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About NAMI Cecil County

We are a volunteer-led affiliate of NAMI Maryland, bringing free mental health support, education and advocacy to communities across Cecil County.

Our mission

NAMI Cecil County provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. Every NAMI program is free and led by trained volunteers who have lived experience, either their own or a family member’s.

We formed so that no family has to leave Cecil County to find support. Until now, families have driven to neighboring counties for NAMI programs. We bring free support groups and classes close to home, working alongside the county’s existing services rather than duplicating them.

Our Steering Committee

NAMI Cecil County is guided by a volunteer Steering Committee of family members, people with lived experience and community partners. As a Model B affiliate, we don’t have a board of directors: the committee plans our programs, outreach and events, and works closely with NAMI Maryland.

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    Chair

    Tajuddeen A. Williams, Ph.D.

    Dr. Williams is a social psychologist, university instructor and technologist with more than 25 years of experience in software engineering and public-sector technology. He brings 17 years of NAMI volunteer leadership with five affiliates in four states, has taught NAMI Family-to-Family since 2012, and is a state trainer for NAMI In Our Own Voice. He leads the Steering Committee’s work to bring NAMI’s free programs to Cecil County.

    Contact Tajuddeen
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    Co-Chair

    Sarah Lane

    Sarah is Vice Chair of the Steering Committee and supports the affiliate’s online presence. This fall Sarah is training to lead NAMI In Our Own Voice, NAMI Basics, NAMI Peer-to-Peer and the NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group, growing the programs Cecil County families can attend close to home.

    Contact Sarah
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    Advocacy Representative

    James Maines

    James represents NAMI Cecil County in NAMI Maryland’s advocacy work, including weekly calls during the legislative session and Advocacy Day in Annapolis, and brings frontline crisis-response and overdose-prevention experience in Cecil County.

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    Program Facilitator

    Sharon Brubaker

    Sharon is a trained NAMI Family-to-Family teacher and part of the affiliate’s digital support team.

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    Program Facilitator

    Christina (Tina) Andrews

    Tina is training to teach NAMI Basics, the class for parents and caregivers of children and teens with mental health symptoms.

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    Program Facilitator

    Crystal Simpson-Howell

    Crystal is training to facilitate the NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group for adults living with a mental health condition.

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    Program Facilitator & Community Connector

    Ed Reed

    Ed is a trained NAMI Connection facilitator who already leads a Connection Recovery Support Group at VA Perry Point in Cecil County.

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    Program Facilitator & Community Connector

    Shelly Gulledge Sawyer

    Shelly was part of earlier efforts to bring NAMI to Cecil County and helps connect the affiliate with the county’s behavioral health services.

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    Digital Support

    Gillian Simon

    Gillian supports the affiliate’s online presence and helps connect NAMI with the needs of young people and their families.

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    Community Connector

    Heather McCauley

    Heather helps connect Cecil County families with NAMI’s free support and education programs.

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    Community Connector

    Sheri Lazarus

    Sheri helps connect NAMI with people and families in recovery through community partners across Cecil County.

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    Community Connector

    Maria Donnelly

    Maria founded Faith Hope and Joy Ministries and helps connect NAMI with faith communities across Cecil County.

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    Community Connector

    Jamie Miller

    Jamie helps connect the affiliate with community partners and plans to train in NAMI’s programs.

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    Steering Committee Member

    Ralph Watkins

    Ralph brings experience leading peer wellness and recovery services and helps build referral pathways for people in recovery.

How we’re organized

NAMI affiliates are organized in different ways. NAMI Cecil County is a Model B affiliate, which means we operate as part of NAMI Maryland rather than as our own separately incorporated organization.

Volunteer-led

A Steering Committee, not a board of directors, leads our local work. Members serve as volunteers.

Part of NAMI Maryland

We follow NAMI Maryland’s policies and procedures, and NAMI Maryland provides governance and financial oversight for our affiliate.

Held to NAMI standards

Like every NAMI affiliate, we meet NAMI’s affiliation requirements and deliver NAMI’s signature programs as designed.

Interested in serving?

We’re growing. If you’re a NAMI member who wants to help shape mental health support in Cecil County, we’d love to talk with you about joining the Steering Committee.

Get in touch