July
2019
30th Annual Conference News
The Conference Agenda is Now Online!
The outline of the conference schedule is now posted. In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for important information and updates about the schedule, workshops, and keynote speakers for our 30th Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ
November 14th - 16th.
Below, learn more about exciting all
day sessions that will be offered
on Saturday, November 16th.
Registration is now live and early bird deadlines are as follows:
Exhibitors - August 31st
Attendees - September 30th
Special Saturday Training Opportunities
The following all day sessions will be offered at our 2019 Conference in Phoenix on Saturday, November 16th. Each training has limited space and requires preregistration. Participants who complete these training sessions will receive a certificate of course certification or completion, as appropriate, after the conference. You will have the option to sign up for one of the four sessions when you register for the conference. Please find descriptions and additional details below.

Note: These training sessions are part of the conference and ONLY
open to registered conference attendees.
Mental Health First Aid Certification Course  
Mental Health First Aid aims to increase mental health literacy and decrease stigma. This 8-hour course teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

Mental Health First Aid takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.

8 Hour Course. Preregistration is required.
Certificates of certification will be provided electronically, post-conference.

Note: The course will begin at 8:30 am and end at approximately 5:30 pm. Participation will require missing the Saturday morning plenary.
Trauma Treatment for the Entire Family: A Step-by-Step
Family Systems Approach Training
It’s not easy when a practitioner only possesses the tools to treat the individual child and not the whole family. Implications of this dilemma are that families can become chronically stuck with no clear solution. Imagine leaving this workshop equipped with the essential tools to more effectively work with not just the traumatized child, but their entire family and community.

Join Dr. Scott Sells from the Family Trauma Institute , in this cutting-edge seminar as he teaches the concrete tools necessary to quickly engage the parent and child through "motivational phone calls,” along with how to use the top three tools from the Family Systems Trauma (FST) approach.

In this training, participants will receive step-by-step tools and handouts that show how to work more effectively with both child(ren) and parents in families that have experienced trauma. Participants will learn how to help the family move from “How do you feel about the traumatic event?” to “What’s next in order to heal our wounds?”

6 Hour Session. Preregistration is required.
Certificates of completion will be provided electronically, post-conference.
The Parent Support Network: A New Model
for Peer to Peer Support Training
Recognizing that parents and caregivers need access to as much support as possible when their children are struggling with mental health problems, The Youth Mental Health Project developed The Parent Support Network, a volunteer-based program that offers peer to peer support for parents and caregivers. The Parent Support Network is a parent-driven, family focused program to provide parents who are concerned about their children’s mental health with a dependable and caring network, valuable peer support, and access to educational tools and peer recommended resources in their local communities.

This 6-hour training session is based on an innovative approach to youth mental health that will provide participants with engaging tools to help support parents, caregivers, and families. Anyone interested in learning how to become a Facilitator of parent support meetings or about the benefits of bringing The Parent Support Network to their own community will benefit from attending. Join Randi Silverman, Founder and Executive Director of The Youth Mental Health Project , and her co-presenter, Gabriel Giacomazzo, Family Peer Advocate and Facilitator of The Parent Support Network of Western Suffolk, NY, to learn a new way to support families in a way that is informative, empathetic, and empowering.

During the session, attendees will also participate in interactive mock parent support meetings and learn how to use the social and emotional tools that are part of the program’s Conversation Toolkit for parents. Randi will review turn-key materials and methodologies for implementing and building The Parent Support Network program in communities. Finally, the session will end with an important focus-group conversation and assessment to gather feedback for best approaches to improving and implementing the program in a variety of communities.

6 Hour Session. Preregistration is required.
Certificates of completion will be provided electronically, post-conference.
Serving on Groups: Knowledge and Skills to Effectively
Serve on Systems Improvement Committees Training
Federal and state policy increasingly requires active participation of family and youth leaders at decision-making tables. Too often policymakers do not adequately prepare diverse family and youth leaders to take full advantage of these opportunities. Join this full day train the trainer session to learn how to present an interactive comprehensive training series on Serving on Groups that Make Decisions. Don’t sit on the sidelines…be part of the solution! (Training tools available in English and Spanish!)

This interactive, hands-on train the trainer workshop will provide participants with information, tools and resources on how to develop and implement policy leadership development for diverse families to participate effectively on advisory groups and task forces. Discussion will include how to recruit, train, engage, and support diverse parent leaders at policy tables using the Serving on Groups that Make Decisions curriculum. Trainers' guide including trainer notes, workshop outlines, and interactive training activities will be shared.
Participants will: learn the critical elements of recruiting diverse family leaders interested in systems change; understand the curriculum including Section 1: Opportunities to Get Involved, Section 2: Types of Groups, Section 3: Processes Groups Use, Section 4: Tools Groups Use, Section 5: Tips and Strategies for Groups, Section 6: Understanding Data, Section 7: The Role of Families on Groups, and Section 8: Skills for Serving on Groups; identify methods to modify the material for diverse audiences; and learn how to deliver the curriculum to diverse parent leaders. The workshop will include presentation, brainstorming in large and small groups, and work group activities including completion and discussion of a trainer self-assessment and development of a “next steps toward implementation” action plan. A question and answer period will also be provided.

