OUR STAFF AND BOARD

Angelina Hudson has served as NAMI Greater Houston’s Vice President, Programs & Partnerships since 2011. In this capacity, Angelina supports earlier identification of those facing a mental health condition, removing barriers to mental health services & supports, and de-criminalizing those living with mental health conditions by advocating for appropriate treatment options. Angelina leads the operations of the psychoeducation programs servicing family members of loved ones diagnosed with a serious mental health condition, parents of children diagnosed, military family members reeling from deployment-related challenges, and those searching for their own recovery path. Angelina also oversees the organization’s support groups for peers in recovery, family members, veterans, and signature program training opportunities.

In addition, she serves on the national NAMI training team as a trainer for the signature NAMI Family Support Group model and as a state trainer certifying new NAMI Basics teachers for parents and caregivers of children. Angelina also contributes to the team as a Director for the organization’s warm line service and cultivates partnering organizations who refer clients searching for mental health service linkages. Under her direction, the program offerings throughout Greater Houston have grown from four locations in one county to more than 29 program sites located in three counties with additional fee-for-service contracts serving 3 area school districts. In her latest endeavor, she launched an initiative to raise awareness and promote mental health interventions targeted toward our society’s youth and young adults. Currently, Angelina collaborates with Texas’ Workforce Commission to connect adults disabled by their mental health diagnosis to supported-employment opportunities, cross-training, and entrepreneurial development.

Kern F. Vanderburg manages NAMI Greater Houston’s Warmline/Sea Center and brings to NAMI Greater Houston a background of 35 years of dual diagnosis counseling as an LCDC along with recovery and community advocacy in Texas and also around the country.

Kern is currently a state certified Mental Health Peer Specialist. Acting as peer support specialist to bring “lived experience” and training in supporting those who struggle with mental health, psychological trauma, or substance use. My personal experience of these challenges provides me with empathy, understanding, and insight that professional training alone cannot duplicate. I promote and encourage resilience along with SEA Center Peer staff to engender that innate capacity people possess to recover from difficulties and challenges in today’s very difficult times.

My ideals flow from cultivating mindfulness that is essential in the effort to see myself and others clearly and to bring compassion and caring to my efforts to be of service. I am an artist of life and a proud loving father and brother. A song I have on repeat is “Ain’t No Cure for Love”

-Coordination of our SEA Center operators and resource directory

NAMI SEA Center: The Support Education & Advocacy (SEA) Center is a peer-run operation dedicated to providing support, education, and advocacy through opportunities and resources for individuals to help them find their own path to mental health recovery.