FAMILY SUPPORT Family Advocates Many families dealing with a child who is struggling with an emotional, behavioral, or mental health issue don’t know where to find help. Others have lots of information, but often are confused by the myriad helping systems that are thrust upon them. Orange and Chatham Counties offer peer-to-peer support to families in need through trained Family Advocates. These parent Advocates have dealt with the toughest realities in their own families, and they have learned the ropes, sometimes the hard way. Supervised by the Orange County Mental Health Association in Orange County and by Chatham County Together, Family Advocates can: * Help a family to achieve its goals. * Teach parents to advocate for their children. * Explain the systems and forms that parents often have to deal with. * Learn the ropes of a complicated helping system from someone who has already been through it. * Accompany parents to school or other meetings if requested. * Listen to a family’s personal stories. * Translate agency mandates and structures to parents. * Provide support groups with other parents dealing with similar situations. Contact a Family Advocate in Your Area: Orange County Linda Boldin: lindab@mhaoc.com or Cynthia Wilkins: cindyw@mhaoc.com 919-942-8083 Chatham County Elizabeth Vickery: familyadvocatecc@yahoo.com or 919-542-5155 Coming Soon… MHA/OC was awarded a grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission to bring the Strengthening Families Program to Orange County. The Strengthening Families Program (SFP 10-14) is a parent, youth, and family skills-building curriculum geared for kids age 10-14 and designed to prevent teen substance abuse and other behavior problems, strengthen parenting skills, and build family strengths. Classes will be starting in the fall 2006. Call MHA/OC at 942-8083 for more information. Home • Who We Are • What We Do • Resources • Publications • Contact Us The Community Backyard is a program of Mental Health Association of Orange County (MHA), a 501c-3 non-profit organization. The Community Backyard • The Veneable Building • 302 W. Weaver Street • Carrboro, NC • 27510 919-942-8083 • bguthrie@mhaoc.com