Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Building The Foundation For The Family Options Project, Joanne Nicholson, Kathleen Biebel, Valerie Williams, Karen Albert

Joanne Nicholson

This article describes how the long-standing partnership between Employment Options, Inc., a psychosocial rehabilitation agency in Marlborough, MA, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School's (UMMS) Center for Mental Health Services Research led to the development of the Family Options program.

Mothers With Mental Health Disorders: Mental Health Promotion In The Context Of Parenting, Joanne Nicholson, Elizabeth Aaker, Michael Agar, Karen Albert, Steven Banks, Kathleen Biebel, Bernice Gershenson, Antonia Seligowski, Valerie Williams, Brenda Warren, Sierra Williams, Katherine Woolsey

Joanne Nicholson

Parenting is a meaningful role for the majority of American women, including those with mental health disorders. Success in this role, particularly for women with mental health disorders, would seem to be intimately related to mental health promotion, the recovery process, and successful functioning in other major life domains (e.g., employment, community living, and personal health and well-being). The achievement of maximum social participation for women with mental health disorders may hinge on addressing the challenges they face as parents. Presented at Margins to Mainstream: World Congress on Mental Health Promotion and Prevention. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, September 2008.

Critical Issues For Parents With Mental Illness And Their Families, Joanne Nicholson, Kathleen Biebel, Beth Hinden, Alexis Henry, Lawrence Stier

Joanne Nicholson

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that investigated the impact of parents who have mental illness on children and families. The report discusses the scope of the issue and the experiences of parents with mental illness, federal and State policies impacting policies and practices relating to parents with mental illness, current programs for parents with mental illness and their families, and recommended steps for improving and expanding services. Prepared for the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.

The Invisible Children’S Project: A Family-Centered Intervention For Parents With Mental Illness, Beth Hinden, Kathleen Biebel, Joanne Nicholson, Liz Mehnert

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Hinden, B., Biebel, K., Nicholson, J., & Mehnert, (2002) The Invisible Children’s Project: A family-centered intervention for parents with mental illness. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This report describes an evaluation of the Invisible Children's Project (ICP), a program in Orange County, New York, that provides home-based, family-centered case management services for parents with mental illness. Policy implications and program recommendations are also discussed. Prepared for the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Policy, Planning and Administration, Rockville, MD.

Children Of Parents With Mental Illnesses, Joanne Nicholson, Janice Cooper, Rachel Freed, Mareasa Isaacs

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Nicholson, J., Cooper, J., Freed, R., & Isaacs, M. (2008) Children of parents with mental illnesses. In Gullotta, T.P. & Blau, G. (Eds.) Family influences on childhood behavior and development. New York: Routledge, pp. 231-266. ISBN 0415965322, 9780415965323. This chapter of Family Influences on Childhood Behavior and Development: Evidence-Based Prevention and Treatment Approaches explores the risks faced by children living with parents with mental illness. Individual, family, and community factors influencing risk and resiliency are considered, along with evidence-based treatment interventions, psychopharmacology recommendations, strategies for preventing psychopathology in children, and recommended best practices for clinicians. Limited preview available via …

Why Not Support(Ed) Parenting, Joanne Nicholson, William Deveney

Joanne Nicholson

No abstract provided.

Fathers With Severe Mental Illness: Characteristics And Comparisons, Joanne Nicholson, Margaret Nason, Anne Calabresi, Regina Yando

Joanne Nicholson

Among patients with severe mental illness attending a large, urban, outpatient mental health clinic, fathers are described and compared with nonfathers and with mothers on demographic, clinical, and child-related characteristics, and on resources and service needs. While fathers and nonfathers with mental illness differed significantly on most variables, fathers and mothers with mental illness were remarkably similar except on child-related characteristics. Issues regarding fathers' experiences and service needs are discussed.

