Informal and Formal Family Peer Support: The Impact and Evidence

July 30, 2024 Webinar

This is a SAMHSA sponsored webinar presented by the National Federation of Families and the National Alliance in Mental Illness (NAMI).

Description: Family peer support provides hope and community for families of loved ones of any age with mental health and substance use challenges, serious mental illnesses, and/or serious emotional disturbances. The growing base of evidence reaffirms an abundance of stories from families who have benefitted from family peer support.
From panelists’ brief presentations, you’ll gain an understanding of the research behind family peer support. Hear from Kyllor and Crystal DeGraff, a mother and father with lived experience whose lives were positively impacted by their introduction to peer support services. National Federation of Families affiliate TN Voices CEO Rikki Harris will share how her organization provides formal family peer support in the form of direct support, training and advocacy. National Alliance on Mental Illness’s (NAMI) Chief Program Officer Dr. Teri Brister shares an example of an evidence-based informal family peer support program for parents and other family caregivers, NAMI Basics. Finally, one of NAMI Basic’s evaluators, Dr. Kimberly Hoagwood, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine, discusses her research on both informal and formal family peer support services and next steps to build the evidence base for this essential behavioral health service.

In a panel discussion moderated by NFF Executive Director Dr. Lynda Gargan, presenters use their lived and professional expertise to discuss how the inclusion of person-centered, family-driven approaches to behavioral health support, such as family peer support, lead us towards a more equitable society where all families have access to high quality, holistic mental health support. Family peers are able to connect families with resources and services and co-create person-centered, family-driven plans that support the family in reaching their goals.

Speakers:
Kimberly Eaton Hoagwood, Ph.D., is Cathy and Stephen Graham Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Teri Brister, Ph.D., serves as the Chief Program Officer at NAMI.
Rikki Harris is the Chief Executive Officer for TN Voices.
Kyllor and Crysal Degraff, Family Members with Lived Experience

Moderated by Lynda Gargan, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Federation of Families