Linking to Meaningful Resources
Connecting families to critical supports — people, places, things, and activities — promotes their positive health and recovery as well as broadens our network of support as providers.
Broadening Networks
It is unrealistic to think that as providers we can offer all the support that individuals and their families may need to achieve their behavioral health goals. For the health of our practice and those with whom we work, we often yield to and rely on the skills and expertise of others.
Additionally, as behavioral health providers, we have a responsibility to practice self-care in ways that will promote how we are able to “show up” for the individuals and families whom we support. It serves us well, as a mechanism to prevent fatigue or burnout, to be familiar with the landscape of supports to which we can refer individuals and families and collaborate.
Practice Pause: Being Ready to Yield
Know The Resources
It is invaluable to grow and maintain your knowledge base of supports and resources. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to connect families to culturally congruent, meaningful, and accessible supports that extend beyond the scope of your practice.
Here are some national resources to add to your database.
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: resource centers deliver education and clinical resources for children and adolescents
- The Answer Inc: resources, education recreation, and advocacy for families with members on the autism spectrum and/or intellectual disabilities
- Association of Black Psychologists: resources and programs supporting the mental health of the national Black community
- BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective: an institution dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of Black and marginalized communities
- Black Family Blueprint: workshops, coaching, and consulting for Black families
- Black Men Heal: access to mental health treatment, psycho- education, and community resources for men of Color
- Black Mental Wellness: evidence-based information and resources about mental and behavioral health topics from a Black perspective
- Black Women’s Health Imperative: the first non-profit organization dedicated to achieving health equity for Black women
- Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation: resources and support for Black communities breaking the silence and stigma around mental health
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: understanding substance use challenges and recovery
- Center for Parent Information and Resources: assists in locating parent training and information centers
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center: education and training, including for sibling support
- Exceptional Lives: resources and support for families caring for children with disabilities
- Family Voices Family-to-Family Health Information Centers: individualized support finding and accessing support and services
- Fathers and Families Coalition of America: professional development for fathers interested in supporting other fathers, providers, and others who work with fathers
- Flourishing Families: a 6-week comprehensive educational program supporting parents, guardians, and caregivers with classes and coaching
- Hazelden Betty Ford: offers treatment and recovery support to individuals with substance use challenges, and support programs for the family
- Henry Amador Center for Anosognosia: resources and trainings dedicated to serving family caregivers of people living with serious mental illness and substance use challenges
- How to Talk Workshops: workshops and resources for engaging young children and teens in healthy communication
- Imperfect Families: positive parenting community and coaching
- Kids In the House: a robust parenting resource from pregnancy to adulthood
- Lives in the Balances: a problem-solving training for parents, caregivers, and educators
- Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC): broad range of culturally inclusive resources, information, and training opportunities
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Basics: psychoeducational program for parents, caregivers, and other family members who support youth (ages 22 and younger)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Family-to-Family: psychoeducational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions
- National Family Support Technical Assistance Center: offers more free resources like this course module for families, family peers, and providers, including free training and technical assistance to support building family partnerships
- National Federation of Families: advocacy, technical assistance, support, and resources
- National Federation of Families’ Affiliates and Partners: interactive map of local NFF affiliates that can connect families with Family Peer Specialists and national partners that provide advocacy resources
- Nemours Kids Health: resources for engaging in difficult conversations
- Parent Coaching Institute: one-on-one family support and coaching
- Parenting Journey: programs for parents and caregivers to support personal and family confidence and resilience; Parenting Journey I and II, Parenting in Recovery, Parenting for Fathers, Parenting in America
- Parenting Works: parent education through in-person classes, virtual workshops, and personalized coaching
- Peace at Home Parenting: online webinars and short videos for families and schools, parent coaching services, and curricula for schools to partner with families
- Prevention Coalition: videos, literature, and support to help family members engage youth in conversations about substance use
- SAFE Projects: links and resources for those with substance use or mental health concerns
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Behavioral Health Treatment Finder: confidential source for locating mental health support
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Substance Use Prevention for Parents/Caregivers: videos, literature, and support to help family members engage youth in conversations about substance use
- School of Hard Talks: an interactive course helping families build communication skills
- Special Needs Advocacy Network: advocates and provides information to help navigate special education resources, schools, programs, and educational plans (e.g., IEPs)
- The Steve Fund: a reference for the parents and caregivers of college students of color
- Yellow Tulip Project: smashing stigma with programs, information, and resources
Have a great resource that is not on this list? Let us know.
Your 1-2-3 Summary:
- Family Peer Specialists are trained to help families across the lifespan
- Knowing the landscape of resources is critical: refer and connect
- Congratulations, you completed your training in the FAMILY Partnership Approach!
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