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May 2022


May is mental health month and has been celebrated since May 1949. That is a very long time. I have watched and participated in many of the celebrations over the years. This year we have much to celebrate. A group of very diverse legislators, organizations, and citizens came together to support and eventually pass game-changing legislation. All of this was made possible by a bi-partisan body of legislators. I am excited, but as my grandmother used to say, “the devil is in the details.” The fun is ahead. Georgia has some really great programs and services; however, a large percentage of the population never gets services for their illness. 2022 Is the year of opportunity! Get to know your local legislators and become one of the voices for change. 


We hope you can join us on Thursday, May 5th, at 10 a.m. as we celebrate Children’s Mental Health Day in Georgia. We will celebrate virtually on Zoom with outstanding guest speakers and youth and parent voices. See you soon!



Sue L. Smith Ed.D, MPH

CEO

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Register Now

Certified Peer Specialist Training

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Training Opportunity

Certified Peer Specialist-Parent (CPS-P)

Deadline for Applications Extended until

 May 6, 2022


The Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), Office of Children, Young Adults & Families, and the Office of Recovery Transformation, along with Georgia Parent Support Network are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the Parent CPS-P training scheduled for May 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 2022 from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm with breaks provided. This training will be a 5-day training and will require a full commitment. This training will be offered virtually on Zoom. 

 

If you are interested in applying for this training, please submit your application and letter of reference to cps-p@gpsn.org by Monday, May 2, 2022 at 5pm so that we can extend the offer to others who may be interested if you are unable to commit to these dates.

 

Parent Certified Peer Specialist (CPS-P) Is the parent or legal guardian (in a permanent relationship for at least 3 years) of a child who is living with a mental health, substance use, or a co-occurring diagnosis who provides support to other parents who are raising a child with similar behavioral health conditions.

 

Candidates must be the parent or legal guardian of a child living with mental illness, substance use and/or co-occurring diagnosis; and must

   

1. Be currently employed doing Parent Peer Support; or

2. Be currently employed in the public sector Behavioral Health system as a paraprofessional and have the desire to distinguish themselves as a Parent CPS-P; or

3. Have related experience serving youth and families through participation in community volunteering, support groups, family organizations and/or advocacy.

4. Priority will be given to those who are currently providing peer support services and those who intend to work in that role.

5. Be able to commit to a 5-day training.

 

Please find the application along with eligibility requirements outlined in the announcement below. Applications along with documentation must be submitted by Monday, May 2, 2022. If you have any questions, contact Anita Speed at anita.speed@gpsn.org.

Download Application
Submit Application

Training Opportunity

Certified Peer Specialist-Youth (CPS-Y)

 Application Deadline

Friday, May 20, 2022, COB for the June training.


The Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), Office of Children, Young Adults & Families, and the Office of Recovery Transformation, along with Georgia Parent Support Network, are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the Youth CPS-Y training scheduled for the week of June 6-10, 2022, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm with breaks provided. This training will be a 5-day training and will require a total commitment. This training will be offered virtually on Zoom. 

 

DBHDD is seeking candidates who meet the “lived experience” criteria below who desire to work in the capacity of a Certified Peer Specialist – Youth and who intend to provide 20-40 hours per week of direct youth/young adult peer support.

 

Youth Certified Peer Specialist (CPS-Y)

Is an individual who is a young adult, ages 18 through age 26, with lived experience living with a mental health or substance use condition or both and who has received behavioral health services as a youth and is willing and able to self-identify as a person living with a behavioral health condition and is prepared to use that experience in helping other youth and young adults living with similar behavioral health conditions.

 

The Youth CPS-Y offers emotional support, shares knowledge, and works with individuals to identify meaningful connections and tools that contribute to wellness/resiliency/recovery.

 

Enrollees must meet the lived experience expectations below:

• Be 18-26 years of age (provide a copy of a valid Georgia ID); and

• Have a mental health (MH) condition, substance use disorder (SUD), or a co-occurring diagnosis; and a strong desire to identify themselves as a person living with a mental illness or substance use diagnosis; and

• Be able/willing to actively seek and manage your own appropriate care; and

• Be able to share their own personal story in a safe and appropriate way; and

• Must be well grounded in recovery wellness; and

• One year between diagnosis and application to training; and/or

• If the individual has a substance use condition, there must be one year of continuous abstinent from substance use; and

• Have a high school diploma or GED; provide a copy of these documents; and

• Provide (2) letters of reference. This cannot be a family member (please include contact information).

 

This five-day training event has been scheduled for the week of

June 6-10, 2022.

