Managing Epilepsy Well Network

 

MEW

The Managing Epilepsy Well Network (MEW) is a team of people who care about the health of people with epilepsy, their friends and family, and their caregivers. MEW Network Members come from U.S. universities, community-based organizations, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Network Members work together to promote epilepsy self-management research and improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy.

Self-management programs help participants learn more about their condition and teach them proven skills to improve their ability to manage their health. Self-management programs can help participants:

  • Follow their medication schedule
  • Reduce their stress or depressive symptoms
  • Help better communicate with health care providers

Participants set goals, develop action plans, and learn skills to manage their condition using structured planning and feedback exercises.

A person is much more likely to participate in self-management programs with a recommendation from their healthcare team.

HOBSCOTCH (Home Based Self-Management and Cognitive Training Changes Lives)

  • Delivered in person and by phone, HOBSCOTCH teaches people with epilepsy memory skills and uses problem-solving therapy to improve memory and attention

PACES in Epilepsy (Program for Active Consumer Engagement in Self-Management)

  • Delivered in person in a community setting or by phone, PACES improves self-management, confidence, depression, and quality of life in people with epilepsy.

SMART (Self-Management for People with Epilepsy and a History of Negative Health Events)

  • Starting with an in-person group session and continuing for 8 weeks using a teleconferencing or video conferencing program, SMART provides educational and behavioral interventions to enhance epilepsy self-management.

TIME (Targeted Self-Management for Epilepsy and Mental Illness)

  • Serving adults who have both epilepsy and a serious mental illness, TIME uses 12 weekly group sessions to provide education, behavioral modeling, and group support aimed at reducing depressive symptoms.

Project UPLIFT for Epilepsy (Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favorable Thoughts)

  • An 8-week program delivered over the phone, UPLIFT for Epilepsy uses cognitive behavioral and mindfulness therapies to reduce depressive symptoms and improve depression self-management.

Click to search for MEW programs in your area, then

  • Once on the Epilepsy & Seizures 24/7 Helpline Resources webpage, scroll down to the "Keyword Search” box in the bottom right.
  • Enter the name of the program you are interested in:
    • HOBSCOTCH
    • PACES in Epilepsy
    • SMART
    • TIME
    • Project UPLIFT
  • Optional: Enter your state in "Location"
  • Click Search to find where the program is offered

For more information about programs in the MEW network, visit managingepilepsywell.org.

The MEW is funded by the CDC and is supported by special interest project (SIP) 05-07, SIP 07-06, SIP 06-07, SIP 01-08 and SIP 09-11, and Cooperative Agreement Numbers U4 DP000043, U48DP000050, U48DP001901, U48DP001949, 1U48-DP001909.

Authored By:

Hillary Dolloff

on Tuesday, October 01, 2019

Reviewed By:

Patty Obsorne Shafer RN, MN

on Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Resources

Epilepsy Centers

Epilepsy centers provide you with a team of specialists to help you diagnose your epilepsy and explore treatment options.

Epilepsy Medication

Find in-depth information on anti-seizure medications so you know what to ask your doctor.

Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline

Call our Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline and talk with an epilepsy information specialist or submit a question online.

Tools & Forms

Download our seizure tracking app, print out seizure action plans, or explore other educational materials.