Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Erie County
A Sprout viewer recently suggested we run a feature on the Family-To-Family Program, offered at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Erie County. The following information was taken from the NAMI Erie County website, for more information on Family-To-Family and other programs offered at the agency, please visit www.namierie.org.
About the Program
One of NAMI's cornerstone programs is Family-to-Family. The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a 12-week course for family members and caregivers of individuals with mental illnesses. The course is taught by trained family members with the instruction and course materials offered FREE to class participants.
The highly-structured Family-to-Family curriculum educates caregivers and family members about various mental illnesses, treatments and medications, and rehabilitation. Participants learn self-care, problem-solving skills, and communication skills, which can later be taught to the entire family unit. Many graduates of the program called it "life-changing" as they develop friendships with others in similar situations.
The Family-to-Family program also allows participants to safely express their questions and concerns for their family member's mental health by offering a comforting as well as empathetic environment. The agency's goals and objectives for the program are to strengthen the family through communication, empathy, and understanding.
The Family-to-Family program is evidence-based, which is the highest rating that an educational course can achieve in terms of sustainability of improving the quality of life for the individual and family members. To learn more about the latest research on the program, please visit the NAMI Erie County website.
For more information on the Parent-to-Parent Education Program, as well as an educational video, project goals, and measurable objectives, please visit www.namierie.org/programs/family-to-family.
