The Family Education and Resource Center (FERC) is a new Alameda County program for family members and caregivers of children or adults with serious emotional disturbance or mental illness. Last week, FERC Program Director Karina Foote and Family Advocate Annie Kim spoke at a meeting of the East Bay chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Ms. Foote emphasized that all FERC staff members have personal experience with a family member who has a mental illness: "We've been there; we can help," she told the group. FERC staff also prioritize the provision of culturally competent services to ensure that people of all backgrounds feel welcome and understood.
FERC staff are available both through a telephone "warm line" and in person to provide information, referrals, research, and emotional support. Clients can get help in navigating the complexities of social service agencies and, when needed, FERC staff will make the initial contact or appointment with an agency. FERC staff assist with locating resources like mental health care, housing, day programs, and recreation, and offer guidance about managing family relationships and developing coping strategies. People who contact FERC in the midst of a crisis will be directed to the appropriate crisis management services.
As a new agency, FERC is reaching out to clients and organizations to offer their services. Staff members are available not only on site, but also to facilitate or take part in support groups for other organizations. As FERC grows, staff also plan to develop support groups for transition age youth (15-27) who have a family member with a mental illness and to provide education about mental illness for classroom teachers.
FERC's main office is in Oakland's Eastmont Town Center (7200 Bancroft Avenue, Suite 269),
with additional offices in Fremont and Hayward. A site in Livermore will open this summer. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9-5, and people from anywhere in Alameda County are welcome to drop in with questions or to conduct research in the library or on the Internet.
FERC is a program of the Mental Health Association of Alameda County. Staff provide feedback and input to decision makers at Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services about the critical role played by family and caregivers as well as their needs in supporting loved ones. For more information, contact FERC at 888-896-3372.
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