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 Who We Are

We are parents and family members of those impacted by the disease of Addiction who are developing a unified voice within the treatment and recovery system. The NFD approach includes creating a network of individuals, groups, and organizations to promote coordination and collaboration. Those local or regionally based individuals, groups, and organizations assist in reaching an even broader audience with resources and support.

Our Mission:  

  • Unite families across the Nation to strengthen, improve, and sustain substance abuse treatment and recovery systems. 

 

Our Goals:

  • Strengthen and shape the roles and responsibilities of families as valued substance use treatment and recovery system partners and advocates.
  • Develop supports to empower families of youth with substance use disorders to create positive changes in the substance use disorder treatment and recovery system.
  • Develop recommendations for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on strengthening and expanding family involvement in youth substance use disorder treatment and recovery at the practice, program, and policy levels.

 

 Our Vision:

  • All youth with substance use disorders, and their families, have complete access to affordable, effective treatment and recovery services with supports necessary to reclaim and maintain their health and future

 

What We Do:

  • Reaching out to family members
  • Offering support
  • Providing educational opportunities
  • Supplying resources
  • Delivering Webinars
  • Networking
  • Uniting the family voice

 

How We Started:

On March 27 and 28, 2009, SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment convened the first national meeting of family members of youth with substance use disorders. The purpose of the meeting was to bring together families of youth with substance use disorders, or youth who had received treatment for substance use disorders, to identify challenges and opportunities for improving the adolescent treatment and recovery system, and for strengthening family involvement at Federal, State, and tribal levels. Family members from 34 States, the District of Columbia, and 4 tribal nations attended the conference.

One of the recommendations spoke directly to the need to have an organized family voice at the national level. Many of the families present at the initial meeting were involved in local efforts but lacked the mechanisms to share information and resources across States, tribes, territories, or regions.”

As a result of the meeting, the National Family Dialogue (NFD) was formed under the leadership of Sharon LeGore and Shannon CrossBear.  NFD's mission is to unite families across the Nation to strengthen, improve, and sustain the substance abuse treatment and recovery system. NFD is mobilizing parents, family members, and those impacted by substance use and co-occurring disorders to advocate for system improvements at the program, practice, and policy levels. We are also united for the common cause of ending the stigma of substance use disorders.

The youth treatment and recovery system must strengthen and support these efforts. Family invovoment is critical to ensure that youth receive high-quality treatment that incorporates their family members and promotes holistic recovery for everyone involved.

To learn more about NFD, contact—

Sharon LeGore: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Shannon CrossBear: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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