National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

About: National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health is a healthcare organization based out in Rockville, Maryland, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Mental health & Public health. The organization has 5 authors who have published 6 publications receiving 355 citations.

Family Support in Children’s Mental Health: A Review and Synthesis

Abstract: A comprehensive review of structured family support programs in children’s mental health was conducted in collaboration with leadership from key national family organizations. The goals were to identify typologies of family support services for which evaluation data existed and identify research gaps. Over 200 programs were examined; 50 met criteria for inclusion. Programs were categorized by whether they were delivered by peer family members, clinicians, or teams. Five salient components of family support were identified: (a) informational, (b) instructional, (c) emotional, (d) instrumental, and (e) advocacy. Clinician-led programs were heavily represented (n = 33, 66%), followed by family-led (n = 11, 22%), and team-delivered (n = 6, 12%) programs. Key differences between programs delivered by clinicians or by peer family members were found in the degree of emphasis, research methodology, and outcomes. However, the content of the components was similar across all three program types. There are both important differences in emphasis across typologies of family support provided by clinicians, family members, or teams as well as important similarities in content. Family-delivered support may be an important adjunct to existing services for parents, although the research base remains thin. A research agenda to promote more rigorous evaluations of these services especially those delivered by peer family members is critical.

One size does not fit all: taking diversity, culture and context seriously.

Abstract: Evidence suggests that the current mental health system is failing in the provision of quality mental health care for diverse children and families. This paper discusses one critical domain missing to improve care: serious attention given to diversity, culture, and context. It discusses what we mean by understanding culture and context at the individual, family, organizational, and societal level. Focusing on key predictors of children’s adjustment in natural contexts would increase attention to building community and family capacities that strengthen children’s mental health. To conclude, we suggest changes in organizational culture to build natural supports to enhance children’s mental health.

Developing Quality Indicators for Family Support Services in Community Team-Based Mental Health Care

Abstract: Quality indicators for programs integrating parent-delivered family support services for children’s mental health have not been systematically developed. Increasing emphasis on accountability under the Affordable Care Act highlights the importance of quality-benchmarking efforts. Using a modified Delphi approach, quality indicators were developed for both program level and family support specialist level practices. These indicators were pilot tested with 21 community-based mental health programs. Psychometric properties of these indicators are reported; variations in program and family support specialist performance suggest the utility of these indicators as tools to guide policies and practices in organizations that integrate parent-delivered family support service components.

Family-Driven Care in America: More Than a Good Idea

Abstract: Objectives: This paper will provide a history of how family-driven care has evolved in the United States. Methods: Several examples of family-driven care including the National Policy Academy led by the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, the Jefferson County Kentucky’s Parent Advocacy Program, and the Family Ties Resource Centers in Westchester, New York, and the 2009 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Policy Statement are used to illustrate the development of family-driven care. Results: In the past twenty-five years the mental health field has shifted from viewing parents as the cause of their child’s issues to active participants in treatment and active participants in policy development and system reform efforts. Research shows that better outcomes are achieved when family members and youth have meaningful roles in their treatment. Conclusions: Family-driven care has advanced in the child and youth mental health system in America and next steps are needed to further develop the ability of families to become true partners in treatment planning, service and system development, enhance research as to the effectiveness of these activities and reform policies and practices to reflect needs of families.

What a difference family-driven makes: stories of success and lessons learned.

Abstract: Community Psychology’s emphasis on citizen participation aligns with the nationwide children’s mental health family movement and is clearly evident in communities that have made sustainable system changes. The national family movement has long advocated for the meaningful engagement of families and youth who are the focus population of the federal Children’s Mental Health Initiative. Little rigorous research about the experience of families in leadership positions or of their impact on systems of care has been done. In the absence of scientifically acquired evidence, this article offers the reader a glimpse into the authority, influence and credibility earned by four family leaders as well as their impact on local system of care communities. Their stories occur in four distinct macro level arenas: governance, evaluation, legislative advocacy, and workforce development. In the end, common attributes emerge from their stories, providing anecdotal information useful to identifying the qualities of successful family leadership and their impact on sustainable macro level changes.