7.5 Hour Session. Preregistration is required.
Certificates of completion will be provided electronically, post-conference.
Funding Opportunities
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention


Enhancing Community Responses to the Opioid Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims
 
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is seeking applications to support crime victims and to enhance community-driven responses to the current opioid crisis. This program furthers the Department’s mission by providing resources to support state, local, and tribal efforts to assist crime victims. The overarching goal of the Enhancing Community Responses to the Opioid Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims program is to support children and youth who are crime victims as a result of the opioid crisis by providing direct services and support to these young victims
at a community or jurisdictional level.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time (ET) on July 11th, 2019.
  Specialized Services and Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims
of Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is seeking applications for funding under the fiscal year (FY) 2019 Specialized Services and Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation. This program furthers the Department’s mission by supporting efforts to provide mentoring and supportive services for children and youth who are victims of sexual exploitation and domestic sex trafficking, boys who often go unidentified as victims of trafficking, and girls who are vulnerable to trafficking and who are most likely to end up in the juvenile justice system. This program aligns with the administration’s priorities of preventing further victimization through mentoring, support services, and community awareness activities. The purpose of this program is to enhance the capacity of applicant organizations to respond to the needs of children and youth who are victims of sexual exploitation, domestic sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time (ET) on July 29th, 2019.
New Chapter and Partner Announcements
We're excited to announce the following new chapters and partners that have joined our network. We encourage you to visit their web sites so you can learn more about their great work in support of youth and families and to explore their resources. Feel free to send them an email to connect directly and to welcome them to the Federation family!
The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness
The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing programs and activities aimed at outreach, education, early intervention, and advocacy for all eating disorders. They provide the latest information on how to recognize signs and symptoms and understand contributing factors and offer a directory searchable by zip code or state to help you connect with vetted treatment centers and practitioners who have expertise in eating disorders. The Alliance joins us as a national partner.
Amare Global
Amare Global, who joins our network as a national partner, offers holistic mental wellness products developed around recent scientific discoveries on what is called the "Gut-Brain Axis." They frequently collaborate with families of children who have an ADHD diagnosis, Autism Spectrum Disorders and other mental and behavioral health challenges as well as practitioners and wellness coaches.
ASU Center for Child Well-Being
ASU’s Center for Child Well-Being joins us as a new Arizona state partner. Their mission is to advance child and family well-being. They believe society can collectively overcome challenges and make a difference by ensuring the health and well-being of its children. Drawing upon the expertise of faculty from across ASU's research enterprise, they work to increase resilience among families and to build safer and more vibrant communities for young people.
Child & Family Service
Child and Family Service is a family-centered, full-service nonprofit dedicated to “Strengthening families and fostering the healthy development of children." With nearly 50 programs statewide, CFS works with those most in need - meeting them where they are, connecting them with the resources they need, and helping them envision and plan a future in which they can live successfully in the community. They join our network as a local chapter serving families in Hawaii.
Each One, Teach One Together, Inc.
Each One Teach One Together, Inc. is a nonprofit agency that provides resources and supports to all families as well as grandparents and children. Executive Director, Debra Suzette-Brown, and her husband have raised biological, adoptive and foster children and are now raising a granddaughter.  Located in Georgia, the organization joins us as a local chapter.
The Family Support Organization of
Passaic County
The Family Support Organization of Passaic County is a family-run, county-based organization that provides direct family-to-family peer support, education, advocacy and other services to family members of children with emotional and behavioral challenges. They join our network as a new local New Jersey chapter.
My Girls, Inc.
My Girls, Inc. is a nonprofit organization for middle and high school girls whose mission is t o build, empower, educate, and transform girls that will change the world. Their programs help girls become emotionally and mentally healthy so that they can excel academically and beyond. My Girls joins us as a local chapter and also as a member of the Georgia Parent Support Network.
Board Meeting Highlight
The NFFCMH Board Members gathered for a very productive meeting
on June 21st and 22nd in Chicago, Illinois.
Chapter Highlight
The Center for Adoption Support and Education's (C.A.S.E.) Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program is now listed on the California Evidenced-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), a nationally recognized body that applies rigorous standards of review to identify effective programs.

