Message from Executive Director, Lynda Gargan
|
As you know, the 28th Annual Conference is happening next week in sunny Orlando, Florida! We have packed the conference with a huge variety of workshops and events. There are inspiring keynotes, great, cutting-edge plenaries on current research, an amazing youth track and one not-to-be-missed opportunity for all of us to laugh and celebrate our imperfections! We will also be recognizing some inspiring leaders in our field. Our Awards Luncheon will highlight the incredible contributions that these individuals are making on behalf of children and youth with behavioral health challenges and their families. We are especially excited that Karl and Kathy Dennis will be joining us this year for a very special presentation of the Karl Dennis Unconditional Care Award. This year's recipient is the beloved Sybil Goldman and we are planning to celebrate her many accomplishments in the field of children's behavioral health.
|
Oh my! You just realized that you forgot to register for the conference?!? Not to worry! Scroll down and you will find registration information! We have reserved a seat just for you!
See you in Orlando!
Lynda
|
|
Representing You - Legislation and Advocacy
|
|
The Federation actively represents you as part of the
Mental Health Liaison Group
.
The Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) is a
coalition of almost 70 national organizations representing consumers, parents and family members, advocates, providers, and mental health experts dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness
- The Federation continues to support bipartisan efforts to stabilize the insurance markets. Attached you will find a updated letter to HELP Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray to be sent on Oct 4th. MHLG HELP Update
- Since its inception in 1997,The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), together with Medicaid, has helped to reduce the numbers of uninsured children by a remarkable 68 percent. With CHIP funding expired on September 30, 2017, The Federation continues to advocated nationally with MHLG and in support of state's advocacy for the five year re-authorization of CHIP. MHLG Letter of Support for CHIP
- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) held a markup of the Keeping Kids’ Insurance Dependable and Secure (KIDS) Act (S. 1827) on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. “This important legislation will ensure the vulnerable children and their families who depend on CHIP receive much-needed certainty by guaranteeing uninterrupted funding for the program, which has been a top priority of this committee,” Hatch said. “While all states and D.C. have funding that will continue to be available beyond today, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to advance this bill in a fiscally responsible manner so it may be signed into law as quickly as possible to ensure coverage for kids is maintained.”
|
|
Federation Welcomes As Affiliate Leadership
|
|
Cindy Tabor
New Executive Director for Vermont Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
The Vermont Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health’s (VFFCMH) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Cindy Tabor has been named Executive Director. Tabor was appointed the Acting Executive Director in August 2017, following the resignation and relocation of long-time former Executive Director Kathy Holsopple. As the Assistant Director of the VFFCMH for 11 years, Tabor has played an instrumental role on the cross-trained leadership team creating a smooth, stable transition for families, staff and partners alike.
|
|
Its Not Too Late to Join Us
|
|
The only national conference dedicated solely to issues that impact children, youth and young adults with behavioral health challenges and their families. Our conference focus is inclusive of children and youth who experience complex diagnostic challenges.
|
|
28TH ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 9 - 12,
ORLANDO
FLORIDA
|
|
Just Look at What You'd be Missing
|
|
Mike Veny
Beyond speaking, bringing interactive drumming to mental health events allows Mike to share his full time job with world. When he's not speaking, he's memorizing music, rehearsing, performing, and recording with a variety of artists. As a Member of the Board of Directors of The Fender Music Foundation & writer for Corporate Wellness Magazine, Mike enjoys helping others get the opportunity to experience music making.
Mike firmly believes that mental health challenges and people challenges go hand in hand. Once he came to this realization, he began to value relationships with others. He works hard to constantly grow relationships and immediately resolve any conflicts. His speeches address the challenge of mental stigma through a message that encourages simple, proactive actions. This provides a guideline for people to see their challenges in a positive light and organizations to increase funding.
|
|
Gary M. Blau, Ph.D
.
is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and is the Chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In this role he provides national leadership for children’s mental health and for creating “systems of care” across the country. Dr. Blau has received many awards, including the Phoebe Bennet Award for outstanding contribution to children’s mental health in Connecticut, and the Making a Difference Award presented by Connecticut’s Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. For his national work, Dr. Blau received the Outstanding Achievement Award presented by the National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health, and was the recipient of the HHS Secretary’s Award for Meritorious Service for his national leadership in children’s mental health. In 2011, he was the first recipient of the Rock Star Award, presented by Youth M.O.V.E., National for “being a true champion for the youth movement and advocate for youth voice.” This award has now been named the “Dr. Gary Blau Award” and is given yearly to a mental health professional who has distinguished himself/herself as a voice for youth.
|
|
Tara Larson
Senior Healthcare Policy Specialist with Cansler Collaborative Resources, LLC. will join us on Thursday, November 9
th
,for a Pre-Conference Institute to explore funding, certification, and reciprocity for parent/family peer support.
