Back in 1995, Juanita Peña of Napa dealt with much more than typical teenage rebellion from her daughter, Erica. After regularly skipping school, using drugs and leaving home for days without warning, Erica was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 1997, Peña said.

The illness is marked by schizophrenic symptoms, including "delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and disorganized behavior," in addition to severe depression or manic behavior, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Drawing from her experiences, Peña started a mental health educational support group in October at ParentsCAN, in partnership with Napa County Health and Human Services. Well-equipped for the job, Peña consistently and bravely faced the challenges of raising a mentally ill child.

From the ages of 15 to 25, Peña said, her daughter caused property damage to her home "at least 10 times." Approximately four months ago, as Peña slept, her daughter assaulted her, she said. "And every day, she would try to commit suicide," said Peña, adding that she regularly found ropes tucked in closets inside her home.

Erica, now 26, has spent time in a specialty hospital in Vallejo, Napa State Hospital, Patton State Hospital, various group homes and other institutions, said Peña.

"I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy," said Peña.

Peña -- who said mentally ill people often fall through the cracks and end up in jails or the juvenile justice system instead of treatment centers -- knows what some parents of mentally ill children are up against.

"It's like Katrina, but it's on the inside. ... You're in fear for your life from your own family member," she said.

Peña said her daughter, Erica, who had recurring thoughts of harming others, now resides at a Napa County residential treatment center. Erica takes prescription medications and is considering taking a high school equivalency test, said Peña.

Erica, who battled homelessness in October of 2006 as a result of her mental illness, became pregnant while she was away from home. Today, Peña -- who feared she would lose contact with her grandson if she didn't adopt him -- has guardianship of her daughter's son, 4-month-old Demetrius.

Peña said her support group provides a forum for families to talk to others who are facing the same obstacles and may be raising their grandchildren. "They want hope and it's hard to find it when they don't know where to look. ... That is the goal -- to reach as many people as possible. ... I know there are tons of people out there that are waiting for information and support groups and I'm very passionate about it," she said.

Ann, a Napa resident whose last name is being withheld for privacy reasons, attends Peña's mental health educational support group and a grandparents' support group also offered by ParentsCAN; she has custody of two of her son's children. "I believe that there are other people who are struggling with mental illness in the family and because it has such a stigma socially, they have not gotten any encouragement or guidance as to how they can handle things. ... They have an illness that impacts their behavior, which in turn either impacts the public or the family," she said.

Kathie Karcher, a program manager at ParentsCAN who runs the organization's grandparents' support group, said grandmothers like Ann and Peña often benefit from specialized peer support. Grandparents who are raising youngsters often deal with a lack of energy and sometimes face alienation from their friends, she said.

"They're worried about diapers and school reports when their age group doesn't really want a baby tagging along at lunches or card games. ... There's a really large sense of isolation," said Karcher.

To learn more about the support groups offered at ParentsCAN, call 253-7444.