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 Leader Training
- Saturday, March 29, 2025, 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
- Sunday, March 30, 2025, 12 pm (noon) to 5:00 pm
At NAMI Massachusetts office in Woburn, MA
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8 or 9-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people living with mental health conditions.
A NAMI Family-to-Family teacher is a trained NAMI leader who plays an important role in ensuring that all participants feel welcomed and supported. 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, Northeasternmost; Southeastern-most Massachusetts areas
Teacher Trainee Prerequisites:
- Prospective teachers must be parents or other caregivers of an adult with a mental health condition, 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 of two courses. There is an expectation for all newly-trained teachers to teach their first class in 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 download the training application form at https://rb.gy/xkhw9p fill it out and then send/email it to Ilya Cherkasov at icherkasov@namimass.org.
Questions: please contact Ilya Cherkasov at 617-286-7607 or 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.
Thursdays starting
February
27
NAMI Newton-Wellesley Family-to-Family class – virtual
When: Thursdays, February 27 to April 17, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: virtual
Contact: Suzi at suzinewman@verizon.net or Ruth at ruthek12@gmail.com
Saturdays starting
March
15
NAMI Central-Middlesex Family-to-Family class – in-person
When: Saturdays, March 15 to May 10, 2025
Time: 9:00 am to 11:30 am
Location: Winchester MA
Contact: Maureen at maureen1maureen@aol.com or Linda at mojolb2@gmail.com
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)
Senior Manager, Education & Support
617-286-7607
icherkasov@namimass.org