This study provides evidence that FFEP is helpful to relatives of persons with SMI by reducing subjective burden and worry, and increasing empowerment, knowledge about SMI, understanding the mental health system, and self-care.

Objective The Family-to-Family Education Program (FTF) is a 12-week course for family members of adults with mental illness offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This study evaluates the effectiveness of FTF. Method A total of 318 consenting participants in five Maryland counties were randomly assigned to take FTF immediately or to wait at least three months for the next available class with free use of any other NAMI, community or professional supports. Participants were interviewed at study enrollment and 3 months later (at course termination) regarding problem and emotion-focused coping, subjective illness burden, and distress. We used a linear mixed effects multilevel regression model to test for significant changes over time between intervention conditions. Results FTF participants had significantly greater improvements in problem-focused coping as measured by empowerment and illness knowledge. Exploratory analyses revealed FTF participants had significantly enhanced emotion-focused coping as measured by increased acceptance, reduced distress, and improved problem solving. Subjective illness burden did not differ between groups. Conclusion This study provides evidence that FTF is effective for enhancing coping and empowerment of families of persons with mental illness, though not for reducing subjective burden. Other benefits for problem solving and reducing distress are suggested, but require replication.

This study assessed the efficacy of the Family-to-Family Education Program, a structured 12-week program developed by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. A total of 37 family members who participated in the program were evaluated by an independent research team of trained family member assessors at baseline, after completing the program, and six months after program completion. After completing the program, the participants demonstrated significantly greater family, community, and service system empowerment and reduced displeasure and worry about the family member who had a mental illness. These benefits were sustained at six months.

Family members of people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) need information and support to cope with the considerable stresses they experience. The Family to Family Education Program (FtF) is a structured, peer-led, 12-week information and support self-help class for such individuals. Previous research by Dixon et al. (2004) shows reduced subjective burden and increased empowerment among graduates. The present study sought to understand what processes take place during FtF participation that might lead to these benefits, as a first step in building a conceptual model of how FtF causes its effects, using semi-structured interviews with 31 FtF graduates. Qualitative data analysis suggested that new factual and emotional information from FtF shifts interviewees' understanding of their situation and that skills acquired through FtF then allow participants to incorporate these new perspectives into more adaptive behaviors. These changes led to both proximal and distal benefits for the FtF participants interviewed. The results are discussed in the context of self-help, stress-and-coping, and trauma recovery theories.

Objective This study examines 6-month follow-up data from participants in a randomized trial of a peer-driven 12-session family support and education program, called family-to-family (FTF) and offered by the US National Alliance on Mental Illness, to determine whether improvements in distress, family functioning, coping and empowerment were sustained. Method Individuals randomized to the FTF condition were assessed after program completion and then 3 months later on measures of distress, family functioning, coping, and empowerment. We used a multilevel regression model (SAS PROC MIXED) to test for significant changes over time (baseline, 3 and 9 months). Results All significant benefits that FTF participants gained between baseline and immediately post-FTF were sustained at 9 months including reduced anxiety, improved family problem-solving, increased positive coping, and increased knowledge. Greater class attendance was associated with larger increases in empowerment and reductions in depression and displeasure with ill relative. Conclusion Evidence suggests that benefits of the FTF program were sustained for at least 6 months without any additional boosters or supports. Peer-based programs may produce sustained benefits for individuals seeking help in addressing challenges and stresses related to having a family member with a mental illness.

Thirty-six therapists at an urban community mental health center responded to a survey about contacts with family members of 214 clients with serious mental illness. For 61 percent of the clients, the therapists reported at least one past-year contact with a family member or someone acting as a family member. Contacts were typically by telephone and often took place during crises. The focus was on problem solving rather than on providing family therapy. Therapists perceived significant benefit from the contacts, which were achieved with little effort on their part. The results suggest that informal-and perhaps nonbillable-brief services to families are common. Such informal services fall short of recommended best-practice standards.

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Most ACT clients had significant family contact. ACT established contact with most families, and the work with families appeared to be associated with higher levels of satisfaction with family relations and housing. The role of the FOW should be explored further.