NAMI Basics is a free, 6-week course for parents and family caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional or behavioral issues. It provides critical strategies for taking care of your child and learning the ropes of recovery.

NAMI Basics is taught by NAMI-trained teachers who are parents or caregivers of children with similar issues. Participants will learn communication tips, how to problem-solve, and the skills to help them cope with the emotional impact of caring for their child.

At NAMI Basics, you’ll find out that you are not alone. The group setting of NAMI Basics provides mutual support and shared positive impact – you can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. You also can help others with your own experience.

NAMI Basics covers:

  • Managing crises, solving problems, and communicating effectively
  • How to take care of yourself and handle stress
  • Developing the confidence and stamina to support your child with compassion
  • Advocating for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings
  • Learning about current treatments, including evidence-based therapies, medications, and side effects
  • Gaining an overview of the public mental health care, school, and juvenile justice systems and supporting resources to help you navigate these systems
  • Understanding the challenges and impact of mental health conditions on your entire family

Program Leaders

Theresa Dickson Theresa is a volunteer leader of the BASICS course and is looking forward to meeting participants this October. Theresa works as a volunteer coordinator and loves getting to know people. She has 3 grown children and has dealt with navigating and supporting their mental health needs as well as her own through the years. She has taken classes and had support through NAMI and currently serves on the board for NAMI Cape Ann. She hopes to see you at this great class!

Bev Nelson

Brian Sarr

Registrant Information

We ask that all interested participants, even from the same family, register individually for this course. Registration will be limited to those that have officially registered.

This in an 8 week course. The materials are copyrighted and should not be copied or duplicated. We ask that you try your best not to miss more than 1-2 classes to get the full benefit. Missing more than 2 classes could result in being ineligible to receive a completion certificate at the end of this course.

To ensure you, and all other students, receive the best experience from this course, full participation from everyone is expected. We ask that all interested participants (even from the same family) register individually for this course. Attendance will be limited to those that have registered.
To maximize participant and program leader wellness, NAMI Mass has outlined the following mandatory guidelines for any in-person NAMI program activities:
● Program participants must either be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to attend in-person programming OR they must wear a mask for the entire program. Participants will attest to their vaccination status at the time of program registration.
● All people present at the program or event must be COVID-asymptomatic, regardless of their current test results.
● All program participants should wait at least 7 days from a positive COVID-19 test before returning to in-person events.
● Program participants must agree to notify NAMI Mass if they are quarantined due to a COVID-19 exposure that occurred less than one week prior to the group meeting.
● All people present at the program or event, regardless of their vaccination status, may choose to wear a mask while at the program venue, including the time before, during, and after the event.
● Masks are not required for in-person programming unless a consensus is reached by the individuals present that they would like the group to continue wearing masks.
● All people present may choose and should be able to maintain no less than three feet of social distance while at the program venue.
● NAMI Mass encourages any immunocompromised individuals who choose to participate in NAMI Mass in-person programs or events to wear face masks and maintain social distancing.
● Any attendee who is unwilling or unable to adhere to the above guidelines should be promptly removed from the venue.

Emergency Contact Information

After submitting your registration form, one of the program leaders will be in contact with you shortly regarding the next steps in the registration process.

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