Project Grant H79SM089773

NAMI NEBRASKA STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK - PROGRAM ABSTRACT: NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS NEBRASKA (NAMI NEBRASKA) - SAMHSA STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS NEBRASKA (NAMI NEBRASKA) PROPOSES THE SAMHSA STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FAMILIES CARING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED) OR COOCCURRING DISORDERS (COD) IN NEBRASKA. CURRENTLY, THE STATE FACES A SEVERE LACK OF RESOURCES, WITH 88 OUT OF 93 COUNTIES EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND 29 COUNTIES WITH NO SERVICES AT ALL. THIS LACK OF ACCESS IS FURTHER COMPOUNDED BY CHALLENGES LIKE LONG WAITLISTS, AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS, AND STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH. NEBRASKA IS ALSO GRAPPLING WITH INCREASING RATES OF SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), SUICIDE, AND UNMET HEALTHCARE NEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, 18.4% OF NEBRASKA CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE, AND SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 10-24. THROUGH THE SAMHSA STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK PROGRAM, NAMI NEBRASKA AIMS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BY ENHANCING THE CAPACITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE. THE PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON INCREASING ACCESS TO EVIDENCEBASED FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS, FAMILY PRESENTATIONS ON LIVED EXPERIENCE, FAMILY-TO-FAMILY EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, AND NAMI SMARTS FOR ADVOCACY. NAMI NEBRASKA'S GOAL IS TO EMPOWER 500 ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS ANNUALLY, EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO NAVIGATE THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. A KEY FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE ON ACTIVELY ENGAGING FAMILIES FROM UNDERSERVED AND UNDERRESOURCED COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THEIR NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED AND THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD. BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, NAMI NEBRASKA ANTICIPATES SERVING APPROXIMATELY 1,500 UNDUPLICATED CONSUMERS, ULTIMATELY STRENGTHENING FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORKS AND IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEBRASKA. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO EMPOWER AND CONNECT FAMILIES RAISING CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED) OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (COD). IT FOCUSES ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY INCREASING ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY TRAINING. THE PROJECT WILL ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH SEVERAL INITIATIVES: 1) EXPANDING NAMI SIGNATURE PROGRAMS: THIS INCLUDES CREATING NEW FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS, EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, AND PRESENTATIONS SPECIFICALLY TARGETING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. BILINGUAL SUPPORT MATERIALS AND TRAINING WILL ALSO BE OFFERED. 2) STRENGTHENING ADVOCACY SKILLS: TRAININGS WILL EQUIP FAMILIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEM CHANGE AND REPRESENT THEIR VOICES IN POLICY DECISIONS. 3) PROMOTING LEADERSHIP: THE PROJECT WILL TRAIN FAMILY MEMBERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS FOR LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN NAMI AFFILIATES AND STATE ADVISORY BOARDS. ENHANCING COLLABORATION: PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, LEGAL AID, AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. OVERALL, THE PROJECT STRIVES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF FAMILIES, AND ULTIMATELY, CREATE A MORE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES RAISING CHILDREN WITH SED/COD IN NEBRASKA.