The Family Education and Resource Center (FERC) is a new and innovative family/caregiver-centered program that will provide information, education and support services to family/caregivers of children, adolescents, transitional age youth, adults or older adults with serious emotional disturbance or mental illness living in all regions of Alameda County. These services will be provided in a culturally competent manner, reaching out to people of all ethnicities.

The FERC is a component of Alameda County’s Community Services & Supports plan, funded with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) dollars and operated by the Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHAAC) under contract with Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (ACBHCS). In addition to providing outreach, education and support to family/caregivers of people with mental illness, the FERC will facilitate input and feedback to ACBHCS decision makers at all levels about the important roles family/caregivers play in supporting their loved ones and about the experiences and needs of family/caregivers. The FERC will work closely with County and contract agencies to promote a family/caregiver perspective and toward the goal of creating a more family/caregiver and consumer driven system of care.

FERC programmatic components will include: a warm line; education, training and support for family/caregivers; a resource center; assistance with AB1424; support for the development of family leadership; and collaboration with other MHSA funded programs.

FERC will have four office locations (one main and three satellites) in the four regions of Alameda County. FERC will have ten staff members and an annual budget of $1 million.