TAC was rated in the topic area of Child Welfare Workforce Development and Support Programs with a scientific rating of (3) Promising Research Evidence and with a Child Welfare Relevance rating of High. Of 17 programs in the Child Welfare Workforce Development and Support topic area, TAC is one of only two programs that received this rating and no programs in the topic area were rated higher.

The C.A.S.E. team will be presenting on the TAC Program at our annual conference in Phoenix, AZ this November. Look for their presentation when the schedule is published.

Congratulations to our partners at C.A.S.E.!
Legislation and Advocacy
We are now a coalition member of
Mental Health for US .
The National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, along with several other organizations from around the country, have joined the launch of Mental Health for US, a nonpartisan educational initiative elevating mental health and addiction in policy conversations during the 2020 election cycle by empowering grassroots advocates and improving candidate and policymaker health literacy.

We stand with Mental Health for US as we fight for a future in which mental health and addiction are priorities in national policy conversations.

#MentalHealthforUS

See our most recent National and State Updates!
I t was a busy legislative season both nationally and in the states.
See our most recent updates below and visit our Legislative and Advocacy webpages for more news, tools and resources that can assist in your efforts to represent the voice of children, youth and families. If you haven't already, sign up to receive future
legislation and advocacy updates, alerts and calls to action.
National Slideshow
State Slideshow

Submit your state's advocacy and legislative updates to our
Legislative Liaison, Michelle Covington, at mcovington@ffcmh.org.
Webinars and Events
Self-Disclosure: Supportive, Safe and Successful
Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Time: 2:00-3:00pm EDT

Self-disclosure is one of the most powerful and valuable tools for the peer support specialist. As important as this topic is, there is much confusion in defining it, using it and modeling it. This webinar looks at all aspects of self-disclosure from definition, purpose, roles, boundaries and some basic do’s and don’ts. This webinar will explore the difference between storytelling and the sharing mutuality of self-disclosure.
Suicide Prevention Fundamentals
Date: Tuesday, July 2, 2019 Time: 1:00pm EDT

Webinar speaker, Kim Kane, MPA, has worked in the field of suicide prevention in Idaho for 15 years. She is the former Program Manager for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Suicide Prevention Program. Prior to that position, Kim was the Program Director for the Idaho Lives Project, which fosters connectedness and resilience throughout Idaho school communities to prevent youth suicide. She is a member and co-founder of the Idaho Governor’s Council on Suicide Prevention and the former Executive Director of the Suicide Prevention Action Network of Idaho. Kim is a certified trainer with the Sources of Strength ongoing youth wellness program and former QPR trainer. She also is trained in the Certified Psychological Autopsy Program from the American Association of Suicidology. Kim’s bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in public administration are both from Kansas State University. Kim lives in Boise with her two sons who she affectionately refers to as yin and yang.
Date: Thursday, July 11, 2019 Time: 12:00pm EDT

Mood disorders are highly prevalent and a leading cause of disability in patients worldwide. Approved pharmacologic treatments are not adequate to provide full symptom relief in a significant portion of patients, leaving a substantial unmet need. Several nonpharmacologic treatment strategies have been shown to be effective in providing symptom relief for mood disorders when augmenting pharmacotherapy.
In this webinar, Dr. Michael Thase and Dr. Saundra Jain provide an overview of evidence-based nonpharmacologic options that can be used as part of a holistic strategy for the treatment of mood disorders. Some of the treatment strategies they’ll discuss include: psychotherapy, exercise, activity management, sleep, mindfulness, meditation, diet, and wellness. Membership with PsychU is free and required for webinar registration.
Building Family Leadership and Voice
Date: Friday, July 12, 2019 Time: 2:00-3:30pm EDT

This webinar will include strategies provider agencies and system of care leaders can use for increasing genuine family engagement and for strengthening partnerships with family run organizations. Presenters will include examples of successful efforts by family run organizations working in rural and frontier areas.
Operationalizing Partnerships with Juvenile Justice in Systems of Care
Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Time: 2:30-4:00pm EDT

This webinar will focus on strategies for developing partnerships between systems of care (SOCs) and the juvenile justice system to better meet the needs of justice-involved youth with mental health conditions. Presenters will discuss the importance of collaboration and the problems it addresses, as well as the benefits and challenges in operationalizing partnerships with juvenile justice and probation systems. An example of partnerships implemented by a SOC will be provided, including specific strategies such as flexible court orders; conflict resolution; and how to align philosophies and approaches. The strategies, benefits, and challenges will also be discussed from the perspective of a judge.
Immigration Policy Impacts on the Mental Health of Latino Immigrant Populations
Date: Thursday, July 18, 2019 Time: 10:30am-12:00pm EDT

