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Bringing Family Lived Experience To You
Accept, Advocate, Act
February 1, 2023 | Volume 1, Issue 4
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Note from the Executive Director
Happy National Parent Leadership Month!
At the National Federation of Families, we believe that families and caregivers are not only the experts on their own families but also the leaders we need to elevate acceptance of families of children experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges. One of the most important jobs of family-run organizations is to help family members feel empowered to be leaders regarding their own family's mental health and/or substance use challenges.
One of our goals with our annual Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week is to raise the voices of parent leaders to effect change at the local, state, national, and global levels. Our campaign has been so successful over the past two decades because of the leadership of parents and caregivers using their lived experience and sharing their expertise with decision-makers.
One way to kickstart, revitalize, or begin your local advocacy efforts is by planning an intentional, impactful Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week. Luckily, we have the tools you need to get your family leaders on board with this important first step!
With hope,
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Lynda Gargan, PhD.
Executive Director, National Federation of Families
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Children's Mental Health Acceptance | | |
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2023 Acceptance Campaign Tools!
Starting to plan your Children’s Mental Health ACCEPTANCE Week events? Check out our new and updated Event Planning Tools.
You'll find the 2023 Event Planning Checklist & Timeline, Social Media Tips, Digital Media Best Practice, and a new resource on talking points on the 2023 Accept. Advocate. Act. campaign.
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National Federation of Families News & Highlights | | |
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National Federation of Families and SAMHSA Present: The Role of Families in SAMHSA's Office of Recovery
On this panel, staff from the Office of Recovery discuss the roles of families—including caregivers of children with serious mental illness—and Family Peer Specialists in the recovery journey and how SAMHSA will prioritize the inclusion of family voice in decision-making.
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NFF Presents for 60-Minutes Whova
Join us on February 22nd from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET to learn how NFF used the Whova platform to maximize engagement and organize our in-person and virtual conference for over 700 attendees. You'll learn from NFF staff members Michelle Covington and Dana Asby about best practices for utilizing the most popular event management platform.
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Coming Soon: NFF 2023 Annual Conference Call for Proposals
We are hard at work planning for our next Annual Conference in Chicago from November 9th-11th! This year's theme will be Advancing Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion for Families and their Children: #Accept, Advocate, Act. We will be sending out the call for proposals in March and opening up for registration in the coming months. Look for more information in your inbox soon!
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Check on Whova's website for a registration link the week of
February 13th!
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How are you going to spread the word about family mental health ACCEPTANCE? | | |
In January, you told us how you are planning to advance family mental health acceptance by partnering with others to raise money and take action, planning local events, and sharing the events NFF and other organizations are planning for Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week. Some of you will be talking to your networks about the importance of acceptance. Stay tuned to learn about the CMHAW events we are in the midst of planning! | |
| QUESTION: How will you promote the importance of children's mental health acceptance in May? | | | | |
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The National Family Support Technical Assistance Center (NFSTAC) invites you to submit requests for free technical assistance from our network of partners and subject matter experts. NFSTAC is driven by the needs of families and the workforce that supports families.
NFSTAC provides education, training, and family support resources tailored specifically to families, the family peer workforce, communities, healthcare systems, clinicians, and educators.
| NFSTAC partnered with the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging, the Center of Excellence for LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity, and SMI Adviser to create a guide for Reframing Language in behavioral health. Access the guide here! | |
Recent NFSTAC Events:
Reframing Language in Behavioral Health Care: New Tools You Can Use with Moira O'Neil and a panel of experts from SAMHSA's Centers of Excellence
Office Hour: Coaching & Training the Family Peer Workforce with Amanda Hawkins and Sean Perry
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Family Connections: Broken Ties: Mending, Coping with Separation, Estrangement
February 2nd, 1:30 p.m. ET
When a child of any age decides to break ties with their parent, caregiver, or family, that estrangement can provoke a wide range of emotions including confusion, guilt, shame, or fear. How do you get to know the child you now have and manage accepting the “not knowing” and “no contact”?
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Office Hour: Social Justice for Family-Run Organizations
February 14th, 3:00 p.m. ET
In our next NFSTAC Office Hour, Ann R. Smith, JD, MBA, Executive Director of family-run AFCAMP Advocacy for Children will share how equity and social justice have fueled their work for 20+ years. Ms. Smith will talk about the importance of mentoring emerging Executive Directors and exploring new strategies and roles for social justice in family advocacy.
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Webinar: The Impact of Partnering with State Entities and Family Run Organizations
February 15th, 2:00 p.m. ET
Collaborations and partnerships are essential in business relationships. This webinar will focus on how two state family run organizations work with state and government systems to build stronger communities in the field of behavioral health and substance use.
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Celebrating Our Affiliates | | |
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SPAN Parent Advocacy Network has been working to empower New Jersey parents to become leaders since 1987 by helping them:
- Know their rights
- Access resources and information
- Secure appropriate services
- Navigate systems
- Connect with parents who understand
- Advocate for other children and families... and more
In addition to the individual training and support programs available for families, SPAN also offers five different parent leadership programs, including SPAN Resource Parent Training to offer peer support to families navigating systems. For family-run organizations, SPAN offers capacity building programs to help others build up their own parent leaders.
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Our Mission is to empower and support families, and inform and involve professionals interested in the healthy development and education of children and youth.
Our Motto is Empowered Parents: Educated, Engaged, Effective!
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Interested in being a
Featured Affiliate?
In March, we'd love to feature YOU! Reach out to dasby@ffcmh.org if your organization has a program, event, or great story to share!
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Legislative & Advocacy News | | |
Keep an eye out for our new Legislation & Policy Updates Newsletter coming soon! | |
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The Omnibus/Consolidated
Appropriations Act 2013
The big news in legislation is the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (CAA) or Omnibus bill that was signed into law December 29th. The omnibus spending bill was a $1.7 trillion spending package that combined all twelve Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bills into a single package. Here are some highlights.
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A Behavioral Health Parity Playbook: Strengthening State Laws and Partnerships | |
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National Parent Leadership Month Resources | | |
February is National Parent Leadership Month! Parents are crucial leaders in their own families when it comes to getting mental health and substance use support, advocating for high quality education, and more! Parents are also essential leaders in the movement for children's mental health acceptance. We want to thank all of the parents who have been working with us to achieve this goal this month and always! | |
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Parent Leadership Resources
Raising the Future's National Parent Leadership Team established this month and invites organizations to partner to honor and publicize the achievements of parents.
Families and Communities Rising has Parent Leadership Certificates, a Parent Appreciation Postcard, and more to help celebrate the parent leaders you know.
The CA Department of Social Services has some great resources including 28 Ways to Promote Parent Leadership, Sample Facebook Posts, Sample Talking Points, and Gift Tags to attach to a thank you gift for parent leaders.
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