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April  27, 2022

The Ally: Demand that Families are Involved From the Start
 
Let's demand that families are involved from the start. These words guide our work every day at Families as Allies. They echoed in our heads as we put together this week's edition of the Ally. When systems and programs partner with families from the start, children thrive and outcomes improve. 

We are delighted to share two new opportunities Families as Allies has that involve families from the start. The Health Resources and Services Administration recently awarded Families as Allies the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Program. This program aims to provide information, education, technical assistance, and peer support to families of children and youth with special health care needs and the professionals who serve them. We are excited to implement the Center and believe it will be even more effective because families were involved in the planning and feedback stages. We look forward to many more of you being a part of the Center.

We are also excited to partner with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and other agencies to implement the National Center for Youth Opportunity and Justice's "Mental Training for Juvenile Justice" trainer network statewide in Mississippi. The initiative emphasizes organizations partnering with families from the start, and we are offering training stipends to support family participation.  

There are opportunities for systems and agencies to involve families in policy work. We share a recent Families as Allies webinar about the Interagency System of Care Coordinating Council for Children and Youth this week. This Council oversees Mississippi's system of care for children's mental health. The Council and the law that instituted it are based on family-driven practice principles that include families in every aspect of system and policy. Please watch the webinar video and consider how we can demand that Mississippi's child-serving systems involve families from the start. 

We encourage you to attend The Special Education Advisory Panel Meeting on Wednesday, April 27, at 10:00 a.m. CDT and Families as Allies' Leadership Coaching and Policy Discussion on Wednesday, April 27, from noon - 1:00 p.m. CDT. We will likely discuss policy and leadership opportunities with Families as Allies and may review recent Division of Medicaid and Department of Mental Health policy changes and updates. Please check the events calendar for more events.

I hope everyone has a good week, and remember, in any program, service or policy about families and children - demand that families are involved from the start.
Joy Hogge signature

FROM OUR BLOG
 
We invite families to participate in this critical training, offering a $100 stipend to family participants whose children have been involved in youth court.
 
Joy Hogge of Families as Allies walks you through the idea of the “system of care” for children and youth with mental health challenges and introduces the In...
 
We are delighted to announce that the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded Families as Allies the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HIC) program after a competitive application process.

EVENTS
 
The Special Education Advisory Panel will meet on April 27, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. You may access the meeting either online or by phone.
 
Hear from experts and explore the current state of integration and learn more about the comprehensive health integration framework.
 
This group will focus on opportunities for leadership training graduates to serve on decision-making groups, provide coaching guidance.
 
Family members may drop in to share any concerns or get feedback from others about handling different situations.
 
The Children’s Mental Health Summit is Thursday, May 12 and Friday, May 13 at the Sheraton Flowood The Refuge Hotel & Conference Center.
 
The Joint Planning and Advisory Council meeting will be held virtually Thu, May 12, 2022, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CST).
 
The Peer Support Specialist Professional Supervisor Training is designed for agency administration/management and CPSSP Supervisors.
 
The MAAC’s mission is “to study, make recommendations and develop a strategic plan on how best to educate and train students with ASD.
 
Details and the agenda will be provided in the coming months after finalization and approval by the committee.
 
Policy experts give key legislative updates and raise awareness on critical issues surrounding mental health and substance use treatment.

RESOURCES
 
Mental health matters, and these guys are letting men know that applies to them as well.
 
Internet access is now necessary for work, school, healthcare, and more. However, for many households, it remains unaffordable. The Federal Communications Commission wants everyone to access…