A Qualitative Study Of Programs For Parents With Serious Mental Illness And Their Children: Building Practice-Based Evidence, Joanne Nicholson, Beth Hinden, Kathleen Biebel, Alexis Henry, Judith Katz-Leavy

Joanne Nicholson

The rationale for the development of effective programs for parents with serious mental illness and their children is compelling. Using qualitative methods and a grounded theory approach with data obtained in site visits, seven existing programs for parents with mental illness and their children in the United States are described and compared across core components: target population, theory and assumptions, funding, community and agency contexts, essential services and intervention strategies, moderators, and outcomes. The diversity across programs is strongly complemented by shared characteristics, the identification of which provides the foundation for future testing and the development of an evidence base. …

Exploring The Concept Of “Young Carer” In Families Living With Parental Mental Illness, Antonia Seligowski, Peter Mcnamee, Karen Albert, Valerie Williams, Joanne Nicholson

Joanne Nicholson

Background Information: The concept of “young carers” has been framed in the literature as children providing care and assuming household responsibilities when parents have physical and/or mental disabilities (Aldridge & Becker, 2003). In the United Kingdom, young carers have been studied extensively, leading to increased access to services and supports (Dearden & Becker, 2004). Our goal is to explore the concept of young carers in the U.S.

Aims: 1) To describe the care giving and household responsibilities of children and youth living with parents with mental illnesses, how often they are performed, and the feelings of children and youth about …

Family Members With Overlapping Mental Health Needs Require The Transformation Of Systems And Services, Joanne Nicholson, Kathleen Biebel, Beth Hinden, Valerie Williams, Bernice Gershenson, Judith Katz-Leavy

Joanne Nicholson

Women and men with a lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorder are at least as likely to be parents as are adults without psychiatric disorder. The majority of adults in all diagnostic categories are parents, including those meeting criteria for affective and anxiety disorders, PTSD, and non-affective psychosis. Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) receiving services in Systems of Care (SOCs) programs may have multiple family risk factors. Family-centered, strengths-based practices require a paradigm shift in the way administrators and providers view and intervene with children and adults. Presented at The Santa Fe Summit on Behavioral Health, the American College of …

Building The Evidence Base For Families Living With Parental Mental Illness, Joanne Nicholson

Joanne Nicholson

No abstract provided.

The Prevalence Of Parenthood In Adults With Mental Illness: Implications For State And Federal Policymakers, Programs, And Providers, Joanne Nicholson, Kathleen Biebel, Judith Katz-Leavy, Valerie Williams

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Nicholson, J., Biebel, K., Williams, V.F., & Katz-Leavy, J. (2004) Prevalence of Parenthood in Adults with Mental Illness: Implications for State and Federal Policy, Programs, and Providers. In Center for Mental Health Services. Mental Health, United States, 2002. Manderscheid, R.W., & Henderson, M.J., eds. DHHS Pub No. (SMA) 3938. Rockville, Maryland: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Chapter 10, pp. 120-137.

Steps Toward Evidence-Based Practices For Parents With Mental Illness And Their Families, Beth Hinden, Kathleen Biebel, Joanne Nicholson, Alexis Henry, Lawrence Stier

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Hinden, B., Biebel, K., Nicholson, J., Henry, A., & Stier, L. (2002) Steps toward evidence-based practices for parents with mental illness and their families. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This report discusses the outcomes of a project that investigated evidence-based practices for parents with mental illness and their families by identifying and systematically describing existing interventions. Findings from two studies indicate that family-centered, strengths-based values and practices may be the key to program success and improved outcomes for parents and children. Prepared for the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse …

Supporting Clubhouse Members In Their Role As Parents: Necessary Conditions For Policy And Practice Initiatives, Beth Hinden, Toni Wolf, Kathleen Biebel, Joanne Nicholson

Joanne Nicholson

OBJECTIVE: Given that the majority of adults with mental illness are parents, it is likely that a substantial number of members in the Clubhouse community are parents. Supporting members in their role as parents presents meaningful, philosophical and practical challenges for both individual Clubhouses and the Clubhouse movement. Supporting parents within the Clubhouse, however, is a necessary and logical step, consistent with the Clubhouse emphasis on rehabilitation and recovery. The current study explored the conditions necessary for supporting members in the parenting role in an existing Clubhouse. METHODS: A grounded-theory, ethnographic approach was used to collect data from multiple stakeholders …

Family Options For Parents With Mental Illnesses: A Developmental, Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Joanne Nicholson, Karen Albert, Bernice Gershenson, Valerie Williams, Kathleen Biebel

