Improving family engagement in mental health care for early psychosis treatment

Integration of a Culturally Responsive Family Peer Delivered Engagement Strategy in Coordinated Specialty Care

NIH-funded research Washington State University · NIH-11034580

This study is looking at a new way to help families get more involved in mental health care for people who are just starting to experience psychosis, using a friendly approach called the FAMily Engagement Strategy (FAMES) led by trained family peers, to see how well it works in different programs across the country.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWashington State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pullman, United States)
Project IDNIH-11034580 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates a new approach to enhance family involvement in mental health services for individuals experiencing early stages of psychosis. It focuses on a culturally responsive strategy called the FAMily Engagement Strategy (FAMES), which is delivered by trained family peers. The study aims to assess how effective this strategy is in increasing family engagement and to evaluate its implementation across various coordinated specialty care programs in different states. By addressing barriers faced by diverse families, the research seeks to improve access to mental health services and reduce disparities in care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are families of individuals in the early stages of psychosis, particularly those from ethnoracially minoritized or low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Not a fit: Patients who are not in the early stages of psychosis or those whose families are already highly engaged in their mental health care may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to increased family participation in mental health care, resulting in better outcomes for individuals with early psychosis.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that family engagement strategies can improve mental health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may be effective as well.

Where this research is happening

Pullman, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.