Hello NAMI VT Friends:
I would like to inform you that NAMI Vermont will be offering a Family-to-Family Education Program (FTFEP) starting the second week of September in three communities in Vermont: Berlin, Brattleboro and Newport .
This National education program is a free 12-week series of classes structured to help families and caregivers understand and support their loved ones affected by mental illness while maintaining their own well-being. The course focus is on the emotional experiences of families and caregivers relating to the trauma of mental illness and is taught by specially trained family members.
The results of a recent scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of the Family-to-Family Education Program show that individuals having received this program showed significantly greater overall empowerment and empowerment within their family, the service system and their community. Individuals also had greater knowledge of mental illness, higher ratings of constructive emotion focused coping, and lower ratings of anxiety. In addition, individuals reported higher ratings of personal skills related to family functioning. Many family members describe the impact of taking this course as life changing. This rigorous community based randomized trial provides strong evidence of the effectiveness of the FTFEP, the most widely disseminated family support service in the country.
This program is a priority educational offering and we are asking for your help. Specifically, we are asking you and your staff to refer families to the course, and also to inform those in your wide range of contacts that we are offering this important resource for families. Attached please find a copy of our marketing poster which we hope you will widely distribute within your organization, on your website, and to your stakeholders and partners as you see appropriate.
Please let me know if I can provide any additional materials or if you have any question or comments about our organization and/or additional offerings. I can be reached at 802-244-1396, Ext. 102 or [email protected].
We appreciate your help in getting the word out.
Thank you.
Warm Regards,
Tammy McKenzie