This full-day event will include a panel of Executive Directors from our family-run organizations who will share their expertise and experience in the funding of parent/family peer support. The morning will provide vital information for both organizations and peers, with the afternoon providing intensive work sessions designed to inform and support state-level efforts. Participants in this session will learn about the use of Medicaid to fund Parent Peer Support as a covered service in the benefit plan. We will complete a service definition template that will provide guidance in preparing strategies with the state Medicaid or behavioral health agency. This interactive session will hear from executive directors on their funding strategies and will also offer a “barrier buster” dialogue solving the local challenges of implementation and operations.
|
|
Erin Roepeke
PAX Tools for Families Training . This day-long training is divided in two parts:
In the morning session, learn about PAX Good Behavior Game (PAX GBG), a scientifically proven classroom-based system that teaches skills for self-regulation, self-control, and self-management during any school or afterschool activity. Students use these skills purposely to collaborate with others to create peace, productivity, health, and happiness every day. Participants will learn about this powerful school-based intervention and the science that informs teaching behavior and self-regulation as a skillset.
In the afternoon session, participants will learn the home application of several of these strategies in an introduction to the pilot, “PAX Tools for Families”. Participants will receive sample materials for 1 family and information to share with their agency. Agencies with trained Peer Support specialists are invited to participate in a pilot program and evaluation for 1 year and receive materials for 100 clients.
Participants will receive sample materials for 1 family and information/invitation to share with their agency inviting them to participate in a pilot program and evaluation for 1 year. Trained Peer Support Specialists at agencies who elect to participate in the pilot will receive materials for 100 clients.
|
|
Join Dennis Embry, Ph.D.
-
The Possibility of a Universal Approaches
to Prevent Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorder
President/Senior Scientist
PAXIS Institute
In the 1950s, families and children were terrified of polio. I certainly was, when I entered first grade in Phoenix, Children sent dimes to end polio, communities mobilized, and so did the scientific community along with political leaders. Then, the country and world heaved a gigantic sigh: the Salk/Sabine vaccines work, and polio basically vanished from North America and Europe by the early 1960s.
We have an even larger epidemic in America today: Mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among young people. Better than half of America’s children needed psychotropic medications in 2009. The cost of treating children for such disorders is the largest single expense for Medicaid, rising a billion dollars a year. An estimated 50% of all our children will have had mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder by age 18 in America.
Few know that we have the scientific knowledge to prevent large percentages of these cases. Even fewer political leaders know about the practical possibility. Families don’t know either.
My talk lays out several scalable prevention strategies from pre-conception through adolescence how our country might mobilize to disseminate and use proven and promising strategies to reduce or avert large percentages mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among young people. If we don’t try such a public-health approach, communities, families and their children everywhere will continue to experience this epidemic. The time is now to start.
|
|
Wendy Besmann
,
Director of Team Up for Families (TUFF) will present a three-hour Facilitator Training for the new Family Road Map navigation curriculum, a step-by-step approach that empowers families to navigate health, education and insurance systems as equal partners with providers.
A next-level upgrade of TUFF’s popular “Team Up for Your Child” training (taught to more than 500 family members in systems of care from Maine to Hawaii) Family Road Map’s five-point “Guiding Star” leads families to knowledge and skills for decoding unfamiliar procedures and communicating effectively with providers. Facilitators learn to use this time-flexible, culturally-adaptable curriculum for a variety of support group or one-on-one coaching situations.
(After completing this no-cost, three-hour intensive, participants can choose to pursue full certification by completing course requirements through live webinar, and paying the $125 certification fee for membership in the TUFF National Learning Collaborative.) Seating is very limited. You
MUST
pre-register
.
|
|
Gina (Terrasi) Gallagher & Patricia Terrasi
s
hare the extraordinary reality—the joys, challenges, and absurdities—of raising “imperfect” children in a world preoccupied with perfection.
