New hampshire family network: supporting and strengthening families/caregivers - nami new hampshire is applying for its third statewide family network grant to continue supporting families and…

New hampshire family network: supporting and strengthening families/caregivers - nami new hampshire is applying for its third statewide family network grant to continue supporting families and caregivers raising children, youth, and young adults with SED as they engage in transformational systems change; enhance their leadership skills and knowledge; connect with other families to reduce feelings of isolation; and have access to promising family and caregiver peer delivered practices, including an established and sustainable family peer support program. The project activities will enhance access to services for families and caregivers; transform systems of care; improve outcomes for families raising children with SED; strengthen coalitions; and ensure the nhfn is family-driven, trauma-informed, culturally relevant; holistic; and resiliency-oriented. Nami NH is the sole organization in NH providing billable family peer support services. Population to be served is parents and caregivers raising children with SED. Project activities will support and empower families as effective change agents who can act as catalysts to transform NH's mental health system, as well as strengthen family partnerships with policy makers, service providers, and other family-run organizations. Approximately 44 percent of the families served by nami NH have children ages 6 to 12, while 49 percent are caring for teenagers aged 13 to 19 and the remaining 7 percent are caring for young adults up to age 26. Nami NH serves approximately 800 families annually. Goals and strategies include enhancing family and caregiver participation and leadership to effect systems change; facilitating access to evidence-based peer-delivered practices; enhancing knowledge and skills of family peer support providers; building family leadership; building capacity and sustainability of statewide family and caregiver networks; and increasing connectedness and reducing isolation for families. Measurable objectives include offering a selection of workshops, classes, and opportunities for leadership development; providing families with family peer support and offering training, certification, and evaluation for family members to become family peer support specialists; and informing and enhancing advocacy efforts and public awareness by sharing lived experiences. The project will serve approximately 130 individuals annually with project deliverables, for nearly 390 individuals served over the three-year grant period.