Joanne Nicholson

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to provide a description of Family Options, a rehabilitation intervention for parents with serious mental illnesses and their children focusing on recovery and resilience, and to report the findings from a pilot study at 6-months post-enrollment for participating mothers. METHODS: A developmental design, and mixed quantitative and qualitative methods facilitate an in-depth understanding of Family Options and its impact on parents early in the implementation process. RESULTS: Participating families faced significant challenges, including long-term mental health conditions in adults, and emotional and behavioral difficulties in children. Data from mothers (n = 22) demonstrate …

Parents With Severe Mental Illness And Their Children: The Need For Human Services Integration, Andrea Blanch, Joanne Nicholson, J. Purcell

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Blanch, A., Nicholson, J. & Purcell, J. (1998) Parents with severe mental illness and their children: The need for human services integration. In Levin, B.L., Blanch, A.K. and Jennings, A. (Eds.) Women’s mental health services: A public health perspective. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. ISBN 076190509X, 9780761905097.

Parents With A Mental Illness And Implementation Of The Adoption And Safe Families Act, Barbara Friesen, Joanne Nicholson, Katharine Kaplan, Phyllis Solomon

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Friesen, B.J., Nicholson, J., Kaplan, K., & Solomon, P. (2009) Parents with a mental illness and implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act. In Golden, O., & Macomber, J. Eds.) Intentions and results: A look back at the Adoption and Safe Families Act. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute, Center for the Study of Social Policy, pp. 102-114. This paper examines how implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) may affect families in which a parent has a mental illness. We present evidence that such parents may suffer discrimination when the psychiatric diagnosis alone leads to an assumption …

The Invisible Children's Project: Key Ingredients Of An Intervention For Parents With Mental Illness, Beth Hinden, Kathleen Biebel, Joanne Nicholson, Liz Mehnert

Joanne Nicholson

This study used a collective case study design to identify key ingredients of the Invisible Children's Project, an intervention program for families in which a parent has a mental illness. Data were obtained from interviews with parents and service providers, and from family file records. Qualitative analyses were used to generate hypotheses regarding key ingredients and targeted outcomes, and to develop a testable intervention model. Key ingredients were defined as core processes, essential services, and mediators. Strong convergence across parents and providers suggested core processes defined by family-centered, strengths-based, emotionally supportive, and comprehensive approaches; essential services including family case management, …

Commentary On "Community Mental Health Care For Women With Severe Mental Illness Who Are Parents" - The Tragedy Of Missed Opportunities: Of Missed Opportunities: What Providers Can Do, Joanne Nicholson, Kathleen Biebel

Joanne Nicholson

Women and men who meet criteria for psychiatric disorder are likely to be parents. Many go undiagnosed and untreated, putting themselves and their children at risk of poor outcomes. Adults with mental illness may fear disclosing their status as parents; providers may not ask. Practices can be modified to promote the well being of parents with mental illness and their children.

Parenting And Recovery For Mothers With Mental Disorders, Joanne Nicholson

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Nicholson, J. (2010) Parenting and Recovery for Mothers with Mental Disorders. In Levin, B.L. & Becker, M. (Eds.) A public health perspective of women’s mental health. New York: Springer, pp. 359-372. ISBN 1441915257, 9781441915252. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1526-9_19.

Limited preview also available via Google Book Search.

Implementation Challenges In Wrapping Interventions Around Families Living With Parental Mental Illness, Joanne Nicholson, Beth Hinden, Joan Mikula, Kathleen Biebel, Valerie Williams, Katherine Woolsey, Elizabeth Aaker

Joanne Nicholson

Citation: Hinden,B., Mikula, J., Nicholson, J., Bieble, K., Williams, V., Woolsey, K., & Aaker, E. (2008). Implementation Challenges in Wrapping Interventions Around Families with Parental Mental Illness. In C. Newman, C. Liberton, K. Kutash, and R/ Friedman (Eds.), Proceedings of the 20th Annual Research Conference, A System of Care for Children’s Mental Health: Expanding the Research Base. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, Florida Mental Health Institute, Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health.

Summary: Parental mental illness challenges service providers in adult mental health, child welfare and children’s mental health systems of care. This presentation describes the development …