NAMI-BC is proud to work in collaboration with Berkshire Medical Center and the Department of Mental Health with our Citizen Monitoring Program. Trained family volunteers are able to visit the psychiatric units at BMC and give their observations with a fresh eye to the benefit of all.  The primary goal is to improve the quality of life of patients and for the staff who serve them. The staff-family collaboration it fosters strengthens the power of advocacy.

 Volunteers receive a three hour training sponsored by the Department of Mental Health, the staff of Berkshire Medical Center, and NAMI Berkshire County.  As monitors, family members become educated about all facets of the hospital environment and are then able to provide feedback to the mental health administration on the care being provided to patients. Monitors are given six-month unit assignments and make scheduled site visits once a month. All monitors work in pairs and are accompanied by a different staff member on each visit. Monitoring reports are then reviewed at follow-up meetings arranged with the monitoring teams and the the administrative head of BMC on a quarterly basis.

Trainings take place annually. If you are interested in becoming a citizen monitor, please call the NAMI office: 413-443-1666.