A Potential Role for Family Members in Mental Health Care Delivery: The Family Community Navigation Specialist

Neely Anne Laurenzo Myers, Yazeed Alolayan, Kelly Smith, Susan Alicia Pope, Beth Broussard, Nora Haynes, Michael T. Compton

Research output: Contribution to Book/ReportChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Opening Doors to Recovery (ODR) in southeast Georgia included a family community navigation specialist (F-CNS) in addition to a peer specialist and a mental health professional. This qualitative study assessed the usefulness of the F-CNS role. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 respondents (ten ODR participants with serious mental illnesses; ten familymembers; and ten ODR leaders and team members, including two F-CNSs). Interviews were recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis. Results: Many respondents found the F-CNS to be helpful, providing psychosocial support, serving as a communication liaison, and being a team member dedicated to the family. Aspects that might require improvement include insufficient description of the F-CNS role to participants and the limited experience and training of the F-CNSs. Conclusions: The F-CNS represents an unexplored role for family members of persons with serious mental illnesses that may complement the roles of other service providers and strengthen recovery-oriented teams.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPsychiatric Services
Pages653-655
Number of pages3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2015

Publication series

NamePsychiatric Services
Volume66

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