Bringing Family Lived Experience To You
Accept, Advocate, Act
March 3, 2023 | Volume 1, Issue 5
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Note from the Executive Director
Advocating for Family Voice to
Increase Acceptance
We are thrilled to be kicking off March with our Call for Proposals and open registration for the 2023 NFF Annual Conference in Chicago from November 9-11! For families of children experiencing mental health and/or substance use, we know that the path to acceptance requires us to advocate for family voice at decision-making tables, throughout the community, and everywhere families are.
We are thankful that SAMHSA's Office of Recovery agrees with us and is making plans to bring family voice into many of their plans. Watch our panel discussion and let us know what else SAMHSA can do to center family voice.
We also want to make sure clinicians understand the role of family voice in recovery and resilience. That's why we are asking clinicians to tell us about the training they received on family engagement and creating new resources to guide clinicians. Please share your experience with us.
With hope,
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Lynda Gargan, PhD.
Executive Director, National Federation of Families
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Children's Mental Health Acceptance | | |
National Federation of Families News & Highlights | | |
You can now register for the 2023 NFF Annual Conference in Chicago, IL November 9-11!
Get your ticket now to take advantage of our early bird pricing! Explore our conference webpage to learn more about our theme, focus areas, tracks, and conference site!
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2023 NFF Annual Conference
Call for Proposals
This year's NFF Conference theme will be Advancing Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion for Families and their Children: #Accept, Advocate, Act. We've opened the call for proposals! Submit your presentation proposal to fit within one of our tracks—Justice/ Equity / Diversity / Inclusion, Supporting Families and their Children Through the Lifespan, Supporting families with Co-occurring Concerns, Lessons from the Field, Emerging Youth and Young Adult Leaders / Youth Workforce Development, and Workforce Development. Submit by April 14th!
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National Federation of Families and SAMHSA Present
"The Role of Families in SAMHSA's Office of Recovery"
The inclusion of family voice is imperative when talking about issues surrounding children’s mental health or when trying to improve systems that support families. SAMHSA's Office of Recovery was founded in October 2022 to ensure that the lived experience voice would be included in all mental health and substance use policy, programs, and support.
Family voice is why the National Federation of Families and SAMHSA'S Office of Recovery came together in February to present a webinar "The Role of Families in the Office of Recovery." Dr. Lynda Gargan was joined by panelists Paolo del Vecchio, Director; Dona Dmitrovic, Senior Advisor; and Elizabeth Sweet, Public Health Advisor, for a discussion on the roles of families in the Office of Recovery and how SAMHSA will prioritize the inclusion of family voice in decision-making.
As we prepare for Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week in May, this conversation is a reminder about the importance of family voice when advocating for families in all aspects of services and supports across clinical, educational, and community settings. As the saying goes, nothing about us...without us.
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We also want to thank outgoing Executive Director, Diana Autin, for her tireless advocacy for families and impactful leadership of SPAN for many years. Diana will remain on the NFF Board of Directors, continuing to lend her expertise providing technical assistance and support to family organizations and her lived experience as a parent and grandparent to our work. We appreciate the insight of a multi-award-winning leader like Diana. We wish her the best as she transitions into a new phase of her career. | |
New Leadership at
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
We want to welcome the new Executive Director of NFF Affiliate SPAN Parent Advocacy Network in New Jersey, Carolyn Hayer, to the National Federation of Families! She brings over 30 years of advocacy experience as well as lived experience of being the parent of an adult with autism to her work. We are excited to see how Carolyn applies her previous leadership positions with the PTA, her local school board, NJ's State Special Education Advisory Council, and more to her role at SPAN.
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Survey Results: How will you promote the importance of children's mental health acceptance in May? | | |
In February, you told us how you will promote the importance of children's mental acceptance in May. It's great to see how many of you are working to get a proclamation passed for Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week. We also learned how many are hosting an event, writing an op-ed, or pitching media to do a story. These are all important ways to spread the word! | |
QUESTION: How do you teach families about the importance of acceptance? | | | |
DID YOU KNOW? We begin every NFSTAC webinar sharing our collective focus on Family-Centered language. It speaks directly to our efforts to use language consistent with our actions and is person-first, inclusive, strengths-based, respectful, nonjudgmental, trauma-informed, and does not place blame on caregivers. Family-Centered language sets the tone for our discussions with presenters and attendees. |
Watch February NFSTAC Events
The Impact of Partnering with State Entities & Family-Run Organizations
with Ruth Fox, Allegheny Family Network and Treasure Gallagher, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Office Hour: Social Justice for Family-Run Organizations with Ann Smith
| 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. | |
Office Hour: Cultural Mindfulness in the Family Peer Workforce
March 14th, 3:00 p.m. ET
How can leadership develop and enhance cultural mindfulness for their organizations, staff, and the families they support? We'll hear from two experts on offering individualized programming, best practices, and weaving this concept into your mission: Myriam Monsalve-Serna, LMFT, Founder & President, Center for Community Learning, Inc., and Paul Cornils, Executive Director of Alaska Youth & Family Network.
