National Federation of Families

08/06/2026

Mental Health America's 2026 priorities will focus again on prevention, early intervention and stable insurance coverage as the nation grapples with a mental health epidemic.

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Mental Health America 2026 priorities are driving a new focus on prevention, early intervention, and stable insurance coverage.

08/05/2026

Join us on Wednesday, August 19th from 2:00 - 3:30pm ET for our
4th webinar "Hope, Connection, and Technology: Reimagining Family Peer Support." Learn more and register below.

Part 4 Description:

What happens when artificial intelligence meets authentic lived experience? In this dynamic session, we’ll explore how technology can amplify—not replace—the human connection at the heart of family peer support.

Join us as we introduce Psyche Care, a groundbreaking program built by and for parents who are navigating complex emotional and behavioral challenges. Psyche Care uses expert guidance, AI‑powered insights, practical tools, and a community of parents and caregivers to deliver same‑day, personalized parenting strategies—meeting families where they are right now.

You’ll also hear one parent’s inspiring story of transformation: how Psyche Care’s tailored guidance helped her rebuild confidence and calm and turn uncertainty into hope.

Together, we’ll unpack what “amplifying innovation” really means—how smart tools and compassionate design can strengthen the family peer workforce, expand access, and make support more responsive than ever.

If you’re passionate about innovation that deepens human connection, join us on Wednesday, August 19th!

Who should attend: Family peer specialists, advocates, providers, and anyone passionate about blending human connection with technology to create responsive, real‑world support for families.

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_-nZsMZaS8CKu44lUzW11g #/registration

Part 4 Presenters:

Mallika Pajjuri, CEO & Founder, Psyche Care:
Mallika Pajjuri is the CEO and Co-Founder of Psyche Care, bridging lived experience and a cross-disciplinary background to bring family-centered solutions to life. Prior to Psyche Care, she was a student at MIT focused on equitable healthcare design and delivery, having worked at a variety of academic labs and spinout startups. She is passionate about family mental health due to the struggles her friends and family faced in navigating the American mental healthcare system.

Kelsey Engelbracht, Consultant:
Kelsey is a marketing and communications strategist with over a decade of experience in education, behavioral health, and human services. As a parent who received support from the Psyche Care program during a particularly challenging time for her child and family, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this presentation. Kelsey offers unique insight into how Psyche Care can empower parents, caregivers, and families—drawing on years of work with family-run organizations and advocacy for family voice as well as her own story.

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_-nZsMZaS8CKu44lUzW11g #/registration

08/05/2026

“Knowing that my community accepts him and embraces him gives me a sense of relief,” she says. “I know that my son is safe here, and loved by those around him.”

An 11-year-old boy’s love of trick-or-treating inspired an entire neighborhood to celebrate his birthday in the sweetest way possible, proving that a simple Facebook post can become a powerful reminder of kindness, inclusion and community.

08/04/2026

Don't miss important news, updates, registration for our August webinar, and back-to-school resources for families in this month's newsletter. Check it out here: https://conta.cc/4x5B25h

08/02/2026

On August 6th, One World Recovery Network's Dr. Sandra D. Smith, RPS will be the featured presenter for the SAMHSA GAINS Center webinar, Peer Support and Recovery at the Intersection of Reentry.

This webinar will lay out important steps toward providing critical reentry peer support services for people transitioning from incarceration to the community. It will culminate with guidance on reentry peer support certification.

Dr. Smith is leading OWRN's development of the National Peer Reentry Professional Certification, built with a multi-state advisory committee, subject matter experts with lived experience, and psychometric oversight.

Register here: https://prainc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T1NCCoZmTKaIqWKeNO40_w?utm_source=OWRN&utm_campaign=79d9013c47-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_06_08_09_24_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-1ad772203b-296729440 #/registration

08/02/2026

For Disability Pride Month, we're highlighting disability resources created by and for teens with disabilities. This week, take a look at "Respectful Disability Language." You can find this and other youth-developed resources at https://familyvoices.org/resource/youth-disability-history-and-culture/

07/31/2026

Help UConn shape future episodes of Unwrapping Wraparound: Innovations in Care Coordination.

Share your ideas by:
💬 Suggesting a guest
🧭 Requesting a topic for our Care Coordination Field Guide: Skills on the Go shorts
❓ Submitting a question for hosts Covi and Conan
📝 Providing general feedback

Your input will help guide conversations that support the care coordination workforce and strengthen systems of care.

🔗 Share your ideas: s.uconn.edu/pod-survey

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07/28/2026

Kaiser Permanente announced a $10 million commitment to expand the Youth Mental Health Corps, a community‑based peer‑support initiative active in 16 states. The program trains young adults (18–29) to support teens in schools, clinics, and community organizations — helping youth navigate stress, isolation, and early signs of mental health concerns before crisis.

/PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente has committed $10 million to expand the work of the Youth Mental Health Corps, an initiative that supports teenagers by...

07/28/2026

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA releases the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, showing five‑year downward trends in key behavioral health indicators.

The newly released national survey shows fewer adolescents (12–17) and young adults (18–25) are using alcohol, to***co, ma*****na, and other drugs compared to 2021–2025.

July 28, 2026 – Yesterday the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the nation’s primary […]