About NAMI Eastside
Support
Education
  monthly forums
  in our own voice
  next generation
  family-to-family
  peer-to-peer
  visions for tomorrow
  lending library
Advocacy
Calendar
Joining & Giving
More Resources

NAMI EASTSIDE
Family Resource Ctr.
16315 NE 87th Street
Suite B-4
Redmond, WA 98052
425-885-NAMI (6264)
info@nami-eastside.org

Visions for Tomorrow (VFT)

Do you or does anyone you know have a child or adolescent whose life is affected by a brain disorder? Visions for Tomorrow (VFT) is a 9-week educational course for parents, direct caregivers and educators of children and adolescents with a diagnosed mental illness, as well as those who exhibit behavior that strongly suggests such a diagnosis. NAMI Eastside provides the course and all educational materials to participants as a free service.

The Visions curriculum balances educational materials and skills training with self-care, emotional support and empowerment. Diagnoses addressed include Autism Spectrum Disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), PDD/Asperger's, bipolar, borderline personality disorder (BPD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorder, and Tourette's syndrome. Other topics include psychotherapy treatments, psychiatric rehabilitation, transition issues, communication and organizational skills, problem management, legal issues, and coping.

The course was designed and written by experienced caregivers, family members and professionals. The NAMI Eastside volunteers who teach VFT have taken intensive training as course instructors. Participants receive a binder filled with resource materials and have opportunities to build support networks.

Pre-registration is required. VFT courses are offered periodically; therefore, NAMI Eastside maintains an on-going waiting list. For more information and to register, please contact NAMI Eastside at (425)-885-NAMI (6264) or e-mail info@nami-eastside.org

NEW! Starting September 30th, 2010 you can be a part of NAMI Basics!

NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses. The NAMI Basics course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13 years.

The course consists of six classes, each lasting for 2.5 hours. Classes will be offered six Thursdays in a row, starting with September 30th. This class and all instruction materials are FREE to participants. Preregistration is required.

The goals of NAMI Basics are to
1. Give parents/caregivers the basic information necessary to take the best care possible of their children, their families, and themselves.
2. Help parents/caregivers cope with the impact that mental illness has on a child living with the illness and the entire family.
3. Provide tools for the parents/caregivers to use even after completing the program that will assist in making the best decisions possible for the care of their children.

The NAMI Basics course includes
1. Introduction to the stages of emotional reactions of the family to the mental illness; including crisis, shock, denial, grief and acceptance.
2. Insights into understanding of the lived experience of the child living with the mental illness, including learning to separate the child you love from the illness that alters their behavior and abilities.
3. Current information about Attention Deficit Disorder, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Childhood Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorders.
4. Current research related to the biology of mental illness and the evidence-based, most effective treatment strategies available, including medications used to treat mental illness in children and adolescents.
5. Specific workshops to learn problem solving, listening and communication skills.
6. Examples of strategies that have been found helpful in handling challenging behaviors in children and adolescents.
7. Information about the systems that are major players in the lives of children and adolescents with mental illness: the school system and the mental health system.
8. Exposure to personal record keeping systems that have proven to be effective for parents/caregivers in their interactions with the school and healthcare systems.
9. Information on planning for crisis management and relapse.
10. Information on locating appropriate supports and services within the community to build a community of support for the parent/caregiver.
11. Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services, with an emphasis on personal advocates for the parent/caregiver and child on an individual level.

For more information about NAMI Basics visit www.nami.org/basics.

To preregister please email info@nami-eastside.org or call (425) 885-6264.

© 2005. NAMI Eastside. | All rights reserved. | SITE MAP

This page was last updated on August 26, 2010.