NAMI South Carolina

NAMI South Carolina To improve the quality of life and treatment for the seriously mentally ill and their families in South Carolina through education, support, and advocacy

NAMI South Carolina is a grassroots organization who's mission is o improve the quality of life and treatment for the seriously mentally ill and their families in South Carolina through support, education, and advocacy.

08/27/2026

We are just one week away from the NAMI South Carolina State Mental Health Conference, taking place on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2), 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia, SC.

The annual conference will bring together mental health professionals, advocates, healthcare providers, law enforcement, individuals with lived experience, family members, and community leaders from across South Carolina for a day of education, collaboration, and connection.

Attendees will enjoy engaging plenary presentations, interactive breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and lunch.

This year's featured speakers include Tyler McKinzey, Sheriff Leon Lott, and Hannah Wesolowski, along with expert-led breakout sessions covering advocacy, neurodiversity, wellness, lived experience, mental health resources, and innovative approaches to care.

To register, visit namisc.org/conference

A huge shoutout to our Sponsors at this year's State Mental Health conference! Thank you for all of your continued sup...
08/26/2026

A huge shoutout to our Sponsors at this year's State Mental Health conference! Thank you for all of your continued support.

Check out our Legislative & Advocacy Speaker Panel at The NAMI SC State Mental Health ConferenceRepresentative Heather B...
08/25/2026

Check out our Legislative & Advocacy Speaker Panel at The NAMI SC State Mental Health Conference

Representative Heather Bauer
Heather Bauer is a South Carolina businesswoman and member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. She earned a B.S. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. from the University of South Carolina. She is co-owner of Warrior Fitness and serves as Vice President of the Nickelodeon Theatre Board and as a board member of the City of Columbia Food Policy Committee.

Senator Russell Ott
Russell Ott is a lifelong South Carolinian and farmer from Calhoun County. Before being elected to the South Carolina Senate in 2024, he served 11 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Representing Senate District 26, Ott is focused on improving education, expanding access to affordable health care, supporting businesses and workers, and making state government more effective and responsive.

Representative Bruce Bannister
Bruce Wyche Bannister is a partner at Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey, LLC and represents District 24 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. A graduate of Davidson College and the University of South Carolina School of Law, he was first elected to the House in 2005 and currently serves as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. A lifelong Greenville resident, Bannister has also held numerous leadership roles in the legal and nonprofit communities.

Hannah Weslowski
Hannah Weslowski is Chief Advocacy Officer at NAMI, where she leads the organization’s Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy efforts to advance policies that improve the lives of people affected by mental health conditions. She joined NAMI in 2017 after more than a decade in advocacy and government affairs. She previously worked with the Public Affairs Council, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Institute of Architects. Weslowski holds a B.A. and MPA from New York University.

🎤 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: DOTTIE FARFONE, RPhWe’re excited to welcome Dottie Farfone, RPh, Chief Clinical Pharmacist at Summi...
08/24/2026

🎤 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: DOTTIE FARFONE, RPh

We’re excited to welcome Dottie Farfone, RPh, Chief Clinical Pharmacist at Summit Clinical Institute and Co-Founder of Dottie’s Pharmacy, to the NAMI SC State Mental Health Conference!

With more than 25 years of pharmacy experience, Dottie has dedicated her career to compassionate, patient-centered care, with a particular focus on behavioral health and addiction treatment.

Through her work at Summit Clinical Institute, Dottie focuses on education and innovation surrounding medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder and other behavioral health conditions, while strengthening collaboration between pharmacists, providers, payers and manufacturers.

Dottie was elected to the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy in 2024 and also serves on a task force with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, helping advance pharmacy policy and best practices.

We’re looking forward to hearing her expertise and perspective at this year’s conference! 💚

📅 September 3, 2026
📍 Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2)

We are offering Continuing Education Opportunities at the NAMI SC State Mental Health Conference!Earn your required cred...
08/19/2026

We are offering Continuing Education Opportunities at the NAMI SC State Mental Health Conference!

Earn your required credits while expanding your skills! The following CE hours are available for this program:
Law Enforcement: 7 CE hours approved
Legal (CLE): 5 SA/MH CLE hours approved
EMS: 5 hours approved
Mid-Carolina AHEC: 5.5 clock hours approved*
Peer Scholarships Available: A limited number of peer scholarships are available for individuals living with a mental health condition.
*Mid-Carolina AHEC Details: This program is approved for 5.5 clock hours of continuing education by Mid-Carolina AHEC, Inc. and meets the SC AHEC Continuing Education Best Practice Standards. Participants must attend 90% of the program to receive a certificate of attendance. No partial credit will be given.
Counselors & Therapists: Pre-approved for 5.5 hours of CE by SC AHEC under its accreditation by the SC Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists.
Social Workers: Approved by the SC Board of Social Work Examiners for 5.5 clock hours of non-social work CE.

Register:
https://namisc.org/conference/

The official schedule for the NAMI SC State Mental Health Conference is HERE! 💙We have an incredible roster of speakers ...
08/13/2026

The official schedule for the NAMI SC State Mental Health Conference is HERE! 💙

We have an incredible roster of speakers lined up to share insights on advocacy, holistic interventions, crisis response, and healthcare integration.

🗓️ When: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Where: Room assignments listed in the schedule above!
🎟️ Register: Head to the link in our bio to claim your seat today.
namisc.org/conference

We are pleased to announce that our Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), including Deniece Chi , the Bilingual Coordinator at...
08/13/2026

We are pleased to announce that our Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), including Deniece Chi , the Bilingual Coordinator at NAMISC, recently participated in the 2026 CIT International Conference in Orlando, Florida. Sherri Cloud, CIT Director; Marty Wilkes, the CIT Coordinator for the upstate; and Peter Farrell, the CIT Coordinator for the lowcountry, acquired valuable knowledge and resources to further enhance South Carolina's CIT programs. We consistently value our staff's participation in such beneficial training opportunities and their subsequent application of these learnings.

Last year’s legislative speakers brought powerful perspectives and important conversations to the NAMI South Carolina St...
08/12/2026

Last year’s legislative speakers brought powerful perspectives and important conversations to the NAMI South Carolina State Mental Health Conference—and this year, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of that conversation.

Our legislative session is a chance to ask questions, hear directly from policymakers, and better understand the policies shaping mental health care in South Carolina. Whether you work in mental health, advocate for change, support a loved one, or simply want to learn more, this is an opportunity to connect the dots between policy and the issues impacting our communities every day.

Join us September 3 for a day of learning, connection, advocacy, and meaningful conversation at the NAMI SC State Mental Health Conference.

Come with questions. Leave with a deeper understanding of how we can move mental health forward in South Carolina. Register today
https://namisc.org/conference/

As one of our featured speakers at the NAMI South Carolina State Mental Health Conference, we’re excited to introduce Dr...
08/10/2026

As one of our featured speakers at the NAMI South Carolina State Mental Health Conference, we’re excited to introduce Dr. Lisa Johnson!

Dr. Johnson is an adoptive mom, passionate BPD advocate, professor, and devoted small-dog enthusiast. She serves as Professor and Director of Women’s and Gender Studies at USC Upstate, where she teaches courses exploring gender, disability, and film.

Bringing together her professional expertise and personal perspective, Dr. Johnson is passionate about fostering greater understanding, challenging stigma, and creating meaningful conversations around mental health and disability.

Outside of the classroom and her advocacy work, Dr. Johnson lives in Spartanburg with her son and her five small dogs. 🐾

We’re honored to have her join us for this year’s conference!

Address

1735 St, Julian Place Ste. 300
Columbia, SC
29204

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18037339592

Website

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