National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

The National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (NFFCMH), commonly known as the National Federation of Families, is a U.S. nonprofit advocacy organization that describes itself as "a nationwide advocacy organization with families as its sole focus." It supports families across the lifespan whose loved ones experience mental health and/or substance use disorders, and it operates through a network of more than 120 affiliates and partners. Its core activities include national advocacy, technical assistance to family-run organizations, collaboration with family-serving organizations, representation of family voice in legislation and policy, and provision of support and resources. The organization also offers national certification and family peer support rooted in lived experience. The Federation was conceived in Arlington, Virginia, in February 1989 by a group of 18 people determined to change how the system works, following a December 1988 "Next Steps" conference co-hosted by Portland State University's Research and Training Center on Family Support and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). It was incorporated in Maryland in September 1989 as the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, adopted bylaws, and applied for 501(c)3 tax status. In 1992, a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation enabled it to move from an all-volunteer to a professionally staffed organization. Today the National Federation of Families links family-run organizations across the country, advocates at the national level for the rights of families, and works to develop and implement policies, legislation, funding mechanisms, and service systems that utilize the strengths of families. It emphasizes that mental health and substance use disorders cut across all income, educational, geographical, and religious groups and affect all kinds of families.

The National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health traces its origins to December 1988, when Portland State University's Research and Training Center on Family Support and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) co-hosted the "Next Steps" conference in Arlington, Virginia. The conference was dedicated to creating an agenda for children's mental health and was attended by 75 parents and 25 professionals, marking one of the first times in the family movement that families and professionals came together to discuss the needs of children and their families. At the end of the meeting, 18 family members and two professionals volunteered to continue the work. In February 1989, these individuals gathered in the basement of Naomi and Gene Karp's home. They decided to form a national parent-run organization that would speak on behalf of children with mental health needs and their families. These 20 individuals became the steering committee and interim board for what would become the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (NFFCMH). In September 1989, the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health was incorporated in the State of Maryland. Bylaws were adopted and an application was completed for 501(c)3 tax status. That same year, the National Institutes of Mental Health allocated the first funding for five family-run organizations in Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health would come to represent family-run organizations across the country. In 1992, NFFCMH received a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to undertake a major role in their Urban Children's Mental Health Initiative. This grant enabled the move from an all-volunteer to a professionally staffed organization. Over the following decades, the Federation grew into a national network linking more than 120 affiliates and partners, providing technical assistance, advocacy, and family peer support rooted in lived experience.

• 1992

  Received a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation for the Urban Children's Mental Health Initiative, enabling move to a professionally staffed organization.

• 1989

  February: 18 family members and two professionals met at the Karp home and decided to form a national parent-run organization.

• 1989

  September: Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health incorporated in Maryland; bylaws adopted and 501(c)3 application completed.

• 1989

  National Institutes of Mental Health allocated first funding for five family-run organizations in HI, MN, MT, VA, and WI.

• 1988

  December: "Next Steps" conference in Arlington, Virginia, co-hosted by Portland State University and NIDRR, attended by 75 parents and 25 professionals.

A national family-run advocacy organization with families as its sole focus, bringing lived experience to family support.

• National certification

  National certification program mentioned on the official website.

• Family peer support

  Support rooted in the lived experience of others who have navigated a similar path and are trained to walk beside families.

• Technical assistance

  Leadership and technical assistance to a nationwide network of family-run organizations.

• Advocacy and policy representation

  Advocating at the national level for the rights of families and representing family voice in legislation and policy.

1. 1National Federation of Families, Family Voice, Family Peer Supportffcmh.org
2. 2History | National Federation of Familiesffcmh.org
3. 3About | National Federation of Familiesffcmh.org
4. 4National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Healthwikidata.org