actions:

  • We will build on our commitment to diversity by intentionally recruiting and retaining Board members, staff and volunteers who represent the diverse population in Central Texas, inclusive of those who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+
  • We will create inclusive environments for all Board members, staff, volunteers and community participants by continuously building our skills and knowledge, seeking ongoing feedback and making necessary changes along the way for the betterment of our programs
  • We will strive to create and execute equitable programs and advocate for policies that will enable us to bring our words and commitments to life and action
  • We will intentionally create strategies to ensure we are serving the diverse communities in Central Texas, inclusive of those who identify as BIPOC and LGBTQIA+
  • We will continue to create and execute programs that are culturally and linguistically responsive to the communities we serve

We believe this work is a journey and is never complete. Therefore, this commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and culturally responsive services and programs will continue to evolve as NAMI Central Texas and the community we serve continue to grow and develop.