Family-to-Family
Community Outreach Video
TOOLKIT
A 25-minute video/talk promoting the NAMI Family-to-Family Education
Program, to be presented to civic groups, church groups, mental health
providers, administrators, funding boards, and community leaders.
By Joyce Burland, Ph.D., National Director
NAMI Education, Training and Peer Support Center
The outreach video was produced by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka
America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Coming together in partnership with NAMI
to enhance human life.
NAMI Family-to-Family
Video Outreach Toolkit
July 2009
Expanding the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program
Through the Video Outreach Project
For 20 years, the NAMI Family-to-Family Education course has provided significant
benefits for NAMI state and affiliate organizations. Besides assisting thousands of
families in desperate need, this program has brought in many new members, produced
ranks of new NAMI leaders, identified important new donors and strengthened the
standing of NAMI organizations in communities across the nation.
As a national project, NAMI and its state organizations invest a great deal in training
and preparing teachers, while our affiliates devote time and effort to community
outreach and marketing for the course. In addition, we know that there are thousands
of family members in need of this unique resource. Therefore, it is critically
important to fill our course to the capacity it was designed for. As a goal clearly
within our reach, we need continue our efforts to increase the number of participants
in each class to a 22-25 participant maximum.
The immediate project of filling existing classes to maximum will call upon us to
“think big” about marketing and community outreach. In a larger sense, every
affiliate’s goal of increasing membership and advancing NAMI’s advocacy mission
ultimately rests on effective community outreach. To further these common
objectives, we have designed a 25 minute program featuring the Family-to-Family
program, which can be presented to community civic and church groups at their
monthly meetings, to professionals, providers, mental health administrators and
county funding boards, and to community television viewers.
The presentation consists of a superb 4-minute video, wherein a group of nationallyknown psychiatrists vouch for the quality of the Family-to-Family Program, and
recommend that family members take the course. Along with showing the video, an
affiliate spokesperson will describe NAMI national, state and affiliate goals and
services, highlight the features of the Family-to-Family program, and introduce a
recent course graduate who will testify about the benefits of taking the course.
Brochures for NAMI, state and affiliate membership, Family-to-Family, and any
other education resources offered by the affiliate can be distributed. The NAMI
Family-to-Family Community Outreach Video is available for $4.00, and the toolkit
can be downloaded from the Family-to-Family website.
It is our hope that affiliate board members and members-at-large will take the lead in
spearheading this outreach effort, thereby relieving Family-to-Family teachers of the
additional task of community notification on top of their 12-week time commitment
to teach the class. We see this video project as an ideal opportunity for affiliates to
promote the full range of educational programs and services they offer.
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NAMI Family-to-Family
Video Outreach Toolkit
July 2009
OUTREACH PROJECT SPECIFICS
This program features two NAMI presenters: 1) A spokesperson from the
NAMI affiliate, preferably an affiliate board member, or member-at-large,
who have taken the course, and 2) a recent graduate of the Family-to-Family
program.
The program is targeted for community civic groups (Rotary, Kiwanis,
Masons, women’s clubs, etc.), professional providers, Veteran’s
Administration staff, mental health administrators and county funding
boards, local church groups, and local access TV and cable programs.
This 25-minute program meets the time limit required by most community
organizations who invite speakers to their monthly meetings.
Handouts: Besides the NAMI Fact Sheet (P.6), you can distribute brochures
for NAMI, state and affiliate membership, the Family-to-Family brochure,
and brochures from any other programs the affiliate offers in the community.
OUTREACH PROJECT GOALS
To increase Family-to-Family class size to a maximum of 22-25 participants
by actively marketing this exceptional NAMI educational resource to
various community groups.
To enlist affiliate members in the vital effort of local outreach which will
add immeasurably to their name-and-purpose recognition in the community,
to their drive for membership, and to making fruitful connections with
community organizations.
To develop more contact points for person-to-person referrals to NAMI
educational programs—the method proven over time to be the most durable
way that families and consumers hear about these NAMI programs.
To encourage recent Family-to-Family graduates to get involved with NAMI
and to work for NAMI at the affiliate level.
NAMI Family-to-Family
Video Outreach Toolkit
July 2009
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PROGRAM PRESENTATION: 25 MINUTES
I OPENING: Affiliate Spokesperson (TIME: 5 minutes)
1.
Briefly describe the key activities of your affiliate and state
organizations. Spotlight NAMI’s national functions in advocacy,
education and support (see NAMI Fact Sheet, page 6).
2.
Introduce the 12-week NAMI Family-to-Family Program as an
educational oasis in a behavioral health services landscape that
offers few community resources for family caregivers.
FAMILY-TO-FAMILY TALKING POINTS:
• 20 years in the field; nationally acclaimed as a unique peer education
program taught by highly trained NAMI volunteers.
• Over 3,500 NAMI members teach in 49 states, the District of
Columbia, 2 Canadian provinces, Mexico and Italy. There are over
200,000 graduates of the Family-to-Family program.
• The course is FREE. Acknowledge who is supporting the program in
your state or locality.
• 3 scientific research studies evaluating the program’s effectiveness
indicate that course graduates gain in coping skills, emotional
understanding, and empowerment to advocate for better treatment
and services for their loved one who is living with a mental illness.
II. VIDEO PRESENTATION: Affiliate Spokesperson (TIME: 5 minutes)
1. Introduce the video as a special view from leading psychiatrists who
have had experience with the program. Tell them the course covers
schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders,
borderline personality disorder and co-occurring brain and addictive
disorders.
