Bringing Family Lived Experience To You

Accept, Advocate, Act

January 2, 2025 | Volume 3, Issue 3

Affiliate and Partner News

New Leadership at Georgia Parent Support Network

The National Federation of Families extends a warm welcome to the new Executive Director of the Georgia Parent Support Network (GPSN), Anna Bourque! GPSN's longtime Executive Director, Dr. Sue Smith retired on January 1st.

Thank you for 37 years of

service at GPSN, Sue!

Dr. Sue Smith has been leading GPSN since she co-founded it in 1987, a truly impressive tenure. She has made a deep, positive impact on families' ability to access quality mental health services in Georgia. Dr. Smith is well-known and respected in Georgia and at the national level for her expertise in children’s services, advocacy, and education, as evidenced by the numerous awards she won during her time thus far in the family movement. We at NFF wish her a happy and restful retirement!

Anna Bourque returns to the helm of GPSN, where she previously served as Co-CEO and Director of Operations among other roles. Ms. Bourque spent the last decade working to support inter-agency coordination as the Director of Administrative Service Organizations at Georgia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. We know that she will bring her invaluable experience there and at GPSN to this role and lead the organization into even greater heights.

Welcome back to the NFF family, Anna!

Family Collective Podcast: Remarkably Resilient Together

As families experience increasing rates of mental health and substance use challenges, there's a critical need for more support and parity in coverage for families. Meet people with lived expertise and the changemakers working to strengthen families in this inaugural episode of the new podcast Family Collective. The first episode of NFSTAC's new podcast Family Collective is Remarkably Resilient Together. This episode features Kathleen Harnish McKune and Tim DeWeese discussing how their organization empowers individuals of all ages to strengthen their resilience by providing techniques for emotional regulation and self-care practices.

NFSTAC invites you to submit requests for free technical assistance from our network of partners and subject matter experts. NFSTAC is driven by the needs of families and the workforce that supports families. You'll find education, training, and family support resources tailored specifically to families, the family peer workforce, communities, healthcare systems, clinicians, and educators.

Family Connections: Turning Points

New Date! January 10th, 1:30 p.m. ET

(Due to the National Day of Mourning for the late President Carter on Jan. 9th, Family Connections is rescheduled for Jan. 10th.)

Many families will tell you that learning the signs and symptoms of substance use and/or mental health challenges led to a turning point when they knew they were heading into a possible crisis. On January 10^th, “Turning Points” begins a three-part series focused on "Crisis: Before, During, and After." We'll start with a conversation with two parents discussing their own turning points—and accepting it was time for decisive change for their family.

Office Hour: Integrating Family Peers into Systems and onto Support Teams

January 14th, 3:00 p.m. ET

In the January session of our Office Hour series Innovative Practices to Sustain the Family Peer Workforce, we'll discuss a coordinated approach on multiple levels to develop and sustain the Family Peer Workforce from messaging to specific audiences, concrete steps that agencies can take to set Family Peer Specialists up for success, and assessing how well support providers are partnering with families.

Webinar: Navigating the Family - Siblings

January 15th, 2:00 p.m. ET

Many siblings serve as caregivers for their brothers and sisters with mental health and other support needs later in life. This presentation will share information on common sibling dynamics and feature a panel of true experts: adult siblings reflecting back on their experiences growing up with a sibling with support needs. Learning more about siblings and how to support them can contribute to lasting positive outcomes for entire families.

December Event Recordings

Office Hour: Positive Collaboration Model and Family Peer Support in Wraparound with Heidi Toursie, Terri Clyde, and Patrice Endres

Webinar: Navigating the Family - Kinship Care with Dr. David Alan Brock

From the States

NCDHHS Invests $4 Million to Expand and Professionalize Family Peer Support for Families of Children with Complex Behavioral Health Needs

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced a $4 million investment to expand and professionalize family peer support services statewide. This initiative is designed to improve outcomes for children and families by ensuring that families navigating complex systems have access to support and guidance from someone who truly understands their journey. The investment will strengthen the behavioral health workforce by offering support for 40 new Certified Family Peer Specialists that combined will support nearly a thousand families each year. Congratulations to all of our colleagues in NC! We know this was a long journey of advocacy to press for the funding to expand the family peer workforce in your state. NFF is proud to nationally certify NC Certified Family Peer Specialists!

Follow our Legislative and Advocacy Facebook page and use the data and facts shared there in concert with your advocacy skills to represent the voice of families where you live.

New! Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month

For many, January is a time to take stock, reset, and take steps toward healthier living. This month, SAMHSA launches the very first national Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month as a way to highlight resources that connect individuals and their families to the support, treatment, and facts they deserve.

Treatment Month provides information about individual substance use, treatment, and recovery—whether it's alcohol or other substances. Visit the Treatment Month Toolkit to access resources, tips, and new SAMHSA webinars in January. You can also visit SAMHSA's Treatment Locator in both English and Spanish.

Mark your calendar for SAMHSA's 21st Prevention Day events on February 3rd-6th in National Harbor, MD!

National Mentoring Month

Mentors, mentees, and communities join together in January to celebrate National Mentoring Month. Supportive and meaningful mentor relationships are much like those of the family peer workforce and the families they support. Mentors can create a positive environment, connect their mentee to new opportunities aligned with their aspirations, and demonstrate integrity and respect. Together, they create a fulfilling and transformative journey for both.

Help grow the movement to create greater positive outcomes for youth by celebrating the power of mentor relationships! Get involved, access free resources, and get technical assistance for mentoring programs by using the following tools:

• National Mentoring Resource Center

• Corporate Engagement Toolkit

• State and Local Public Official Toolkit

• Technical Assistance for Youth Mentoring Program

• Digital Engagement Toolkit

Upcoming Family Mental Health Events

C.A.S.E. Strengthening Your Family: Exploring Identity, Celebrating Relationships, and Building Belonging

January 16th, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. ET (Use BELONGING for free registration for the first 600 registrants)

SPARKing Recovery: Recovery Friendly Workplaces Event

January 23rd, 1:00 p.m. ET

NTTAC: Trauma Informed Practice in Integrated Settings

January 23rd, 1:30 p.m. ET

Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health CoE: Navigating Hispanic, Latino/a/e/x Terminology in Research, Community, and Practice

January 28th, 1:00 p.m. ET

SAMHSA's Suicide Prevention Strategies for Underserved Youth

SAMHSA just released a new evidence-based guide with suicide prevention strategies and insights specific to underserved youth. The guide highlights existing research and barriers that hamper access to prevention and intervention services, plus guidance on how to select, implement, and evaluate evidence-based programs. You'll also learn about programs making strides in addressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people from underserved communities.

MHA Report:

Breaking the Algorithm

The intersection of social media and youth mental health is a common concern—yet youth are often left out of the conversation. Earlier this year, Mental Health America convened the Breaking the Algorithm summit with youth to examine how to redesign social media for youth well-being, relationships, and daily lives. The initiative was led and co-created by young people every step of the way.

SAMHSA's RecoverMe Campaign

According to SAMHSA 's 2023 National Survey on Substance Use and Health, nearly half—or 16 million—young adults aged 18 to 25 reported having a mental health or substance use challenge in the past year. SAMHSA’s new RecoverMe campaign supports young adults by connecting them with resources to help them manage mental health and substance use challenges, together. It was developed with input from young adults with lived experience and recovery professionals.