 

Priority will be given to those who are currently providing youth peer support services and need this credential to maintain employment within the system.

 

Please find the application along with the eligibility requirements outlined in the attached announcement. Please forward to the designated staff that need to attend.

 

​If you are interested in applying for this training, please submit your application and letters of reference to cps-y@gpsn.org by Friday, May 20, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

 

Applicants will be interviewed the week of May 23-27, 2022.

 

Here are the CPS-Y training dates for the remainder of the year. We look forward to you joining us for one of these training events.



June 6-10, 2022 Applications Due by: May 20, 2022

September Applications Due by: September 9, 2022

November Applications Due by: October 21, 2022

 

The same application can be used for any of the trainings. Application and letters of reference should be sent to cpsy-y@gpsn.org by the above due dates.

Download Application
Submit Application

National Federation of Families

for Children's Mental Health

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Acceptance Week | National Federation of Families

Join us in a national dialogue about the importance of children's mental health in an effort to foster acceptance and end the prejudice and discrimination.

Read More

Georgia Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

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Register Today

Transitonal Youth Peer Center

Graduation Celebration!

Congratulations, Brittany, on your graduation from Atlanta Metropolitan State College.  Today will be only the first of many proud, successful moments for you. We are all sending warm congratulations today and wishing you all the best at Clayton State University in the fall!


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Peers going out for dinner and a movie - Atlanta, GA

Are You A Transitioning Adult in Need of Peer Support?


The Peer Center provides training, life skills, mentoring, and peer support to youth transitioning into adulthood (17 -26) that child and adolescent mental health services no longer serve. At the Center, peers strive to support one another to meet their goals, including improvements in education, employment, and community life adjustment.


For enrollment information contact


Sheena Biggerstaff

Peer Center Supervisor

sheena.biggerstaff@gpsn.org

Therapeutic Foster Care

Celebrating our TFC Heroes

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Please Celebrate our TFC HEROES 


We have 5 TFC Anniversaries for the month of May: 

George and Patricia Cooper are celebrating nine years of dedication 

Andrae Haggard is celebrating seven years of exceptional service

Martha Hartley is celebrating five years of service

Michelle Robertson is celebrating four years of service

Keisha Friday is celebrating four years of service

 


Warmest Regards,


Quindland Hervey

Program Director

New Foster Parent Informations Sessions

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TFC will offer weekly New Foster Parent Informational Sessions beginning May 12, 2022. Informational Sessions are held virtually and require the ZOOM platform. Prepare for a 2 hr presentation explaining the process of becoming a licensed foster parent with GPSN. 


Register in advance for this meeting with the button below.


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.


The meeting link is the same for each session. Sessions are available on Thursday, May 12, May 19, or May 26. You only need to attend one session.

Register Now

Youth Motivating Others through

Voices of Experience (MOVE) National

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MOVE It Forward 2022 - Youth MOVE National

MOVE It Forward 2022: Pieces of Me MOVE It Forward Youth MOVE National's Children's Mental Health Awareness Campaign "MOVE It Forward" is the slogan for much deeper work-uniting individual youth from Youth MOVE Chapters across the country in crafting and presenting a message, a demand for change.

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Youth MOVE Georgia

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Congratulations Graduate!

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Congratulations, Brittany O'neal, YM-GA President. You’ve worked hard to achieve your goals, and now you’re on your way to seek new vistas, dream new dreams, embark on who you are, embrace life with passion and keep reaching for your star. Go for it! Chasing a dream requires effort, love, and dedication. Keep up your excellent work, and continue to strive. Congratulations Graduate!

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NEXT MEETING


Thursday

May 5, 2022

1:00 - 2:00 PM



Be Heard


Who knows you better than you? Parents, caregivers, therapists, probation officers, and teachers often don't understand where you are coming from. Learning to advocate for yourself respectfully is a skill you will use for the rest of your life. Through conferences, training, and chapter meetings, you will learn valuable techniques to be heard when making decisions about your future.


Upcoming Meeting Dates

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST


Who can join? Anyone between the ages of 14 and 29. When do we meet? The 1st Saturday of each month


June 4th

July - No Meeting

August 6th

September 3rd

October 1st

November 5th

December 3rd

If you are interested in joining us for our statewide meeting, please contact

Sheena Biggerstaff | Youth M.O.V.E. Georgia Coordinator

sheena.biggerstaff@gpsn.org

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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The Lifeline and 988

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022.

Read More

Georgia Parent Support Network, Inc.

1381 Metropolitan Parkway Atlanta, GA 30310 | (404) 758-4500

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