ALEXA JAMES MS, LCSWASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

NAMI CHICAGON A M I I L L I N O I S C O N F E R E N C E O C T O B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 3

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: TEEN

SUPPORT GROUP

INTRODUCTIONNEED / FINDINGSDEVELOPMENTFUNDINGIMPLEMENTATIONOUTCOMESQ & A

Overview

We noticed an unmet need in the community: support groups for teenagers,

both living with a mental illness and affected by a mental illness (family

member).

What we’ve been up to:

Support Groups

Consumer

Family

Spanish (consumer & family)

Education

Family-to-Family

Pathways in Living

Crisis Intervention Training

Adult

Juvenile

HELPLINE

5,000 calls per year

1,000 resources

Outreach

Internship Programs

Needs Assessment

Monitor # of requests on our Helpline for this type of support – who’s asking?

Research on support groups for young people living with a mental illness and/or living with a family member with a mental illness. Has this been done before?

Agency outreach Who is hosting support groups in Chicagoland? Has anyone tried teen support groups before? Would you utilize a teen support group as a resource

for clients?

Findings

Very limited research availableIt’s been done locally before- without successTransportation is an obstacleDifficult to get youth engaged Need for a clinician facilitator (vs peer) is

additional expense

MarketingHow can we make it

appealing to youth? Assessing your target group

Clear participation criteriaMake materials useful for

your targetAccessibilityNetworksMaintaining your listserv

Collaborative Marketing Tools

Group Preparation

Secure funding Submit grant requests Evaluate your budget- how to keep costs low

TransportationSetup the space

Remove tables and other barriers Greet teens at the door for each group, provide snacks

Defining the Group

Construct a brief statement to include in marketing materials but also to articulate to the group

Purpose and Focus/IntentOpen group formatDiscuss the role of the group as it relates to

the hosting agency Involve group members by encouraging

feedback ( pick any topic, ex. snack choice, time of day, room,

etc.)

Pre Survey Sample

Sample Agenda

Week 4** August 20, 2013 (Alexa) Greeter (Intern) Survey/Sign in (All) Intros / Check in

Ice Breakers (Ashley) Two truths and a lie (Intern) Step in if you… (Alexa) Rules BREAK (5 mins) (Ashley) Defining Acceptance / Self-Control (Intern) Discussion / Mandala*

What does your “serenity prayer” look like (Intern) Survey (All) Close out – snack vote

Mandala

Mandalas can be an excellent art therapy intervention for both children and adults. The word "mandala" comes from the Sanskrit word for "circle."  However, it means more than just the shape and also encompasses the idea of wholeness and unity.  Mandalas can be powerful symbols and have been present in many cultures and spiritual practices.  Carl Jung is thought to have introduced the West to the idea of mandalas and often created mandalas as a form of self-expression and exploration of his internal world.http://creativityintherapy.blogspot.com

Learn from our Experience

Pre and Post SurveyManage group dynamics

Rule structure and reiteration Turn it back to the group Don’t engage in distracting behaviors Facilitators model positive feedback

Topic choice is crucial Ex: forgiveness Topic-focused vs. interactive activity

Outcomes

Stigma reductionResource connectionSocial network/supportFamily involvement Further funding

Q&A

Contact Information:Alexa James MS, LCSW

NAMI Chicago312-563-0445

alexa@namigc.org