NAMI Lake County’s grassroots were established in 1989 as AMI Lake County, an outgrowth of the Families Do Care Foundation; which began in October 1988 as a committee designed to define housing needs for the mentally ill in Lake County. Families Do Care was formed by volunteers, each of whom had a family member with a mental illness. Each also was involved in the support group at Crossroads Health F.K.A Beacon Health/Neighboring, Supportive Family Friendships. In 1989, the AMI Lake County Board developed Bylaws which were approved by the general membership and achieved non-profit status as well as incorporation in the State of Ohio. AMI Lake County then became chartered as an affiliate of NAMI Ohio and the national organization – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. In accordance with a vote of the general membership of NAMI in 2006, each affiliated organization changed their name to become the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI.