The Federation on the Move
March 2022 Newsletter
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Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week |
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Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week (CMHAW), May 1st - 7th , will focus on the campaign's shift from awareness to acceptance , which we hope will inspire new thinking and actions that better support the mental health of children and youth - and their families.
We would like to hear from parents, caregivers, youth and family members on two key questions related to this year's CMHAW campaign.
- How would things be better if people in your life and community were accepting of mental health symptoms and diagnoses - rather than simply aware of them? What would improve for children and youth who experience mental health challenges?
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Prejudice and discrimination toward people who experience a mental illness is a social justice issue - meaning it limits or creates barriers to opportunities that should be available to everyone. What opportunities do you believe children and youth would gain if their mental health challenges were supported and accepted?
We invite you to complete a very brief, anonymous survey to share your thoughts on these questions. We plan to use the survey responses to create content that represents #familyvoice on these topics during Children's Mental Health Acceptance Week. Please share the survey link widely in your networks! The survey will close on Friday, April 8th.
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The 2022 Annual Conference |
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We're excited to announce the title of this year's conference - "Families Can't Wait: Providing Essential Support for Today's Challenges and Tomorrow's Wellbeing" - taking place in Oklahoma City, OK on November 3rd - 5th, 2022.
The Call for Proposals is Open!
We are looking for 90-minute workshop proposals and a select number of 60-minute and 3-hour intensive workshop proposals. New this year, we are also seeking 30-minute TED Talk-style presentations. Learn more and submit your proposal here. Proposals will be accepted until Friday, April 29th.
Hotel reservations can be made here. Our room block guarantees a reduced room rate and space is limited . We recommend making your reservations early. Look for registration details for attendees, sponsors and exhibitors to be announced soon!
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COVID Vaccine Awareness Project |
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COVID-19 information is continually changing. It can be hard to keep up with the latest. If you have questions or are looking for current information, visit our Time to Return resource pages for trusted sources that can provide the answers you need for your family.
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We're excited to welcome our newest affiliate, Filling in the Gaps, in Augusta, Georgia and led by Executive Director, Onnie Poe. Learn more about the organization and the family peer support services they provide on their Facebook page.
We wish Randi Silverman, founder and previous executive director of the Youth Mental Health Project (YMHP), well in her future endeavors and welcome Valerie Barton, the new executive director.
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March Awareness Campaigns |
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This month we'd like to recognize the following awareness campaigns:
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Last month, we celebrated National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. As a follow up to the campaign, we would like to share this newly released infographic created in partnership with the National Family Support Technical Assistance Center (NFSTAC) and the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (NCEED) designed to help families supporting a loved one struggling with, or in recovery from an eating disorder.
Additionally, this month's Family Connection, taking place this Thursday, March 3rd at 1:30 p.m. ET, will also focus on eating disorders. Learn more and register here.
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NFSTAC News and Highlights |
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NFSTAC provides education, training, and family support resources tailored specifically to families, the family peer workforce, communities, healthcare systems, clinicians and educators. Our network of partners and subject matter experts will work with you to help address your needs. Our technical assistance is always free and we're ready to assist you.
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Family Connections - Thursday, March 3rd
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Title: EVERY BODY: What Families Need to Know about Eating Disorders
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Learn more and register here.
Monthly Webinar - Wednesday, March 16th
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Title: Addressing Overdose, Death, Injury and Disease: Why It's Important to Support Harm Reduction
- Look for details to arrive in your Inbox soon!
Office Hour for Executive Directors & Family Leaders - Thursday, March 24th
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Title: Beyond the Great Resignation - Expanding and Supporting Family Peer Staff
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Learn more and register here.
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Claudette Fette
PhD, OTR, CRC, mom
A Cautionary Tale: Claudette shares her family's experience and lessons learned after entrusting her 12-year-old son's care to a treatment center.
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Legislative and Advocacy Updates |
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NFF Joins Don't Deny Me Campaign |
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As part of NFF's commitment to social justice for families facing behavioral health challenges, we are active in our advocacy for parity and coverage of needed services. NFF has joined the Kennedy Forum and other leading organizations, as a partner on the Don't Deny Me Campaign.
What is Parity?
Parity is the Law: The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (the Federal Parity Law) requires that health plans cover mental health, eating disorder, and addiction care health benefits the same way they cover physical health benefits.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer.
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Keeping Up with Legislation |
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It is a very active time legislatively at both the state and national levels with new bills being introduced almost daily. A report on legislation that you look at today will be outdated tomorrow. So how can you keep up? For the latest news, follow the National Federation of Families Legislative and Advocacy Facebook page. Following us there is the best way to stay current on what is happening.
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Below is a list of upcoming webinars and events that may be of interest to parents/caregivers, families and those who support them. Click the title of any event to learn more and/or to register. |
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We encourage you to explore the resources below for caregivers, youth and young adults, the family peer support workforce and mental health and substance use professionals. Have a resource you'd like to share? Feel free to email us for consideration in future newsletters. |
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Appropriate Care and Treatment Study: Parents/Caregivers Needed
The study team at the University of South Florida (USF), Department of Child and Family Studies is conducting a national online survey of former youth residents of residential treatment facilities and their parents and caregivers to understand their experiences and perspective of the care received by the facilities. The types of facilities include those offering programs such as therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness camps, residential treatment centers, and boot camps. Learn more and participate here.
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The Great Collide: The Impact of Children’s Mental Health on the Workforce Research Overview, 2022
Throughout the spring and summer of 2021, On Our Sleeves, with generous funding from the Nationwide Foundation, conducted a survey of more than 3,000 working parents across the country to find out how children’s mental health may affect employees’ work performance and companies’ success. See the results here.
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Overdose Prevention in Community Corrections
Opioid overdose is the leading cause of death among people released from correctional institutions. People released from prison are 129 times more likely than the general population to die of a drug overdose within the 2 weeks following their release. Community corrections has the potential to be a high-impact site for overdose prevention, but we still need to shift the culture to better support evidence-based practices.
As a first step, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing conducted an environmental scan to determine how overdose prevention and response efforts are currently implemented in community corrections. See their report, including key findings, here.
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Scholarships Available for Special Education Advocacy Curriculum
In partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, The Arc is offering scholarships to receive free online access to their Special Education Advocacy Curriculum (normally a $99 value), which provides the basic information needed to navigate the special education system. Learn more and apply here.
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Supporting Families with Funding Streams to Prevent Child Welfare Involvement
How can financing strategies help child welfare leaders make sure that families are supported, connected and safe? In a series of interviews, the Annie E. Casey Foundation learned about six jurisdictions across the country using the Family First Prevention Services Act and other strategies to support family strengths and well-being before children are brought into the child welfare system. Learn more here.
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