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Forging Links

Forging Links. Forging Links - between providers of Mental Health services and Family members/Consumers. Background. NAMI of Greater Chicago has provided the Family to Family Education Program since 1995.

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Forging Links

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  1. Forging Links Forging Links - between providers of Mental Health services and Family members/Consumers

  2. Background • NAMI of Greater Chicago has provided the Family to Family Education Program since 1995. • Consumer members requested a similar program. We developed our Pathways in Living Consumer Education Program in 2003. • After years in the planning stage, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for Chicago’s experienced police officers was initiated in 2004.

  3. Who was left out? • Family Education • Consumer Education • Law Enforcement Training • Providers

  4. Why and What? • Need for an educational program for providers • Many complaints about providers insensitivity to the needs of consumers and family members. • Desire to develop a meaningful program • financially do-able and • time-effective.

  5. How? • Focus Groups • Consumers and Family Members • CEOs of Provider Agencies • Individual in-person interviews with consumers • Evaluation of the results of Focus Groups • Themes emerged

  6. Themes from Focus Groups Key concerns about providers from consumers and family members • Lack of empathy • Negative attitudes toward families—that they are interfering, or blaming families for the illness • Not acknowledging the importance of the role of families in recovery • Not including families in treatment and intervention planning (with consumers’ permission) • Not including families in recovery goals (with consumers’ permission) • Lack of knowledge about past history • Too directive, focusing on limitations rather than strengths • Individualized approach is lost over time • Interventions grow more constricting, rather than holistic • Lack of transition plan for staffing changes • Lack of validation for medical complaints • Need Crisis Management / Prevention Plans

  7. CEOs Key concerns about patterns of care: • Lack of empathy – difficulty understanding client(s): • Difficulty allowing consumers to make their own choices including allowing them to fail and be there afterwards • Lack of knowledge / understanding of symptoms of illness • Difficulty maintaining positive, hopeful, encouraging therapeutic relationship over time • Not understanding problems they as staff cause the consumer • Care becomes routine not individualized

  8. Providers’ Strengths – rating of 7.8 out of 10 • Compassionate • Creative • Individualized care • Non-Blaming • Knowledgeable about illness • Recovery-focused, interactive planning involving consumer and family • Relationship with consumer is more than just a job or a routine

  9. Curriculum Development • The repeatedly expressed value of personal stories by participants in our • Family to Family classes • Pathways in Living Consumer classes • CIT police education classes • Structured the curriculum around two hours of personal stories • Consumer panel • Family panel

  10. Curriculum-Brief overview • Consumer and family panels • Overview of NAMI of Greater Chicago’s programs & services • Verbal and nonverbal skills for engaging clients in recovery • Experiential exercise • IL Treatment Declaration form • 10 Phases of family adaptation to mental illness • Crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques

  11. Steps to Implement “Forging Links” Program 1. Plan the Agenda • Topics covered • Time when panel members will speak

  12. 2. Recruitment of speakers • 3 Family members + 3 Consumers • Let them know of schedule-time they’re needed • Recruit speakers to present materials (IL Treatment Declaration Form, engaging clients in recovery, crisis de-escalation techniques)

  13. 3. Optional CEUs • Contact local Universities, or NASW to provide CEUs (Continuing Education Units) to attendees • Procedures will vary (may need bios of speakers, full disclosures, objectives)

  14. 4. Food • Recruit local restaurant or pharmaceutical company to donate lunch

  15. 5. Agency invites • Draft agency invites with registration form and a flier detailing the program • Deadline for registration • Cost of registration and CEU

  16. 6. Print/Gather Materials • Gather materials to pass out • Copies of power points • Evaluation forms • Pamphlets • Resources • …..

  17. 7. Reminders • Make reminder calls to speakers and panel members 1 week before event

  18. Conducting the programThe exercise • Partner with person next to you • One-Eyes closed • One-Talking • What did you feel? Could you tell if they were listening?

  19. Evaluating the program • Develop an evaluation form • Ask questions regarding… • Overall content • Speakers presentations • Panel members • Improvement of program • Grant writing • “It was very informative to hear the first hand experiences from the panel members. The personal experiences were priceless!” • “I will pay more attention to suicidal flags and advocate for consumers.”

  20. Example of Evaluation Form

  21. Questions? Alicia Palmer Clinical Intern Alicia@namigc.org 312-563-0445 Suzanne Andriukaitis, M.A., LCSW Executive Director NAMIGC@aol.com 312-563-0445

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