2. Show the video. (3 minutes: 46 seconds)
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NAMI Family-to-Family
Video Outreach Toolkit
July 2009
PROGRAM PRESENTATION (Continued)
III.
TESTIMONIAL: Recent Course Graduate (TIME: 8 minutes)
1. Introduce yourself and briefly cover the following:
The
relationship of your relative to you, his or her diagnosis, and
number of years of living with mental illness.
2. Speak a bit about what life was like before you came to the course.
3. Describe how your experience in the course affected you and your
family.
4. Tell them why having family member teachers mattered to you.
5. Urge people in the audience to tell “friends in need” about this
remarkably informative and healing peer education program.
5. Announce the specific time and place of the next local course, or
give general information about the next scheduled course offering.
IV. WRAP-UP: Affiliate Spokesperson (TIME: 7 minutes)
1. Mention all the NAMI signature educational programs, or state
programs, you offer locally, or anything else you are doing which
has a local impact.
2. Ask for questions/comments from the audience.
3. Ask people to join NAMI: Give out your main contact number.
4. Thank your host organization
5. Stress that each person in the audience can be a messenger to help
the one-in-four families in the community still coping in the dark
with serious and persistent mental illness
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NAMI Family-to-Family
Video Outreach Toolkit
July 2009
PROGRAM NOTES
1. This program is “unscripted” in order to allow for flexibility in
presentation, and room for expression of personal testimony. However,
the agenda times must be followed closely. Most civic groups have a
“guest speaker” time limit we must observe.
2. Get to the site early to be sure your video setup is ready and working
before the meeting begins. Having to fiddle with this after you start
your presentation lays an egg and eats up time.
3. You will not find sufficient cultural or ethnic balance in the video itself.
If you are doing outreach with this program in Latino, Hispanic, or
African-American communities, it is essential that the two NAMI
presenters selected represent the culture that you are targeting.
4. When this program is used in communities where you are offering the
course for the first time, you must necessarily ask a teacher to do the
testimonial. Or, a “retired” teacher from a nearby area could assist. But
remember, we want to get our trained teachers out of outreach.
5. There are various strategies for distributing membership and program
brochures. At a luncheon presentation, arrive early and put them at each
place; in theater-row setups, put materials on the chairs ahead of time, or
hand them out at the door as people leave; church settings might have a
table for your materials, etc.
6. Be sure to copy page 6, NAMI Fact Sheet, as a handout . And don’t be
shy about asking for members!
7. Local teachers can help identify the recent course graduates who will
testify openly and heartfully about their class experience. These newlyminted NAMI enthusiasts are the best marketing tool we have. Plan to
meet together to go over the program beforehand, and enjoy!
We’re eager to hear from you about how this outreach program is working
for you: Call Lynne Saunders at NAMI National (703-524-7600), or e-mail
lynne@nami.org
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NAMI Family-to-Family
Video Outreach Toolkit
July 2009
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Who Is NAMI?
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots organization for people
with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more
than 1,100 local communities across the country.
What Is the NAMI Mission?
NAMI recognizes that the key concepts of recovery, resiliency and support are essential to improving the
wellness and quality of life of all persons affected by mental illness. Mental illnesses should not be an
obstacle to a full and meaningful life for persons who live with them. NAMI will advocate at all levels to
ensure that all persons affected by mental illness receive the services that they need and deserve, in a
timely fashion.
What Does NAMI Do?
NAMI members and friends work to fulfill our mission by providing support, education, and advocacy. Our
many activities include:
Public Information
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NAMI’s website (www.nami.org) receives over 7 million visitors each year who turn to NAMI for
information, referral and education.
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NAMI’s Helpline (1-800-950-6264) is staffed by a dedicated team and serves over 4,000 callers
per month.
Peer Education and Support
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NAMI’s Education Programs have graduated and supported more than 200,000 individuals to
date. These nine programs provide critical education to help individuals and family members gain
knowledge and skills for living successfully with mental illness.
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Support Groups are provided through many of NAMI’s state and local affiliates and offer
invaluable connections with peers who understand the challenges and joys of living with mental
illness.
The Better Business Bureau recognizes NAMI as a “Wise Giving Alliance” national charity.
Raising Awareness and Fighting Stigma
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NAMIWalks is a signature NAMI event that draws more than 100,000 participants every year who
walk together in over 80 communities across the nation and raise money to fund local NAMI
programs.
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StigmaBusters responds to inaccurate and hurtful language and portrayals of mental illness in the
media and promotes understanding and respect for those who live with mental illness.
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In Our Own Voice presents deeply personal and moving journeys of recovery by individuals
living with mental illness, reaching more than 30,000 audience participants each year.
State and Federal Advocacy
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NAMI Advocacy provides a key voice for state and federal public and private-sector policies that
facilitate research, end discrimination, reduce barriers to successful life in the community and
promote timely, comprehensive and effective mental health services and supports.
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NAMI Action Centers include the Child & Adolescent Action Center, the Law and Criminal
Justice Action Center, the Multicultural Action Center, and the STAR (Consumer Support and
Technical Assistance Resource) Center. NAMI’s Action Centers advocate for unique populations
and develop and disseminate information to meet specific needs.
NAMI ~ National Alliance on Mental Illness • 2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300 • Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 524-7600 • Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI • www.nami.org
January 2009
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