In keeping with our advocacy theme from the last article, I thought I would pass along some information from the Federation of Families website. Their principles of Family Support are ideals of what we should all be receiving as we go through the process of getting help for our kids. Let’s jump right to the principles, and I will comment on them a bit later.

FEDERATION OF FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH PRINCIPLES ON FAMILY SUPPORT

Family Support is a constellation of formal and informal services and tangible goods that are defined and determined by families. It is "whatever it takes" for a family to care for and live with a child or adolescent who has an emotional, behavioral or mental disorder. It also includes supports needed to assist families to maintain close involvement with their children who are in out-of-home placement and to help families when their children are ready to return home.