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Defending ChildhoodProtect Heal Thrive
January 25-27, 2011
Sandra SpencerExecutive Director
National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
Youth Involvement - Joy Spencer
National Federation National Federation Vision StatementVision StatementThrough a family and youth drivenapproach, children and youth withemotional, behavioral and mentalhealth challenges and their familiesobtain needed supports andservices so that children growup healthy and able to maximizetheir potential.
National Federation National Federation Mission StatementMission Statement
The FFCMH, a national family-run organization serves to:
Provide advocacy at the national level for the rights of children and youth with emotional, behavioral and mental challenges and their families
Provide leadership and technical assistance to a nation-wide network of family run organizations
Collaborate with family run and other child serving organization to transform mental healthcare in America
A Bit of HistoryA Bit of History
Family InvolvementFamily Involvement
Family involvement is demonstrated through:◦ Diversity◦ Broad representation◦ Peer involvement
Families should be involved in:◦ Policy◦ Planning◦ Implementation◦ Evaluation
Why Involve Families?Why Involve Families?
Families know the children best.Families know their children’s needs.Families know what treatments work.Families know the behaviors that present
problems.Families are and can be the best advocates
for better services and supports.Families can support other families.Families can influence policy.
Family Involvement May Not Family Involvement May Not Be EasyBe Easy
It requires significant and sustained effort.
It must be deliberate and conscientious from the start.
Family involvement should NEVER BE ASSUMED.
It should be fully integrated into both program and policy - not a separate component that is added on.
Family Involvement May Not Family Involvement May Not Be EasyBe Easy
Individual families and family-run groups need training, encouragement, and financial support to have:◦ Voices that are heard.◦ Information they can use.◦ Responsibility for decisions.◦ Peers and mentors for support.◦ Tools and resources to develop skills and to use
them.◦ Independence and courage to speak the truth.
Ways to Engage FamiliesWays to Engage Families
Build formal and informal environments of trust to open the doors of communication (focus group meetings, education forums, support, groups, social events, etc.)
Find the person or organization that is the gatekeeper in the community, get their support
Create peer to peer networks - methods for families to connect with each other for information (calling trees, list serves, chat rooms, newsletters)
Sponsor conferences and summits involving family members in the planning and as presenters to promote cross learning
Ways to Engage FamiliesWays to Engage Families
Allow family members to be a part of program planning
Allow family members to create and implement service satisfaction surveys
Support grassroots family advocacy and youth organizations
Hire families in leadership positions in administration and management within the grant program
Develop brochures and videos that describe the grant and the available family and youth peer support opportunities
More Information on Family More Information on Family InvolvementInvolvement
Principles of Family Involvement
Definition of Family Driven Care
Youth M.O.V.E. NationalYouth M.O.V.E. National
Youth M.O.V.E. National, a subsidiary of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, is a youth led national organization devoted to improving services and systems that support positive growth and development by uniting the voices of individuals who have lived experience in various systems including mental health, juvenile justice, education, and child welfare.
Youth M.O.V.E. NationalYouth M.O.V.E. National
Mission StatementWe the members of Youth M.O.V.E. National
will work as a diverse collective to unite the voices and causes of youth while raising awareness around youth issues. We will advocate for youth rights and voice in mental health and the other systems that serve them, for the purpose of empowering youth to be equal partners in the process of change.
Ways to Engage YouthWays to Engage Youth
Build a relationship with youthAcknowledge and learn the
culture of youthTrain and be an EFFECTIVE youth
supporterAllow the youth to develop their
own involvement model
Build a Relationship with Build a Relationship with YouthYouth
Building a relationship with youth takes TIME and PATIENCE
Open communication is keyAsk questions (find out what makes
the youth feel wanted and appreciated)
Encourage and value feedbackCreate a caring environment
Youth CultureYouth Culture
Youth have their own culture!Be knowledgeable about youth interestsBe conscious of the differences in youth and
the different stages of youth development Address young people appropriately (avoid
referring to adolescents as children or kids)Embrace and learn from your youth
Be an Effective Youth Be an Effective Youth SupporterSupporter
Be flexibleBe youth-focusedRespect youth
cultureRelate to young
peopleFocus on a youth-
driven and youth-run process
LISTEN
Be willing to share power
Understand the complexities in the lives of young people
Tell the youth of their importance
Reconnect youth with the community
Allow the Youth to Build Allow the Youth to Build Their Own Involvement Their Own Involvement
ModelModelIf YOU build it, they will (NOT)
comeProvide a safe and welcoming
environmentInclude activities they suggest
that are meaningful and FUNCreate a process for older youth
to mentor younger youth
Thank YouThank YouStory Time
The Tortoise & the Hare – The Tortoise & the Hare – What’s the moral?What’s the moral?
Version #1 Slow & steady wins the
race…
The Tortoise & the Hare – The Tortoise & the Hare – What’s the moral?What’s the moral?
Version #2 Fast & consistent wins the race…
The Tortoise & the Hare – The Tortoise & the Hare – What’s the moral?What’s the moral?
Version #3 Identify your core competencies, change
the playing field to suit your core competencies and then win the race…
The Tortoise & the Hare – The Tortoise & the Hare – What’s the moral?What’s the moral?
Version #4 Work as a team and then win the race
together…
Working Together Always wins the race!
Working Together Always wins the race!