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Webinar: Family Support and Crisis Intervention Training
March 15th, 2:00 p.m. ET
Learn about Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training and how it benefits communities. Hear firsthand how a CIT trained officer helps his community, and how families can work together with law enforcement to save a life.
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Family Connections: It's All Relative - Grandfamilies & Kinship Care
April 6th, 1:30 p.m. ET
What happens when adult children can no longer care for their own children? Over 7.6 million children in the U.S. live in a home with a grandparent or relative other than their parent. These caregivers face unique challenges such as their own health, food insecurity, and many other needs—but we'll also discuss their remarkable strengths in order to keep their youngest family members safe.
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Family Engagement in
Clinician Training Survey
NFSTAC has worked with Boston University to create a brief 9 question survey that takes 3-5 minutes to complete which will help guide our efforts in creating resources that meet the needs of clinicians to engage with families in behavioral health settings. If you are a clinician, please complete this survey by March 30, 2023 to share your experience around receiving instruction in family engagement during your formal education and training. If you're not a clinician, but you know any, please share this survey with them!
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Celebrating Our Affiliates | | |
FYIdaho got its start in 1999 as the Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. Today, they offer a wide range of resources, advocacy opportunities, a Youth MOVE Idaho chapter, and partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies on behalf of families experiencing youth mental health challenges.
Innovative support groups for parents & caregivers include:
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Neuro-Spicey support group for caregivers who identify themselves as neurodivergent
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Parents of Youth with Complex Diagnosis group for caregivers of youth with both a mental health diagnosis and a developmental disability
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The Complexities of Residential group for those whose child is transitioning to residential care or home
Teen programs include a neurodivergent support group, a statewide virtual teen group, and the Boise Brick House, an after school, drop-in space for teens.
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Our Mission: FYIdaho is committed to improving, preserving, and restoring the mental health of youth and families by:
- Promoting youth and family voice to youth-serving systems;
- Partnering with families to navigate and access resources and community supports;
- Operating youth programs that empower youth to advocate for themselves and others;
- Educating parents, professionals, and others working with youth in a broad spectrum of topics relevant to youth mental health and illness.
Our Vision is a world in which all children are offered opportunities to experience and realize their full potential.
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Interested in being a
Featured Affiliate?
In April, we'd love to feature YOU! Reach out to dasby@ffcmh.org if your organization has a program, event, or great story to share!
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Legislative & Advocacy News | | |
Keep an eye out for our new Legislation & Policy Updates Newsletter coming soon! | |
Keep Up with the Latest Legislative News
NFF's Legislation and Policy News for Family Advocates is the place to find the details on the bills, policies, and opportunities for input that family advocates need. Visit for the latest news and releases, proposed legislation and policies, and what's being implemented in both policy and legislation. It's updated monthly to give you the latest information in one place.
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Resource: CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Study Report
A new CDC report shows an increase in mental health challenges, experiences of violence, and suicidal thoughts and behavior among all teens.
"These data show our kids need far more support to cope, hope, and thrive,” said Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry.
Nearly 57% of teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021—double that of boys— nearly a 60% increase in the past decade. More than half of LGBTQ+ teens struggled with mental health and 20% reported a suicide attempt.
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Cannabidiol, or CBD, products seem to be everywhere. CBD can be found in everything from drinks and pet products to lotions and chewable gummies.
SAMHSA indicates there is limited evidence to support its safety. The advisory also clarifies misconceptions surrounding the safety of CBD products, as well unproven health and wellness claims. In particular, they advise parents to not allow their children to use non-FDA-approved CBD products.
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The National Wraparound Initiative has a suite of their resources they have recently published in Spanish:
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