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NAMI Family-to-Family

Free  8-session educational program for family, significant others, and friends of people living with mental illness. NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussion, and interactive exercises.

NAMI Children's Challenging Behaviors

FREE class for parents who have children and youth with mental health needs. Identify behaviors, learn when and how to seek help, gain resources and support and more - taught by parents who have been on similar journeys.

NAMI Basics on Demand

NAMI Basics OnDemand is a free, six-session online education program for parents, caregivers and other family who provide care for youth aged 22 or younger who are experiencing mental health symptoms. 

Education Programs
For friends & family

NAMI Family Support Group

peer-led support group for family members, caregivers, and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar circumstances.

Online Support Groups & Socials

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we had to get creative and digital! Click "More info" for our full online programming schedule.

NAMI Virginia

Visit NAMI Virginia's website for other support group offerings and links to affiliates.

Support Groups
For friends & family
F2F

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others, and friends of people living with mental illness. It is a designated evidenced-based program. Research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to an individual living with a mental health condition.

NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussion, and interactive exercises.

 

What You’ll Gain

In the program, you'll learn about:

  • How to manage crises, solve problems, and communicate effectively

  • Taking care of yourself and managing your stress

  • Developing the confidence and stamina to provide support with compassion

  • Finding and using local supports and services

  • Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain

  • Current treatments, including evidence-based therapies, medications, and side effects

  • The impact of mental illness on the entire family

 

What People are Saying

"Before I took the course, I felt alone and overwhelmed dealing with my daughter’s mental illness. By taking this course, I have met others who are going through the same things I am and have learned about many resources that I never knew existed."

 

"I thought my wife and I knew just about everything there is to know about the system and the illness. Boy, were we wrong. Without a doubt, this is the best support course I have had the privilege of taking part in, bar none."

Sign Up for a Class

Registration is required.  Click on the header PROGRAMMING CALENDAR  for the latest information on dates and locations.  You can sign up using this link and you will be contacted as soon as possible.

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NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for family members, caregivers, and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar circumstances.

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By sharing your experiences in a safe and confidential setting, you gain hope and develop supportive relationships. This group allows your voice to be heard, and provides an opportunity for your personal needs to be met. It encourages empathy, productive discussion, and a sense of community. You'll benefit through other’s experiences, discover your inner strength, and learn how to identify and use local resources.

 

What You’ll Gain
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NAMI Family Support Group will help you:

  • See the individual first, not the illness

  • Recognize that mental illnesses are medical illnesses that may have environmental triggers

  • Understand that mental illnesses are traumatic events

  • Aim for better coping skills

  • Find strength in sharing experiences

  • Reject stigma and not tolerate discrimination

  • Not judge anyone’s pain

  • Forgive ourselves and reject guilt

  • Embrace humor as healthy

  • Accept that we cannot solve every problem

  • Work for a better future in a realistic way

Find a Support Group

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Children's Challenging Behaviors

Children’s Challenging Behaviors is a six-hour workshop for parents of children and youth with mental health needs. In this workshop, a trained and experienced parent provides information to help parents understand typical behaviors versus challenging behaviors that require intervention. Parents learn when and how to seek help, develop parenting strategies, learn the ins and outs of special education and other educational supports, and discover community resources available to families and youth.

 

Program Goals

With this class, you’ll find out that you’re not alone. Learning to cope with your child’s mental health condition is a journey, and there is hope. The group setting of Children’s Challenging Behaviors provides mutual support and shared positive impact—you can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. You also can help others with your own experience.

Children’s Challenging Behaviors was created to educate and support families who have a child diagnosed with a mental health condition and/or who has challenging behaviors. This comprehensive training focuses on developing skills to manage challenging behavior, and learning information and skills to advocate for a child in the educational, medical, social service, and insurance settings. A plan of action that includes partnerships between home, school and community will also be developed in this workshop.

The goals of this workshop are that parents will:

  • Gain an understanding of typical challenging childhood behavior and what to look for in behavior that merits a closer look

  • Gain an understanding of mental wellness and mental health conditions in children and develop strategies to support your child/children

  • Learn about mental health conditions and how they may affect a child’s behavior and school performance

  • Learn strategies to support a child with challenging behaviors and/or a mental health disorder

  • Learn information to overcome stigma and myths that are sometimes associated with mental health conditions and challenging behaviors

  • Learn advocacy skills

  • Learn accurate information about special education as it relates to the education of children with challenging behaviors or a mental health condition

  • Learn about community supports

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Who Leads The Program

A Children’s Challenging Behaviors teacher is a trained NAMI leader. They play an important role in ensuring that all participants feel welcomed and supported. Children’s Challenging Behaviors teachers are uniquely qualified to lead a class because they too are parents who have a child or youth with mental health needs. Teachers therefore can empathize with and encourage those who are just beginning, or continuing their journey. A Children’s Challenging Behaviors teacher ensures that the class achieves the educational objectives.

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