Board of Directors
President: Greg Parker
Vice President: Maralee Parker
Secretary: Annette Washow
Treasurer: Jeanette Mihalec
Ecker Center Cares Drop-in Liaison: Joe Salas
Directors: Laurie Huske, Phil Braun, Alexis Bach, Christy Duritza, Sgt. Anthony Regano, EPD, Pastor Phil Trzynka-Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, Jack Werner, Legislative Chair, Sue Werner, Beata Wybraniec
History of NAMI Kane County North
Our NAMI affiliate named NAMI of Fox Valley was founded in 1987 by four mothers who were concerned about the welfare of people with mental illness. Our first meetings were held in the basement of (the old) Sherman Hospital in Elgin, where we met primarily to support each other and to better understand mental illness.
As our membership grew and we became a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (1989), we moved our meeting location to the Dundee Library and then to Elgin Community College in 1993. In 1994, we relocated to the Ecker Center, 3rd floor for our business/support meetings, and we voted to change our name to NAMI Kane County.
In 1994, we established the first NAMI St. Charles support group for family members which continues today to help people who face mental illness in the family. NAMI KC added the CARES GROUP in 2005, which is a support group led by and for consumers who are working towards recovery (temporarily canceled). Two NAMI consumers presented the 6-week Peer-to-Peer Education Program and were the presenters in the “In Our Own Voice Program” in 2010.
In 2010 a monthly family member support group was added in Elgin at St. Joseph Hospital on the 2nd Tuesday evening of the month. Since the pandemic, the location has changed to Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 12N462 Tina Trail, Elgin, 60124.
NAMI Kane County voted to add NORTH to its name in 2011, due to the fact there is another Kane County affiliate in the southern part of the county.
In 2014, a second monthly family member support group was added in Elgin at Advocate Sherman Hospital on the 3rd Thursday evening of the month. Since the pandemic, the location has changed to New Life Community Church, 1580 E. Chicago St., Elgin, 60120.
In 2018, a third monthly family member support group was added in Elgin at the Ecker Center on the 1st Saturday morning of the month. That group became a virtual (zoom) group for a period, but at this time, has been canceled.