The
Latino Multifamily Group (Latino MFG) program facilitates the involvement of Spanish-speaking Latino families in mental health services for their ill family members. Based on the Multifamily Group program first developed by Dr. William McFarlane and widely validated, the Latino MFG program is presented in Spanish and is culturally-adapted, with learning materials for professionals in English. The Latino adaptation also is based on many years of work by Dr. Alex Kopelowicz, including a seven-year NIMH research study.
The current pilot work is focused on families of Latino adolescents, likely the first such language and cultural adaptation of the MFG program to this population anywhere in the United States. Six pilot implementations have been launched so far, and the first four have been evaluated (see evaluation reports below). The pilots are in mental health agencies located in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.
A
Latino MFG Manual, published in April 2011, includes learning activities related to content, effective implementation and sustainability of this program (download below). It also has printable forms for use in MFG sessions. Also downloadable from the list below are:
(a) a one-page Latino MFG project summary,
(b) two evaluation reports on pilot implementations of the Latino MFG,
(c) three general background pieces on MFG,
(d) simple pre- and post- evaluation forms to measure the impact of staff training,
(e) two brief forms to gather information about Joining sessions and about family supports,
(f) a Family Interview form in both English and Spanish that can be used to gather input at the beginning of an MFG program,
(g) pre- and post clinical data forms to gather information on adolescent clients,
(h) interview forms to gather input from group facilitators and agency administrators after a group has ended
(i) five PowerPoints usable for (1) introducing mental health agency staff to the Latino MFG concept, (2) training staff in how to implement the program, and (3-5) conducting family psychoeducational workshops focused on adolescent clients with depression, ADHD or PTSD/anxiety, and
(j) seven "video vignettes" that illustrate aspects of the Joining, Problem-Solving and Psychoeducational Workshop components of the Latino MFG program.
All forms are in Word format so they can be filled out online or printed for write-in use.
The
Manual provides an introduction to the Latino MFG and information needed to implement it in various organizational settings, including handouts which can be reproduced for MFG sessions. The
Staff Orientation PPT provides slides that can accompany a brief (typically one-hour) overview and discussion of the Latino MFG, to help staff of an agency decide whether to implement this program. The
Staff Training PPT provides slides to accompany a day-long training for agency staff that develops basic skills to implement and offer the Latino MFG on an ongoing basis. The three
Psychoeducation PowerPoints, all of which are in Spanish, provide slides to accompany a day-long educational workshop for family members whose adolescent relative is dealing with one of several mental disorders. These PPTs can be modified with additional material by local implementers as they may see fit.
A national dissemination effort is now underway to share the Latino MFG program with other mental health agencies. A Community of Practice has been formed through the National Network to End Disparities in Behavioral Health, offering training, information and peer networking to agencies interested in implementing the program (go to
www.nned.net for more information).
The Latino MFG effort is a sister project to Raising the Bar, which implemented the MFG program in San Fernando Valley mental health agencies serving adult client populations and English-speaking families (for more information go to
Raising the Bar page in Resources).
Latino Multifamily Group Manual
Data and Evaluation Forms
Joining Form
Family Support Form
Staff Training Pre-Post Surveys
Client Evaluation Data Form - Beginning of Group
Client Evaluation Data Form - End of Group
Family Interview - English
Family Interview - Spanish
Family Interview - End of Group
Facilitator/Administrator Interview - End of Group
PowerPoint Presentations
Staff Introduction PPT
Staff Training PPT
Family Psychoeducation-Depression PPT
Family Psychoeducation-ADHD PPT
Family Psychoeducation-PTSD/Trauma PPT
Background Resources
Latino MFG Project Summary
Pilot Implementation Evaluation Report
Pilot Implementation Evaluation Report II
Background on the MFG Program
Evidence-Based Practices: Frequently Asked Questions
Implementing and Sustaining EBPs: An Overview
Video Vignettes
Joining - Client
Joining - Parent
Joining - Parent and Client
Problem Solving - Define the Problem (Spanish)
Problem Solving - Identifying Advantages/Disadvantages (Spanish)
Problem Solving - Provide Practical Solutions (Spanish)
Psychoeducational Workshop (Spanish)
