Education Programs

The Family-To-Family (“F2F”) Education Program is the flagship education program of NAMI-USA. It is a12-week course for family caregivers of individuals affected with a serious brain disorder, i.e. mental illness. F2F is taught by trained family member volunteers. It meets in weekly sessions of 2 ½ hours (usually on a week night) for twelve consecutive weeks. Class size is limited to about 20 people who must be pre-interviewed by the co-teachers prior to the course. All instruction and course materials are free for class participants.

Family-to-Family classes are offered in hundreds of communities in 46 states as well as in two Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The course is also available in Spanish. Nationwide over 100,000 family members have taken the course since its inception. In Massachusetts there is currently a network of 97 trained F2F volunteer teachers. The program is funded by the Mass. Department of Mental Health.

The Family-to-Family curriculum utilizes a variety of teaching techniques and includes a broad range of topics:

· Information about Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

· Coping skills, handling crisis and relapse

· Listening and communication techniques

· Problem solving and limit setting; rehabilitation

· Understanding the actual experience of people suffering from mental illness

· Self-care; learning how to recognize normal emotional reactions among families

· Basic information about medications and their side effects

· Information about connecting with appropriate community services and community supports

· Advocacy; getting better services, fighting discrimination and stigma

For more information about the Family-to-Family Education Program in Massachusetts, please contact Karen McGravey-Gajera, Famity-to-Family Education & Support Programs Coordinator, at 781-938-4048 or kgajera@namimass.org

View this NAMI Family to Family Tribute Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osN2YiNbRrw

F2F Classes WINTER/SPRING 2010

Courses are offered by the affiliates throughout the state.

Bedford (Sponsored by the Veterans Administration)	Starting: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 From: 7:00-9:30 PM Contact: Jane at 508-877-8893 and Janet at 781-275-1507 This course is Not Only for Veterans & their families, but open to the general public as well. The course is the same as every other Family to Family course and does not particularly focus on PTSD. All names are confidential - even to the VA.
Boston (Sponsored by Vinfen)	Por favor llamar a Carmen 857-234-9688 > Más
Boston (Sponsored by Vinfen)	FULL. Starting: February 17, 2010 From: 6:30 - 9:00 PM Contact: Peggy or Fenton at 508 693-5872
Brighton (Sponsored by Vinfen)	Starting: January 20 , 2010 Contact Joe & Debbie at 617-680-1540 to register
Children's Hospital in Salem	Starting: March 8, 2010 From: 7:00-9:30pm Contact: Joanne at 781-592-9727 or Andrea at mimi1251949@yahoo.com
Framingham (Sponsored by Advocates Inc.)	Starting: Wednesday March 24, 2010 From: 7:00-9:30 PM Contact: Larry or Tina at 508-485-5385
Holyoke	Starting Thursday, February 4, 2010 From: 6:30-9pm Contact: Bernice or Robin at 413-596-5059
Jamaica Plain (Sponsored by the Veterans Administration)	Starting: Thursday, March 18, 2010 From 10:45am-1:15pm Contact: Dee at 978-697-3441 or at deefebba@comcast.net This course is Not Only for Veterans & their families, but open to the general public as well. The course is the same as every other Family to Family course and does not particularly focus on PTSD. All names are confidential - even to the VA.
Martha's Vineyard (Oak Bluffs)	Starting:Thursday, February 18 , 2010 Contact: Peggy or Fenton at 508-693-5872
North Billerica	Starting: February 25 , 2010 Contact: Mary maryjhyatt@hotmail.com or 978-807-2373 or Andrea Andrea.Valin@med.va.gov or 978-987-4877
Pittsfield	Starting: Sunday, February 14 , 2010 Late afternoon or evening, depending on the class needs. Contact Ed or Marsha at 413-443-4293
Waltham	Starting: Thursday, March 11, 2010 7:00 - 9:30 PM Contact: Janet janet_hodges@yahoo.com or 617-816-5856

“This was a life changing experience. It has helped me handle many difficult situations. Better understanding of myself and my sister in dealing with this disease” ( F2F graduate, sibling)

“I find it helpful that I am not alone in this. There is a wealth of information in the course.” ( F2F graduate, mother)

Group Poem
by Family-To-Family Participants

My whole world is turned upside down;
My brain is spinning round and round.
Will this confusion ever end?
When will I call this illness...friend?
The one I love is hurting so
How can I make this illness go? Does anyone know?
The faith I keep I hope I hold;
Sharing Family-To-Family can turn straw to gold.

Written by parents during a Spring 2001 class taught by Joanna Fortna and Ellie Durant

CHILDREN'S CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS

A One-Day workshop for families and others that provides information on childhood mental health disorders and offers strategies for home and school along with resources and information that offer hope and encouragement for today. This workshop is geared to parents/guardians, teachers and any adults who are parenting, raising or working with a child under age 18 with emotional, social and behavioral disorders . Topics Covered:Understanding Mental Illness in Children/Brain Biology; Specific Diagnoses (e.g., adhd, bipolar, autism , anxiety, etc.); Special Education (IEP & 504); Rosie D. Lawsuit/Legislative; Advocacy; Strategies
and Tips; and Resources For more information contact Cara Falconi, Director of Children and Adolescent Programs, cfalconi@namimass.org or 781-938-4048.

NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses . The NAMI Basics course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13 years. The course consists of six classes per program.
Classes may be offered weekly for six consecutive weeks, or may be offered twice per week for three weeks to accommodate the hectic schedules of parents.
Please contact Cara Falconi at 781-938-4048 or cfalconi@namimass.org .

SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATION TRAINING (SGFT)

The NAMI-Mass Education Committee offers a support group facilitator training (SGFT) course developed by NAMI-USA under the leadership of Dr. Joyce Burland. Family peer (caretaker) volunteers spend an intense and interesting weekend or a three-day training doing hands-on skill building training. The training promotes the concept of allowing the participants to "do the group's work" and helping each other. Some of the possible problems that support groups might experience and the training addresses are:

• One person monopolizes group time

• Person/group becomes overly directive or critical

• Same person and problem is "re-visited" each month

• Family members in group remain stuck

• One person tries to take over control

• Group members act "clubby" or clique-ish

• Side or multiple conversations occur

• Crises, traumatic events and intense emotions dominate

The training is offered free to NAMI family/friends/caretaker volunteers who agree to facilitate a minimum of 24 support group sessions in their local communities with a trained co-facilitator in the model presented during the training.

If you are interested in becoming a support group facilitator or updating your skills, contact Karen McGravey-Gajera and 781-938-4048 or kgajera@namimass.org .

Please provide your full name, postal address, email address, telephone number, what is your connection with mental illnesses, and explain why you would like to become a facilitator.
(All participants must be pre-approved and interviewed before being accepted.)