Adapting the Parent Connector program for caregivers of adults with SMI: the Family Connector experience

Abstract Caregivers play an essential role in the recovery of their adult loved ones with serious mental illness (SMI). Promoting caregiver empowerment and well-being is critical but has often been overlooked. Family peer interventions are well-suited to fill this need; however, research is limited...

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Main Authors: Paige E. Cervantes, Charlotte Gendler, Lori Markowitz, Meggin Rose, Priscilla Shorter, Sally Mason, Tanya Hernandez, Kimberly E. Hoagwood
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-08-01
Series:npj Mental Health Research
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-024-00079-6
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author Paige E. Cervantes
Charlotte Gendler
Lori Markowitz
Meggin Rose
Priscilla Shorter
Sally Mason
Tanya Hernandez
Kimberly E. Hoagwood
author_facet Paige E. Cervantes
Charlotte Gendler
Lori Markowitz
Meggin Rose
Priscilla Shorter
Sally Mason
Tanya Hernandez
Kimberly E. Hoagwood
author_sort Paige E. Cervantes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Caregivers play an essential role in the recovery of their adult loved ones with serious mental illness (SMI). Promoting caregiver empowerment and well-being is critical but has often been overlooked. Family peer interventions are well-suited to fill this need; however, research is limited supporting their use with caregivers of adults with SMI. Our team is currently engaged in a study evaluating an adapted version of the evidenced-based Parent Connectors program1,2, renamed Family Connectors (FC), for caregivers of young adults recently discharged from the First Episode Psychosis program in New York (OnTrackNY). This paper, written collaboratively with family peer professionals, describes the adaptation process we followed to systematically document the family peer professional experience one year into delivering the FC program to this novel population. Modifications made to improve intervention fit included tailoring the content of the intervention, incorporating an outside approach into the program, lengthening the service in some cases, and adding a weekly peer supervision meeting. We hope that these insights are used to inform future efforts to advance support for families of loved ones with SMI, and more broadly, that our approach serves as a model for effective collaboration to improve the application of peer support services for unique groups.
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spelling doaj-art-6f47e7144bf14c91acbc23fd36dd1a2b2025-08-20T02:59:57ZengNature Portfolionpj Mental Health Research2731-42512024-08-01311610.1038/s44184-024-00079-6Adapting the Parent Connector program for caregivers of adults with SMI: the Family Connector experiencePaige E. Cervantes0Charlotte Gendler1Lori Markowitz2Meggin Rose3Priscilla Shorter4Sally Mason5Tanya Hernandez6Kimberly E. Hoagwood7Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of MedicineUnaffiliatedUnaffiliatedDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of MedicineUnaffiliatedFamilies Together in NYSDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of MedicineAbstract Caregivers play an essential role in the recovery of their adult loved ones with serious mental illness (SMI). Promoting caregiver empowerment and well-being is critical but has often been overlooked. Family peer interventions are well-suited to fill this need; however, research is limited supporting their use with caregivers of adults with SMI. Our team is currently engaged in a study evaluating an adapted version of the evidenced-based Parent Connectors program1,2, renamed Family Connectors (FC), for caregivers of young adults recently discharged from the First Episode Psychosis program in New York (OnTrackNY). This paper, written collaboratively with family peer professionals, describes the adaptation process we followed to systematically document the family peer professional experience one year into delivering the FC program to this novel population. Modifications made to improve intervention fit included tailoring the content of the intervention, incorporating an outside approach into the program, lengthening the service in some cases, and adding a weekly peer supervision meeting. We hope that these insights are used to inform future efforts to advance support for families of loved ones with SMI, and more broadly, that our approach serves as a model for effective collaboration to improve the application of peer support services for unique groups.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-024-00079-6
spellingShingle Paige E. Cervantes
Charlotte Gendler
Lori Markowitz
Meggin Rose
Priscilla Shorter
Sally Mason
Tanya Hernandez
Kimberly E. Hoagwood
Adapting the Parent Connector program for caregivers of adults with SMI: the Family Connector experience
npj Mental Health Research
title Adapting the Parent Connector program for caregivers of adults with SMI: the Family Connector experience
title_full Adapting the Parent Connector program for caregivers of adults with SMI: the Family Connector experience
title_fullStr Adapting the Parent Connector program for caregivers of adults with SMI: the Family Connector experience
title_full_unstemmed Adapting the Parent Connector program for caregivers of adults with SMI: the Family Connector experience
title_short Adapting the Parent Connector program for caregivers of adults with SMI: the Family Connector experience
title_sort adapting the parent connector program for caregivers of adults with smi the family connector experience
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-024-00079-6
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