Families affect and are influenced by the recovery experiences of children, youth, and adults with mental or substance use disorders. As caregivers, navigators, and allies, family members play diverse roles and may require a variety of supports.
Families and family-run organizations are vital components of recovery-oriented service systems. Family members train and support other families—sharing lived experiences and insights that instill hope, increase understanding, and contribute to systems transformation.
Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) partners with the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health (NFFCMH), the National Family Dialogue on Substance Use Disorders, and others to support families of children, youth, and adults with behavioral health needs.
Help for Family-Run Organizations
BRSS TACS offers intensive, individualized technical assistance to help achieve goals and maximize impact. Subject matter experts can assist family-run organizations with developing:
- Organizational infrastructure
- Sustainability planning
- Leadership and succession planning
- Family peer support programs
Examples of technical assistance include:
- Coaching, training, and intensive consultation
- Peer-to-peer connections
- Resource dissemination
Increasing Family Engagement and Voice
BRSS TACS helps programs, organizations, and systems strengthen family engagement and voice. Our team includes family leaders with expertise in implementing models in a range of settings and can deliver consultation, resources, training, and facilitation.
Parents and Families Resources
The following resources can further assist families and parent-run organizations. Please read the SAMHSA.gov Exit Disclaimer for more information on resources from non-federal websites.
- The 20-Minute Guide from The Center for Motivation and Change – 2017 helps individuals address their loved one’s substance use and learn the ways to prevent it.
- Family-Driven Care in America: More Than a Good Idea – 2010 provides a history of the evolution of family-driven care in the United States.
- Family Peer-to-Peer Support Programs in Children’s Mental Health: A Critical Issues Guide at the IDEAS Center – 2008 (PDF | 475 KB) discusses design, implementation, and sustainability of family peer-to-peer programs in children’s mental health.
- Family-to-Family Peer Support: Models and Evaluation at the Family-Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA) – 2012 (PDF | 447 KB) shares diverse organizational models, discusses training and certification of peer support workers, and offers tips for measuring outcomes.
- Standards of Excellence for Family-Run Organizations from FREDLA – 2015 (PDF | 868 KB) provide guidance on maintaining organizational accountability and sustainability.
Access video trainings on parents and families, youth and young adults, and other topics.