Family–to–Family

On this page:

• Class Schedule (Sep-Dec)
• About Family–to–Family
• Contact Information
• More Information

The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with mental illnesses.

• The course is taught by trained family members
• All instruction and course materials are free to class participants
• Over 115,000 family members have graduated from this national program

Class Schedule: September - December, 2008

When:	Thursdays, 6:30‑9:00 PM; September 4, 2008 through December 4, 2008
Where:	Central United Methodist Church 6030 Albemarle Road Charlotte NC, 28212
Web:	http://www.cumccharlotte.com/

• Registration is open through Class 3 (Thursday September 18, 2008)
• The teachers will be Margaret Peacock and Sarah Shawn.
• If you, or someone you know is interested in registering, please contact Sarah Shaw at 704‑535‑7510.
• Click here for additional contact information

This class is open to parents, spouses, adult children, siblings, grandparents and friends of persons suffering from severs and disabling mental illnesses.

Class	Date	Topic
1	Thu Sep 4 2008	Introduction to family education
2	Thu Sep 11, 2008	Symptoms of Schizophrenia, Major Depression, Mania, Schizoaffective Disorder; Getting though Critical periods of Crisis
3	Thu Sep 18, 2008	Subtypes of Depression and Bipolar Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder; Panic Disorder; OCD; Co-occuring brain and addictive disorders; Telling our stories
4	Thu Sep 25, 2008	Basics about brain biology and the causes of brain disorders
5	Thu Oct 2, 2008	Problem Solving Workshop
6	Thu Oct 9, 2008	Medication Review
7	Thu Oct 16, 2008	Empathy; Inside mental illness
8	Thu Oct 23, 2008	Communication Skills Workshop
9	Thu Nov 6, 2008	Self-care
10	Thu Nov 13, 2008	Rehabilitation; Making choices for recovery
11	Thu Nov 20, 2008	Fighting Stigma; Advocacy
N/A	Thu Nov 27, 2008	Thanksgiving
12	Thu Dec 4, 2008	Evaluation, Certification and Celebration

About Family–to–Family

The NAMI Family–to–Family Education Program is a free 12–week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe brain disorders (mental illnesses). The course is taught by trained family members. Class is in session for 2–2 1/2 hours, one evening a week (typically a Tuesday or Thursday, at the convenience of class attendees). All instruction and course materials are free for class participants.

The curriculum focuses on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), clinical depression, panic disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). The course discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively:

• Information on brain disorders including Schizophrenia and Depression; Bipolar, Schizoaffective, Borderline Personality, Anxiety, Panic, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders; Dual-Diagnosis.
• Basics about the Brain
• Problem Solving Skills
• Medications
• Understanding the subjective experience of mental illness
• Communication techniques
• Self-care
• The Vision and Potential of Recovery
• Advocacy (fighting stigma, how the change the system)

Family–to–Family classes are offered in hundreds of communities across the country,
in two Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Class	Topic
1	Introduction to family education
2	Symptoms of Schizophrenia, Major Depression, Mania, Schizoaffective Disorder; Getting though Critical periods of Crisis
3	Subtypes of Depression and Bipolar Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder; Panic Disorder; OCD; Co-occuring brain and addictive disorders; Telling our stories
4	Basics about brain biology and the causes of brain disorders
5	Problem Solving Workshop
6	Medication Review
7	Empathy; Inside mental illness
8	Communication Skills Workshop
9	Self-care
10	Rehabilitation; Making choices for recovery
11	Fighting Stigma; Advocacy
12	Evaluation, Certification and Celebration

Contact Information

For additional information concerning course scheduling and registration for the Charlotte–Mecklenburg area, contact:

Address:	NAMI–Charlotte c/o St. John's Baptist Church 300 Hawthorne Lane Charlotte, NC 28204
Contact:	Betty Cobb
Phone:	704-583-0845
Email:	f2f@nami–charlotte.org

More Information

Please visit our state or local websites for additional information:

NAMI North Carolina:		http://www.naminc.org/ftfsched1.htm
NAMI National:		http://www.nami.org/f2f