NAMI PA Chester County was organized in 1980, as a local Chapter of Families Unite for Mental Health Rights. FUMHR was an organization of Family Members in S/E PA, who had mental illness issues or someone in their family. As the organization grew, it became known as the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of S/E PA (AMI of S/E PA). In 1983, the state organization was formed and called AMI of PA. Our Chester County group then became a Chapter of the state organization. NAMI PA is now the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Family Members and their relatives suffering from severe and persistent mental illness, a biological brain disorder

NAMI PA now has affiliates in more than 60 of the 67 counties in PA. NAMI is a Nonprofit, Grassroots, Self-help, Education, Support and Advocacy organization. There are over 1,200 affiliates and a quarter of a million members of Family, Consumers and Professionals across the United States.