We're excited to kick off planning for the first SAMHSA-funded National Family Support Technical Assistance Center (NFSTAC) on September 1st with our partners at Center on Addiction, C4 Innovations, SAFE Project, and Boston University! The NFSTAC will focus on support across the lifespan for families caring for loved ones who experience serious emotional disturbances, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders. The technical assistance center's approach will be anchored by the underlying principles that families play a vital role in supporting their loved ones, are the experts on their family's support needs, and play a central role in treatment and recovery services.
Look for more information and updates as we begin this important work in the fall.
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Returning to Learn in 2020 |
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Returning to school safely during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a hot topic in the news and a priority for nearly every parent and caregiver we know. Whether your child will be returning to school in person, online or in a hybrid format - or if you don't know yet -
we wanted to provide information and resources to help parents, children, youth
and families prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. Click any underlined title
below to access the resource. We hope you find these useful!
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Resources for Parents and Families |
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(One in Five Minds)
(Clarity Child Guidance Center)
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Resources for the Virtual World |
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If you are feeling overwhelmed by or need assistance using the many virtual platforms used in the workplace, schools, and to deliver healthcare, we hope some of the following resources will be helpful to individuals and families. |
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Virtual Platforms
Telehealth
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Hill Day at Home Follow-up |
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We hope you were able to participate in the National Council for Behavioral Health's Hill Day at Home. If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recorded sessions.
Key Legislative Updates
By 2022, people experiencing a mental health crisis will be able to connect with someone who can help faster than ever. The Federal Communications Commission voted to designate 988 as the new nationwide emergency number that will connect callers 24/7 to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. All phone service providers will have to direct any calls to the Lifeline by July 16, 2022. All telecommunications carriers and interconnected
and one-way Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers
are required to take part in the initiative.
This bill is still in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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Legislative and Advocacy Update |
Look for our next update to arrive soon. It will highlight important information for parents, youth, families and organizations related to recent
bills and legislation. Not signed up for our
Legislative and Advocacy updates yet?
Click here to subscribe to the list.
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Submit your state's advocacy and legislative news and updates to our
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Title: Complex Trauma: The Connection Between COVID-19 and Social Unrest
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 5th at 12:30 p.m. ET
How do seemingly unrelated but overwhelming global events connect to create complex trauma? How do people ensure that they have the tools to support individuals around healing and building resiliency from these overwhelming and cumulative traumas?
Join recognized experts on trauma and resilience at the National Council for
Behavioral Health for a virtual workshop about how to provide support
for individuals affected by complex trauma.
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Title: Ensuring Children's Access to Care Through Medicaid During COVID-19
Date/Time: Monday, August 10th from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET
How can child advocates, providers and other stakeholders work with state Medicaid agencies to implement telehealth policies and eligibility and enrollment strategies
that help ensure children have access to coverage and healthcare services
during the COVID-19 crisis? Find out in this webinar from Manatt Health,
the American Academy of Pediatrics, our state organization in Delaware,
Family Voices, and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.
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Title: A Whole Person Approach to Working with Individuals
Who are Living with Serious Mental Illness
Date/Time: Tuesday, August 11th at 2:30 p.m. ET
This webinar will discuss strategies for developing and implementing a whole person approach when serving individuals who are living with serious mental illness (SMI).
Key considerations include: access to basic needs and social determinants of health
when treating and managing SMI; access to community-based supports
to reduce barriers to resources; and access to peer support
through Warm Lines and other crisis service systems.
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Title: Improving Access to Care through Creating
Certified Family Peer Specialists Across the Lifespan
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 12th from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Family Peer Support services have been available in many states for several years. While this service began organically, it has matured and is now a recognized Medicaid-billable support for families. While Family Peer Support was originally developed as a support for families with school-aged children in child-serving systems, the service has evolved in response to reflect a more robust understanding of family dynamics and the cultural shift towards more children remaining with their families into adulthood.
This webinar will explore the dimensions of family support across the lifespan. Our presenters will speak from three unique perspectives. We will highlight the subtle differences in providing supports for families with very young children, those with school-aged children and youth, and those families caring for their adult children. Presenters will offer real-life examples and tools that should prove useful for participants. The challenges faced by families as they transition through the various service systems will be highlighted and the importance of family support throughout the lifespan will be described.
Highlight: This webinar will be moderated by the National Federation's own Executive Director, Lynda Gargan, Ph.D., and presented by staff from three of our chapters:
Families As Allies (Mississippi), Family Involvement Center (Arizona)
and G.E.A.R. Parent Network (Maine).
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Our state chapter in Nevada, Nevada PEP, is offering a number of webinars covering a variety of topics in August that support parents, caregivers, families and their children as well as the professionals who support them. Click the button below to view their calendar,
see titles and descriptions and to register for this month's webinars.
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The TA Network operates multiple Learning Communities that are open to anyone. The Learning Communities were assembled with the most pressing needs of the children's behavioral health field in mind, and are facilitated by a diverse group of content experts. Opportunities for peer examples and interactions are also provided in addition to resources and tools. Click the button below to learn more and to register
for one or more of the webinars they are offering this month.
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Each year, the Mental Health America (MHA) Annual Conference brings together MHA affiliates, community stakeholders, peers, caregivers, providers, government officials, media and more from across the country to discuss important and emerging mental health issues. MHA’s 2020 Annual Conference will take place September 3-4, 2020
and is themed COVID-19, Mental Health, and the Need for Equity.
The conference will be free and completely virtual.
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Resources and Opportunities |
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From the Center for Parent Information & Resources |
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Serving Native American Families
CPIR is very pleased to unveil Tier 3 of the Native American Resource Collection - Working with Native Children and Youth. Tier 3 materials are designed to support Parent Centers as they conduct outreach to and interact with Native youth who have disabilities. The materials include information about preschool challenges; K-12 educational realities for Native students; issues that directly concern Native young people, such as bullying, cyberbullying,
and the importance of resilience; and wrap up with considerations
on planning for transition to adulthood.
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It's normal for children to feel anxious about change and the unknown. The infographic above is a great visual reminder for parents and caregivers about how we can help kids stay calm and healthy. Learn more about these 8 tips here.
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From FHE Health (The Florida House Experience)
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How Parents Can Talk About Addiction with Their Children
FHE Health offers tips and suggestions for parents on talking to their children - young, adolescent or adult - about addiction. It includes information for parents who are struggling with substance use themselves. Read the full article here.
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From the American Red Cross |
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Help for Families Grieving a Loss from COVID-19
The American Red Cross has created a Virtual Family Assistance Center that offers information and resources for families who have lost a loved one due to COVID-19. If you or someone you know needs grief support, learn more here.
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