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EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Reaching People, Teaching Facts

Family-to-Family

This is a free 12-week course for family and friends of individuals with mental illness.  Classes are taught by trained NAMI-CT family members and include:

  • Current information about the biology of mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders as well as addictive disorders; up-to-date information about medications, side effects and strategies for adherence; current research related to the biology of brain disorders and the evidence-based, most effective treatments to promote recovery.
  • Coping Skills: Gaining empathy by understanding the subjective, lived experience of a person with mental illness; learning in special workshops for problem solving, listening and communication techniques; acquiring strategies for handling crisis and relapse.
  • Care for the Caregiver: Coping with worry, stress and emotional overload; the power of advocacy, guidance on locating appropriate supports and services within the community information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services.

Check out the comments from family members who have attended the life-changing Family-to-Family program!

"I loved this course. I cannot believe that this was executed by volunteers and is offered FREE of charge. Truly a remarkable program. I benefitted by learning that my family is not alone. I learned in valuable communication skills. I also benefitted well learning how to handle crisis by defining the problem (My favorite class)

"This program was excellent!  I learned almost as much as in all of my psych classes in college!"

"Family to Family gave me perspectives and insight that I didn't have.  Such a great relief to know that this support program is available."

"To say that Family to Family was enlightening would be an understatement! So comforting to know that what I am going through is normal!"

"I wish we could get the whole world to take Family-to-Family.  The world would be a much more compassionate place!"

"I learned so much from this class-I wish I had taken it years ago. I now know I have to respect my loved one, I have learned how to talk to him,                                                        I am much better equipped to move forward. I have made friends that I can call when I need to talk to someone"

"I'm so pleased with the amount of information we received. NAMI-CT has been the support I needed to understand my son's illness"

FAMILY TO FAMILY CLASSES

***FALL 2010

FAIRFIELD

Date:  Begins Monday, September 13th , 2010

Time:  07:00-09:30 PM

Location:  First Church Congregational/ Eliot Room

                 148 Beach Rd., Library, Fairfield, CT 06824

Contact & Registration:  Rebecca at 203-259-9779  or

                                         thistleblu@sbcglobal.net                               

STAMFORD

Date:  Begins Monday, September 13th , 2010

Time:  07:00-09:30 PM

Location:  Laurel House"

                   Stamford, CT

Contact & Registration:  Lorraine at 203.858.1477  or

                                        Candice at 203.967.2722

FARMINGTON

Date:  Begins Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Time:  06:00-08:30 PM

Location: Farmington Library in Boardroom

                Farmington, CT

Contact & Registration: Janet  at 860 620 7717 or janetb1954@comcast.net.

NEW HAVEN

Date:  Begins Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

Time:  06:15-08:45 PM

Location: Downtown New Haven CT

Contact & Registration: Al at 203.745.5011 or Atherton@aya.yale.edu

 

For more information about the Family-To-Family educational course, please contact Paloma Dee at the NAMI-CT office or by email at familyeducation@namict.org.  

 


                                                                     NAMI-BASICS                                                                     

The Fundamentals of Caring for you, your Family, and your child with Mental Illness

NAMI-Basics allows families to connect to one another while learning about mental illness and empowering themselves to overcome new challenges. It provides information families want and need about their child.

Course elements include:

  • The trauma of mental illness for the child and the family
  • The biology of menatl illness: getting an accurate diagnosis
  • The latest research on the medical aspects of the illness and advances in treatment
  • An overview of treatment options - treatment works, and more...

The course is:

  • six different classes, 2- 1/2 hours each, that may be offered on a weekly basis or in multiple classes per week
  • Is offered FREE of charge

For more information about the NAMI-Basics educational course, please contact Paloma Dee at the NAMI-CT office or by email at:

familyeducation@namict.org.  

FALL 2010

WATERBURY

Date:  Begins Monday, October 06th, 2010

Time:  09:30 AM-12:30 PM

Location: Waterbury Youth Services Inc. 4th Floor

                 95 N. Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702

Contact & Registration:   Debbie at 203-592-5537 or jamesmccusker@sbcglobal.net

 


    Learning Together: Changing Minds" ( "Aprendiendo Juntos: Cambiando Mentes")

A FREE SPANISH Language six week program for parents and caregivers of children and adolescent who have a mental illness. The program provides information on the neurobiological basis of mental illness, strategies for helping parents and children navigate the children's mental health and school systems, coping strategies and self-care for parents/caregivers. Program is delivered by TRAINED parents ( CMHW)      NAMI-CT.


Parents & Teachers as Allies

A FREE- two hours in-service program that focuses on helping school professionals and families better understand and deal with the early warning signs of menatl illnesses. Parents & Teachers as Allies provides tools for mainstream educators to identify warning signs and address challenging behaviors that may be linked to mental illness in order to improve educational outcomes for all in the classroom.

For more information please contact Paloma Dee at: familyeducation@namict.org


Provider Education

Provider Education is a 10-class educational program designed for front line staff at mental health agencies.  The course teaches mental health professionals about the challenges of mental illness and recovery from the perspectives of the person affected with the illness and his/her family members.  Provider Education is a powerful "stigma busting" tool with a capacity to not only change the mind and intellect of those who attend, but open the eyes and heart as well.   Comments from a few of our most recent class members include:

 "I have learned more than I would have imagined.  This program has given me a great respect for the individuals with mental illness."

"I loved the honest and open real life stories shared."

"I have known my family member with mental illness for twenty-seven years, and until I took this class I never once looked at him as a "hero" for all that he has been through.  The whole class made me look at my relative through different eyes!"

"This course motivates me to go back to work each day and try something that I have learned.  It provides me with a new perspective, a better understanding and HOPE."

"It (this course) has helped me to separate the person from the illness."

"Anyone working in the mental health field should be required to take this program as part of their training.  It is life changing!"

""Provider Education is offered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) twice a year at Connecticut Valley Hospital. (CVH).  Look for registration information in the DMHAS Education and Training Catalog or contact Ann Nelson at the NAMI-CT office at familyresearch@namict.org   or 1-800-215-3021 for more information.  Certificates of attendance and CEU’s for social workers are available through DMHAS Department of Education.  The Provider Education course has also been offered to many other mental health professionals at a variety of mental health facilities, and can be presented to your employees as well. 

 

 

 

 


Related Files

Family To Family Teacher Application Form (PDF File)

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