Supporting Mental Health Through Sound Decision Making

Featuring National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Diego

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Diego has long been a leader in advocating for individuals and families affected by mental illness and substance use disorders. Through its person-centered, holistic model of support, education, and advocacy, NAMI works to eliminate stigma and build more inclusive systems of care.

When NAMI San Diego acquired a unique property in Vista—a home on 3.5 acres known as Copper Hill, originally created as a supportive housing option for people living with schizophrenia—the organization turned to SVP for guidance. With a valuable asset in hand, NAMI needed to assess the best path forward.

The SVP team—John Fry (Lead), JC Kyrillos, Steve White, and Evelyn Wiggins—helped NAMI navigate this complex decision. Together, they developed a decision matrix, mapping out a range of feasible options for Copper Hill and weighing them against the organization’s mission, capacity, and long-term goals.

The SVP team also supported stakeholder engagement and alignment, helping NAMI prepare to move forward confidently with a strategy that best serves its clients and community.

As a result of the engagement, NAMI San Diego is now positioned to make an informed, mission-aligned decision about Copper Hill—transforming a generous gift into a powerful tool for addressing mental health challenges in North County.