AMI is building community for those with mental health challenges
Editor’s note: This article is a part of Helping the Helpers, our annual series to raise awareness for nonprofits throughout the area.
In late 1969, a group of five people returning to the community from state psychiatric hospitals started having social gatherings once a week.
Through the group’s gatherings, the Washington-Greene MH/MR Program recognized the need for socialization and peer support. The result was AMI, which stands for Advocate. Mentor. Inspire.
Serving Greene and Washington counties, the nonprofit offers free programs and assistance for those with mental health challenges. AMI has always served adults, and recently started offering services starting at age 14.
“Everyone here is in recovery themselves, and we’re able to share our experiences in a variety of ways,” said Melissa Gardner, the organization’s chief operating officer.
One is through peer mentoring, which helps AMI clients meet people in the community, schedule appointments and build support systems, Gardner said. A certified peer specialty program pairs two individuals to help develop and achieve goals such as earning a GED, getting a job or navigating insurance.
Onsite programs provide opportunities for socialization, coping skills and working with others, according to Gardner.
Throughout the years, AMI has added a number of programs, including psychiatric rehabilitation services, employment and housing support, and a drop-in center that offers a judgement-free environment where members can take part in activities and make friends.
“As the recovery experience has expanded for people, the programs have expanded to meet the needs of the individuals in our community,” Diana McKinney, chief executive officer at AMI said. “The overall goal is to inspire people, give them hope and empower them.”
The Family Navigator program, started in 2025, is AMI’s newest offering.
The initiative is part of a two-year pilot program developed by the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Youth and Family Training Institute (YFTI). AMI is one of six sites across Pennsylvania to participate in the program.
“The Family Navigator program provides staff with lived experience to support families navigating through the complex mental health system. For example, if you have a child who has just been diagnosed, we can help connect you with a psychiatrist, a case worker, etcetera,” Gardner said.
AMI has recently started offering peer support services in Washington School District.
“We have a certified peer specialist at Washington Junior High. She’s there to support students, meet one-on-one and provide another outlet for students. It’s a different kind of engagement but has been a great experience so far,” Gardner said. “We’re the first agency to have a peer in the school system.”
There are currently more than 700 individuals in the various programs, and the staff at AMI are excited to see the progress made by so many.
“There’s something to be said about the value of quality of life for people. We’ve seen so many people accomplish things simply because someone is walking along next to them who believes in them,” McKinney said.
AMI is always in need of financial support, volunteers and additional staff.
Learn more at https://www.hope4wellness.org/,