This webinar will present discussion on the impact of immigration policies and related actions on the Mental health of Latino immigrant populations.
Early Childhood System of Care Flipped Webinar: Applying Trauma-Informed Approaches to Early Childhood Systems & Interventions
Date: Monday, July 22, 2019 Time: 1:00-2:00pm EDT

Join this “flipped webinar,” based on the concept of a "flipped classroom"! What does that mean? In the field of early childhood when we hear the team “flipped classroom” we typically think quite literally of flipped chairs, toys and possibly peers. Instead, within the webinar and adult learning space – when we use this term, we are talking about a different webinar interaction format where you:

(1) Register for access to a recorded webinar about trauma in early childhood,
(2) Listen on your own time and participate in the thought questions
as they apply to your work,
(3) Join the virtual format on July 22nd at 1:00 PM to participate directly with the expert presenters from the recorded content about their work with an opportunity to discuss applications and adaptations within your communities and settings.

We selected the important topic of “Applying Trauma-Informed Approaches to Early Childhood Systems & Interventions” to allow participants the opportunity to hear Amy Hunter from Georgetown University discuss Head Start’s approach to the topic as well as Caroline Roben & Amanda Costello from the University of Delaware share specifics about their Attachment Bio-behavioral Catchup model.

This flipped webinar experience is scheduled for July 22nd from 1:00-2:00pm EDT and the video will be made available to everyone who registers starting on Monday, July 8th to allow for plenty of time to listen and review materials prior to the 22nd.
Wrap and Tech: Electronic Health Records, Measurement and Feedback Systems, and Other Supportive Online Technologies for Wraparound
Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Time: 2:00-3:15pm EDT

Information technology has become a standard element of contemporary healthcare systems, often in the form of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), which are real-time, digital versions of clients’ health information, and measurement feedback systems. As an individualized and intensive method for coordinating care that requires management of many pieces of information (e.g., on team members, meeting schedules, plan of care elements such as priority needs and services, youth and family progress), the Wraparound process should be particularly amenable for support from such supportive technology. And yet, Wraparound also poses some unique challenges to selection and implementation of EHRs and measurement and feedback systems. This webinar will provide an introduction to the selection and implementation of EHRs and other web-based technologies in a Wraparound setting. It presents results and recommendations from a survey of Wraparound provider organizations and is aimed at providing guidance to organizations and programs selecting an EHR for the first time or transitioning to a new EHR system. The webinar will review steps and principles of EHR selection and implementation, supplemented by lessons learned from the field. It will also review some new innovations in fidelity measurement and feedback that is currently being developed by the National Wraparound Initiative and University of Washington Wraparound Evaluation and Research Team.
Care Integration Best Practices: Overview, Issues and Expert Convening Consensus Framework
Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2019 Time: 1:00-2:30pm EDT

This webinar provides an overview of the care integration needs of children and youth with behavioral health challenges and how they differ from those of adult populations. Presenters will describe the process used and outcomes achieved by an Expert Convening on Care Integration sponsored by the National Technical Assistance Network for Children’s Behavioral Health and the consensus reached by this expert group on a Care Integration Continuum that incorporates best practices for this population. The webinar will introduce the essential components of a care integration best practices framework that is intended to guide planning and implementation by state and local policymakers and program directors.
Resources and Opportunities
From The Annie E. Casey Foundation
The 30th edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book explores America’s child population and how the American childhood experience has changed since 1990. Of the 16 areas of child well-being tracked across four domains - health, education, family and community and economic well-being - 11 have improved since the Foundation published its first Data Book 30 editions ago.
The rest of the 2019 Data Book - including the latest national trends and state rankings - rely on a shorter review window: 2010 to 2017. Access the
full report for details and key findings here .
From Nationwide Children's Hospital
Nationwide Children's Hospital's On Our Sleeves campaign created a Summer Survival Guide to helping our kids stay mentally fit. Learn more about their tips and tricks for the summer months here .
From PBS Learning Media
Research has shown that middle school is the key moment when, absent effective intervention, students can fall into the patterns that lead them to drop out during high school. Identifying the risk factors associated with students who drop out of high school is featured in this 6-minute video excerpt from FRONTLINE: "Middle School Moment." Watch the video here .
From SAMHSA
SAMHSA’s Early Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator is a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons and their family members who are seeking treatment facilities for a recent onset of serious mental illnesses such as psychosis, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, or other conditions. These evidence-based programs provide medication therapy, family and peer support, assistance with education and employment and other services.
From Youth MOVE National
Call for nominations: Youth MOVE National's Rockstar Awards 2019 is accepting nominations. The Rockstar Awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of youth services, and youth-serving systems that support the positive growth and development of young people - including: mental health, juvenile justice, education, and child w elfare. One of the awards comes with a $3,000 unrestricted cash prize.
The deadline for nominations is July 31st.