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July 8, 2022

The Ally: Moving Forward Together
 

The world and our country are fraught with division and uncertainty right now. Fear, violence and distrust loom at every juncture. I grapple with those things. As an organization, we sometimes grapple too. We never want to make light of the genuine struggles all of us face. We remain committed to facing them and grappling together.

At the same time, there are rays of hope amid our challenges. This week we share some hopeful ways we can move forward together for our children. We hope you find them helpful too.
We share information from Wendy Bailey, executive director of the Department of Mental Health, about the launch of the 988 crisis line in Mississippi. We also hope you will register for the  988 and What it Means for Families of People with Serious Mental Illness webinar on July 11, 2022, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. I am looking forward to being a presenter.

We share highlights from our Families as Allies Live and exciting ways the CHAMP project is growing. CHAMP is hiring a professional counselor (LPC/LCSW) to support expanded support in schools.

Please check out our events for more opportunities to learn and be together. 

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FROM OUR BLOG
 
The CHAMP Project recently expanded its work into schools and is adding a full-time professional counselor to help with this expansion.
 
This past week Families as Allies had our quarterly “Families as Allies Live” on Facebook and Youtube to tell you what we’ve been up to.
 
“In Mississippi, we are quickly approaching the “soft launch” of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline,” writes MDMH’s Wendy Bailey.

EVENTS
 
The MSICC advises and assists the MSDH First Steps Early Intervention Program. Families and professionals are encouraged to attend.
 
Learn the importance of self-advocacy, and what families/parents can do to help youth with planning for the future.
 
Experts will explain the national rollout of 988, and how families and people with serious mental illness are involved.
 
Join other parents for a monthly meeting and online gathering to coach and support other parents in any system.
 
Mississippi’s State Agencies are required to post notices of regular meetings on the Mississippi Public Meeting Notices Website.
 
Join the MSPTI to learn about parental consent, when it will be necessary, and what happens if consent isn’t given.
 
The Peer Support Specialist Professional Supervisor Training is designed for agency administration/management and CPSSP Supervisors.
 
Join the MSPTI for part one in a series that will help you understand how to navigate the journey of IEP process.
 
Join the MSPTI and learn what you need to know and how to use the information as you advocate for your child.
 
This hour is open for any family member to drop in for all or some of the time to ask questions or get feedback about IEP issues.
 
The Families as Allies quarterly board meeting will be held in ZOOM and is open to anyone who wants to attend.
 
The conference will include an overview of special education-related laws and benefits laws related to children.
 
This group will focus on opportunities for leadership training graduates to serve on decision-making groups, provide coaching guidance.

RESOURCES
 
Thank you for your interest in Mental Health America’s (MHA) Young Mental Health Leaders Council (YMHLC)! Read more about MHA’s young adult leadership programs. The YMHLC is designed to identify young leaders (18-25) who have created programs and initiatives that fill gaps in mental health...
 
The National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health is pleased to be able to provide Families Thrive Training to family peer support specialists, family leaders, and families who have children with mental health or substance use challenges. This training will be limited to 45 participants. 
 
IEP Mom ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’Eleanor Roosevelt (supposedly) History (and Google Analytics) tells me that if you are reading this post, there’s a greater than 96% chance that you are an IEP Mom. Hey, we have to stick together, right? So do the school staff...