Project Grant H79SM083913

FAMILY SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT PROJECT - NAMI MISSOURI'S 3-YEAR STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK PROJECT, "FAMILY SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT PROJECT," WILL BENEFIT PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES (SED) USING A COMBINATION OF PROVEN, PEER-LED TRAINING DEVELOPED BY NAMI AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING NAMI SMARTS FOR ADVOCACY, PARENT PRESENTER TRAINING, CHARTING THE LIFE COURSE AND WRAP WELLNESS TOOLS. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE EMPOWERING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, REDUCING STIGMA, AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER FAMILY AND PARENT SUPPORT-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS. MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES INCLUDE TRAINING 20 FAMILY MEMBERS IN ADVOCACY AND BOARD SERVICE; TRAINING FAMILY SPEAKERS BUREAU MEMBERS AS PARENT PRESENTER SPEAKERS AND SUPPORT GROUP LEADERS; DELIVERING PARENT PRESENTATIONS TO 500 PEOPLE; LAUNCHING NEW SUPPORT GROUPS; ENGAGING 50 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN BASICS ON DEMAND FACEBOOK Q & A SESSIONS; RECRUITING AND TRAINING TEAMS OF NAMI BASICS FOR PROVIDERS LEADERS; GROWING PROGRAMS TO BETTER SERVE SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES; ENGAGING WITH CHURCHES AND YOUTH GROUPS THROUGH NAMI FAITHNET; AND BRINGING FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS TO CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON PARENTS AND PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF YOUTH WITH SED FROM FOUR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS OF FOCUS, INCLUDING 1.) BLACK, AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND RACIAL MINORITY FAMILIES; 2.) MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES; 3.) FAMILIES OF YOUTH WITH CO-OCCURRING SED AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY DISORDERS (IDD); AND 4.) FAMILIES IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE. IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE GRANT, NAMI MISSOURI WILL PROVIDE 14 CREDENTIALED TRAINING SESSIONS, PROVIDING CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUS) TO 20 MISSOURI PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF YOUTH WITH SED. THROUGH THE PARENT PRESENTATION PROGRAM ALONE, PRESENTERS WILL DELIVER 25 PRESENTATIONS TO REACH 500 PEOPLE, AND THROUGH ALL PROGRAMS COMBINED WE WILL REACH AN ESTIMATE 1,250 FAMILY MEMBERS EACH YEAR AND 3,750 FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE GRANT. A STRONGER AND MORE FAR-REACHING FAMILY NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE WILL PROVIDE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WITH SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.