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NAMI NEW JERSEY programs:
family to family education
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Family-To-Family Education
is a peer family education program designed to foster learning,
healing and empowerment among families of individuals with
serious mental illness.
The NAMI NEW JERSEY Family-To-Family
education (formerly the "Journey of Hope") course
is a 12-week program for families of individuals diagnosed
with serious and persistent mental illness. The curriculum
focuses on three major psychiatric illnesses (schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder and major depression), and emphasizes the
clinical treatment of these illnesses. The curriculum also
presents the knowledge and the skills that family members
need when faced with the problems of mental illness.
Trained NAMI family members who volunteer
in two-member teams teach courses. Family Educators participate
in an intensive weekend training seminar to prepare them to
teach the course.
There is no fee to participants. NAMI NEW JERSEY provides
the training for the NAMI NEW JERSEY Family Educator volunteers
and the funding for course materials. To find out more about
Family-to-Family programs near you please contact the NAMI
NEW JERSEY office. Please call 732-940-0991
or e-mail ftof@naminj.org.
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New
classes start in Spring 2008! 
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What the Course Offers
Current information about schizophrenia, major depression,
bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, and obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD); up-to-date information about medication
compliance; discussion of the biological bases of serious
mental illnesses, treatment options, and recovery.
Coping Skills gaining empathy by understanding what a person
with a serious mental illness experiences; problem-solving,
listening, and communication techniques; handling periods
of crisis and relapse; care for the caregiver; coping with
worry, stress and overload.
Advocacy Guidance on locating appropriate supports and services
within the community and obtaining better mental health services;
and advocacy for appropriate federal and state policies.
If you are interested in receiving additional information
to enroll in a Family-To-Family Education Program or if you
would like information on training to become a Family Educator
or Family Facilitator please contact the NAMI NEW JERSEY office
at 732-940-0991 or e-mail.
Our mailing address is 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick, NJ
08902.
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The Twelve Education Modules of the Family-To-Family
Course
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 Learning
about feelings, learning about facts
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Introduction
to schizophrenia: Diagnosis, critical periods
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Introduction
to depression and bipolar illness
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Basics
about the brain
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Problem-solving
skills workshop
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Medications
review
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What
it's like to be mentally ill: Empathy Workshop
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Communications
skills workshop
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Relative
groups and self-care
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Rehabilitation
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Advocacy:
Fighting stigma
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Certification
and celebration
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NAMI NEW JERSEY Family-to-Family Hall
of Fame
Following is a list of Family-to-Family Educators
who have taught Family-to-Family at least five times. All
were inducted into the newly created NAMI NJ Family-to-Family
Hall of Fame at the NAMII NJ Leadership Recognition
Event held on Saturday, November 10, 2007.
Harriet Alpert, NAMI Camden County; Rosemary
Canuso, NAMI Camden County; Maren Christensen, NAMI Middlesex
County; Eileen Danielenko, NAMI Burlington County FACE;
Gail Dembin, NAMI Atlantic County; Dina DiAnnuntis, NAMI
Atlantic County; Marilyn Goldstein, Program Director, NAMI
NJ; Linda McGrath, NAMI Mercer County; Joann Mehalick, NAMI
Union County; Carmen Meyer, NAMI Bergen County; Pat Roman,
NAMI Union County; Al Supino, NAMI Bergen County; Gary Tucker,
NAMI Atlantic County.
NAMI NEW JERSEY Family-to-Family Hall of Fame inductees
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 NAMI NEW JERSEY is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families who are affected by mental illness.
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