Examining the Impact of a Peer-Provided Psychoeducational Program for Parents: NAMI Basics

Summary

This study will evaluate a peer service program for caregivers of youth struggling with mental illness using a program developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) called NAMI Basics. This peer service program for caregivers was adapted from their successful and empirically supported model for caregivers of adult children with mental illness (Family-to-Family). The child-focused intervention, NAMI Basics, is a six-class curriculum focused on increasing caregiver knowledge about mental illness, empowering parents to advocate for their children across service systems, and introducing skills that assist in family problem-solving and communication.

The current study is a randomized effectiveness trial of NAMI Basics. Caregivers who are parenting youth with a mental illness (N = 175) referred to the NAMI Basics program through natural referral routes will be given the option to participate in the study, and if interested, randomly assigned to either an immediate NAMI Basics classes (Wave A) or an 8-week delay condition (Wave B), followed by initiation of the NAMI Basics class.

Conditions

• Mental Disorder, Child

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

NAMI Basics

NAMI Basics is a peer service program for caregivers of children with mental health needs. It was created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and was adapted from their empirically supported model for caregivers of adult children with mental illness (Family-to-Family). The child-focused intervention, NAMI Basics, is a six-class curriculum focused on increasing caregiver knowledge about mental illness, empowering parents to advocate for their children across service systems, and introducing skills that assist in family problem-solving and communication (Brister et al., 2012). The program is currently available widely throughout the U.S. through certified trainers who volunteer with local NAMI affiliates and is provided free of charge to caregivers in a non-stigmatizing community setting (e.g., local school, church, community center). It is open to all caregivers, regardless of mental health diagnosis or time within a treatment system.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas at Austin

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sarah Kate Bearman, PhD · The University of Texas at Austin

• Molly Lopez, PhD · The University of Texas at Austin

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-12-06

Primary Completion

2020-02-10

Completion

2020-02-10

Countries

• United States

Study Locations