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 ½ hours.   Classes may be offered weekly for six consecutive weeks, or may be offered twice per week for three weeks to accommodate the hectic schedules of parents. All instruction materials are FREE to participants. The goals of the program are:

• To give the parent/caregiver the basic information necessary to take the best care possible of their child, their family, and themself.
• To help the parent/caregiver cope with the impact that mental illness has on the child living with the illness and the entire family.
• To provide tools for the parent/caregiver to use even after completing the program that will assist in making the best decisions possible for the care of the child.

Course elements include:

• The trauma of mental illness for the child and the family
• The biology of mental illness ~ getting an accurate diagnosis
• The latest research on the medical aspects of the illness and advances in treatment
• An overview of treatment options ~ treatment works
• The impact of a child’s mental illness on the rest of the family – caregivers and siblings
• An overview of the systems involved in caring for children and teens and the importance of record keeping