Each year, the number of children diagnosed with special needs and disabilities increases—yet if you’re a parent of a special child, you can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and isolated. Sisters Gina Gallagher and Patricia Konjoian (“The Poster Sisters of Imperfection”) know the feeling well, and have set out to show parents of children with special needs that they are not alone in this highly imperfect book. Packed with humorous, heartwarming anecdotes and empowering information and advice, Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid is the perfect medicine for parents of special or (gasp!) average kids, without the scary side effects. Strap on your seatbelt and prepare to laugh as they take you on an imperfect journey that will open your eyes to the gifts that every child has to offer — even imperfect ones.
Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid: Celebrating the humor, joy, and triumphs of raising “imperfect kids” in a perfection-obsessed world.
|
|
|
Generation NOW - Youth Plenary Session
Through personal stories, videos, music, and performances the plenary will highlight the innovative work being done by youth advocates to improve systems, reduce stigma, and help young people experiencing mental health challenges. This youth driven plenary will provide insight and information related to youth peer support, youth leadership, building successful youth and adult partnership and advancing the youth movement.
Presenters include: Lorrin Gehring and Travis- Youth Sound, Hayley Winterberg and Stella Wilde- MY LIFE, Marieke Johnson and Madeline Zielinski - Youth MOVE National, Lacy Kendrick Burk Dicharry- Elevate / CNQR and more
. (Lorrin, Hayley ,Lacy and Greg are all SAMHSA Voice Award winners)
|
|
Dr. Sue Smith -
from Georgia's Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health is for You!
How does one State Federation Chapter develop a statewide network of 22 local Federation Chapters? How do they nurture, mentor, and lead such a diverse group of leaders? Some of which are nationally accredited by CARF and COA.
If you know Dr. Sue Smith, you are very familiar with her passion, her vision, and her never ending enthusiasm for the power of family-run organizations. This year at our 28th Annual Conference, GSPN will be sharing the nuts and bolts of how she has built this extremely successful network of local chapters. GSPN will share both the philosophies and logistics of what is involved in creating a statewide network and the lessons learned from this journey. If you are in a position that includes either creating and/or advocating for a statewide network of family-run organizations, this is a not to be missed workshop!
|
|
Town Hall With
Conni Wells
The Family Voice on the
Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee
|
|
Upcoming Webinars and Training
|
|
Parents’ Crucial Role: Engaging in Your Child’s Mental Health Treatment
Thursday,
November 17th at 10AM MST
This webinar will focus on the parents’ lived experiences in raising a child with a mental disorder and how engaging in their children’s mental health treatment improves outcomes for the entire family. We will cover the impact of mental illness on children as well as on their parents, barriers to parents’ ability to engage in treatment, and how to overcome these barriers
.
|
|
|
Quality, Data and Evaluation
November 15th
Financing
Nov 29th
|
|
Town Halls with
Conni Wells
|
The Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) includes only one family member. Conni Wells takes very seriously the responsibility of representing a diverse family voice. To support her in this effort and to offer a conduit for
all
family voice to be represented with ISMICC, we will be hosting a series of calls to facilitate the opportunity for Conni to learn from families about the issues that are most important to them.
|
|
|
|
|
Coping with Stress and Depression
|
Families for Depression Awareness is presenting a free webinar on Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 PM ET/ 4:00 PM PT.
Esteemed Presenter, Dr. Elisha Goldstein, will discuss incorporating mindfulness techniques into a busy schedule. The program is designed for families, caregivers, employees and management personnel, and anyone interested in mental health resources.
|
|
|
November is National Caregivers Awareness Month. And there are so many caregivers in the world, aren't there? Visit the Caregiver Action Network and find dozens of resources to support caregivers (such as the
Family Caregiver Toolkit
). There's also a Care Community (online forum for exchange) where you can share with others who give care
|
|
|
|
|
PIPLO Productions
Once I Was Very Very Scared.
" There is a free PDF version. The book provides psychoeducation regarding the types of events that may be stressful or traumatic, common responses, and ways grown-ups can help children heal. The PDF is in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Turkish
|
|
|
Anxiety Resources
Anxiety disorders are conditions that can range from general feelings of worry to specific phobias. These conditions affect the daily functioning of children, youth and young adults as persistent anxiety and/or fear impairs their ability to concentrate, process information, and engage successfully in various activities. While common, anxiety disorders can be difficult to identify in young people and the diagnosis should include a review of developmental, cultural, social, and environmental factors. In addition, a co-occurring disorder can mask the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety disorders are often recognized as chronic conditions, as children, youth and young adults may experience relapse throughout their life span.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
