NAMI Family-to-Family is NAMI’s flagship education program for family members of people diagnosed with mental health conditions. This free, 8-week program is facilitated by trained volunteers who are family members, caring for their loved ones themselves.
The class provides family caretakers with education about mental health conditions, skills workshops, and information about available resources. The NAMI Family-to-Family curriculum includes:
- Information about mental health conditions and treatments
- Coping skills, handling crisis and relapse, local and national resources
- Listening and communication techniques
- Problem solving, limit setting, self-care
Most importantly, the class offers family members the invaluable opportunity of open conversation and mutual support in a stigma-free environment. Class participants, now more than 400,000 people nationwide, find that the Family-to-Family experience empowers them to understand and pursue paths toward healthy recovery for their loved ones, their families, and themselves.
Two-Day Family-to-Family Leader Training
Saturday, April 25, 2026 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, April 26, 2026 from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
At the NAMI Massachusetts office in Woburn MA
We are holding a NAMI Family-to-Family teacher training! NAMI Family-to-Family teachers are uniquely qualified to lead a class because they love and support a person living with a mental health condition. Teachers therefore can empathize with and encourage those who are just beginning or continuing their journey with a loved one.
NAMI Family-to-Family teachers are volunteers who become certified by attending and graduating from one-and-a half-day in-person training. The training is designed for teachers to learn and practice specific skills that will guarantee a meaningful and informative educational experience for all participants. Teacher trainees must go through an application and screening process before being approved to attend a training event.
Members representing the following communities are strongly encouraged to apply:
- Black & Brown
- Spanish speaking
- LGBTQIA+
- Siblings/spouses or adult children of people living with a mental health condition
- Applicants from Western-most, Northeastern-most, Southeastern most areas of Massachusetts
Additional qualifications:
- Prospective teachers must be parents or other caregivers of an adult with a mental healthcondition, be at least 18 years of age and current NAMI members.
- Prospective NAMI Family-to-Family teacher trainees are asked to co-teach a minimum oftwo courses. There is an expectation for all newly-trained teachers to teach their first classin 2025
- Prior F2F program experience preferred but not necessary
- Each teacher’s contribution for teaching F2F course is acknowledged with a $400 stipend.
All meals and program supplies are provided free of charge to all trainees. Hotel accommodation is provided for trainees from far-flung affiliates/areas.
To get started, please click the link below for the training application. Please send/email completed forms to Ilya Cherkasov at icherkasov@namimass.org.
For any questions, please contact Ilya at 617-286-7607 or email icherkasov@namimass.org.
Upcoming NAMI Family-to-Family Classes
Please note that our NAMI Family-to-Family classes are currently offered both virtually and in-person. Pre-registration is required.
New students can register and be admitted to the classes until Class 3 begins (week 3).
We encourage you to register for the class based in your area, but classes are open to all. View our map to find the NAMI affiliate in your area.
Mondays starting
February
9
NAMI Metrowest – Virtual – Statewide
When: Mondays, beginning on February 9, 2026
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: Virtual – Statewide
Contact: Mary at novmam55@yahoo.com
Tuesdays starting
February
24
NAMI Central Mass – Virtual – Statewide
When: Tuesdays, beginning on February 24, 2026
Time: 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Location: Virtual – Statewide
Contact: Greg at greg.martiros@gmail.com or Gerry at gracine1231@gmail.com
Mondays starting
March
3
NAMI Cape Cod & NAMI North Central – Virtual – Statewide
When: Mondays, March 3 to April 20, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Virtual – Statewide
Contact: Jessica Greenan at jessicagreenan@comcast.net or 781-540-1666
Saturdays starting
March
21
NAMI Cambridge Middlesex – In-Person
When: Saturdays, March 21 – May 9
Time: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Woburn, MA
Contact: Maureen at donovanmaureen53@gmail.com or 781-864-2336 and Linda at mojolb2@gmail.com
Thursdays starting
April
2
NAMI Bristol County – In-Person
When: Thursdays, from April 2 – May 21, 2026
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: New Bedford, MA
Contact: Brenda at namibristolcounty@comcast.net and 1-508-493-9048
Mondays starting
May
4
NAMI Mass Statewide Family-to-Family Class – Online
When: Mondays, May 4 – June 29, 2026 (no class on Memorial Day)
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: Zoom
Contact: Sara at stoutland@gmail.com and Denise at deja@djdeja.com
Tuesdays starting
September
15
NAMI Western Mass Family-to-Family Class – In-Person
When: Tuesdays, from September 15 – November 3, 2026
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: Greenfield, MA
Contact: Sue at 413-422-1139 or 413-834-4070 or Patti at 413-824-9283
Looking for additional family support options?
Check out our Family Support resource page.
You can also contact our Compass Helpline at NAMI Massachusetts. Compass provides information, ideas, resources, and support to help people navigate the complex mental health system and related systems of care. Learn more about Compass.
Contact us for more information about NAMI Family-to-Family:
Ilya Cherkasov, MS
(he/him/his)
Program Manager, Education & Support
617-286-7607
icherkasov@namimass.org