NAMI Family-to-Family is a 9-week educational course for family, caregivers and friends of adults living with mental illness, facilitated by a trained family member or caregiver with lived experience. Classes are normally offered in January, April and September of each year.

Family to Family Brochure

What You Should Expect
  • Meets for 9 sessions, 2.5 hours each, free of cost.
  • Designed for adult family and friends of loved ones age 18 and over living with mental illness.
  • Taught by trained family members of individuals living with mental illness.
  • Provides critical information and strategies related to care giving.
  • Incorporates presentations, discussion and exercises.
  • Designated an Evidence-based Practice in 2013 by SAMHSA.
Why You Should Attend
A toolkit of information
  • Up-to-date information about a range of mental illnesses, including co-occurring mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
  • Impact of mental illness on the brain.
  • Current research on treatments including medication, side effects and evidence-based therapies.
  • Training in preparedness and emotional resiliency.
  • Skills related to managing crises, solving problems and communicating effectively.
  • Strategies for self-care including management of stress and emotional overload.
  • Guidance on locating appropriate local supports and services.
  • A way to find community support.

Perhaps most importantly, as a participant you can gain comfort in knowing you are not alone. Recovery is a journey and there is hope for all families and individuals dealing with a mental illness. The in-person group experience of NAMI Family-to-Family provides the opportunity for mutual support and positive impact. You can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who relate to your experiences. Through your participation, you have the opportunity to help others grow.

What Others Have To Say About NAMI Family-to-Family
“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.”
De Familia a Familia de NAMI
To Sign Up for NAMI Family to Family

For more information about NAMI Family to Family, or to sign up for classes:

call 408-453-0400, option 1 or email us at info@namisantaclara.org

In Other Languages

De Familia a Familia de NAMI en español is also available at NAMI Santa Clara County!

Chinese Family to Family (offered through Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities):

Recommended Reading and Activities for Families/Friends

If you are waiting for a Family-to-Family class session to start, we recommend the following:

  • Attend a Family Support Group prior to starting Family-to-Family class.
  • Consider taking one of the following classes offered by Santa Clara County Behavioral Health:
    • Be Sensitive, Be Brave for Mental Health – 2-hour online class – learn foundational information about mental health
    • QPR – 1.5-hour self-paced online class – recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis

    To arrange a training or for more information, please contact PreventionServices@hhs.sccgov.org.

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