The Federation of Families
The Federation of Families’ mission is to promote mental health for all children, youth and families. Its vision is that all communities will accept all young people and create opportunities for them to thrive.

The Colorado Chapter of the Federation of Families is the statewide chapter of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. The Colorado Chapter is a non-profit, which has been serving families and forging change in the mental health arena since 1995. It is recognized at the state level as one of the leading family organizations helping service providers meet the mental health needs of children, youth, and their families. This is due, in part, to the organization’s family driven philosophy. The Federation’s Board is over 50% family members, and is committed to creating new ways to better serve and empower families.

“We believe that families are experts on their children. We know that the best services are provided through family voice and choice,” said Ann Schrader, Executive Director, Colorado Chapter of the Federation of Families. “Through the effective use of support services, including advocacy and other non-traditional services, the quality of family life improves.”

History of the Family Movement:
Family participation in the treatment plan and implementation is a fairly new concept. In a survey in the late 1980’s, families indicated that their major focus, other than their child’s mental health, was on the challenges presented to them as a result of their child’s mental illness. Their concerns centered around lack of services, parenting issues, impact of the disease on the family unit, stigma and blame from the community, and the family-provider relationship where they did not feel heard or included.

Core Principles of Family Participation:
Out of the family movement, and with the support of progressive service providers and agencies, core family principles emerged and are at the heart of family participation. They include:

• respect with non-blaming attitudes
• honesty
• collaboration and partnership with shared values, goals and action.
  Of importance to families are the key elements of collaboration
• supportive understanding
• access to services
• open information exchange
• use of feedback in future decisions.

A Family-Centered System:
Over the last 10-15 years, the need for a family-centered system has been identified. Families play an important role in the treatment process for their child. They are parental experts and 24 hour a day caretakers of their children. Their viewpoint adds a dimension of care that can positively affect outcomes. Their unique perspective is valuable. It provides pieces to the puzzle that helps build a total picture, that balances the treatment plan and checks the judgment of service providers.

Families’ input in the initial intake, assessment, treatment planning and intervention process is integral to the health of their child. The outcome of this family-centered system is a treatment plan driven by the family, that is individualized, built on the strengths of the child and family, is chosen by the family and designed with the providers in the system of care. Family and youth participation is a necessary part of the treatment plan for their children and in the development of a system of care that provides the needs of the children and their families. With family participation, studies have shown that the child or youth has better grades, a decreased need for residential treatment center stay, or shorter stays, and if treated at a RTC, usually returns to his home and family.