History of NAMI Delaware
1983 First meeting in New Castle County (April)
Incorporated as NCCAMI (June)
Educational and Support meetings started
1983 Sussex County AMI formed
1984 Moved into first office
1985 NCCAMI and SCAMI merged to form
AMID
State Monitoring Surveys rate Delaware Mental Health System 4th
from the bottom
1986 Legislative "Coffees" held in AMID
homes
65 AMID members attended Legislative Finance Committee hearings
DuPont-financed Video ("When the Music Stops") developed
Delaware State Hospital monitoring program begun
Housing Initiative started
Dr.Fuller Torrey a guest of AMID
1987 Employed first Executive Director
First (of six) annual local Walk-a-thons
AMID became a United Way member
Established Synetics Corporation (wholly-owned Housing
subsidiary)
1988 Moved to City (4th street
office)
AMID member Ron Norris elected to NAMI National Board
Received first (of 12) HUD 202/811 grants
1989 State
Monitoring Surveys rate Delaware Mental Health System 11th best in
nation ("most improved state")
Held first Consumer Art Show
Held Candlelight Vigil on Rodney Square
1991 Held first Statewide Conference -
at Delaware State University
Received NAMI's First Sarah Francoeur Award for Housing
Developed and opened Woodmont Gardens Apartments (with
Community Housing, Inc.)
1993 Reorganized to split operational responsibility between Executive Director and Director of Housing
1995 Relocated offices to first floor (later expanded)
1998 Established endowment fund (with United Way/Delaware Community
Foundation)
Delaware Mental Health Parity Law signed
Delaware CarePlan established
Received Eli Lilly Reintegration Award (2nd place)
1999 Reorganized again to give operational responsibility for entire organization to Executive Director
2000 Established Medical Advisory Board
Initiated NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program
Received Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Award
2001 Acquired contract for Consumer Services Organization which included twocurrent activity centers in Wilmington and Newark
2002 Opened Downstate office in
Rehoboth Beach
Changed name to NAMI Delaware
Became sole owners of Woodmont Garden Apartments
R. Franz received Philadelphia Eagles "Community Quarterback"
Award
2003 NAMI Delaware Housing Program featured in NAMI
Advocate
NAMI Delaware a Pilot site for first nationwide NAMI Walks
Purchased and moved into self-standing office building
2004 Opened Kent County office in Dover
Initiated Visions for Tomorrow program for caregivers of
Children and Adolescents
Initiated African-American Family to Family Program
NAMI-C.A.R.E and
Peer-to-Peer implemented downstate
