Pasco

Researchers are studying how involving family members or support persons in coordinated specialty care (CSC) programs affects engagement and outcomes for individuals in the early stages of psychosis. The study aims to improve family member participation using a culturally responsive family engagement strategy delivered by trained family peers. This approach addresses disparities in CSC services and seeks to reduce burden and stress for families. The study compares two approaches over different time periods. In the first, called the attention control condition (ACC), family members receive 12 weeks of weekly automated messages including positive encouragement, educational materials about psychosis, communication and de-escalation tips, and community resources. In the second, called FAMES, family members work with a family peer during 12 weeks, who uses a cultural formulation interview to tailor support, provides brief check-ins, psychoeducation, and access to an online family resource community. Recruitment occurs over 18 months for ACC and 30 months for FAMES, involving 225 family member and patient pairs (dyads) at nine CSC programs. Participants will engage in scheduled communications or peer support sessions and complete assessments throughout the study. Researchers will measure engagement in CSC psychoeducation and the family engagement strategy repeatedly over approximately 3 months. Additional measures include stress, anxiety, client engagement, and mental health questionnaires tracked every 6 months. The study runs from March 2025 to December 2029, monitoring outcomes to understand how family peer support affects service participation and wellbeing.