| Next Membership Meeting |
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Monday, Oct. 12
DataLink Update
Keller ISD Alcohol Diversion Program
Hand in Hand Strategic Plan
Tarrant County Juvenile Services
2701 Kimbo Road
Fort Worth 76011
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Join Our List
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| New DataLink Members |
| Arlington Police Department
Dispute Resolution Center
Fort Worth Police Department
Safe Haven
The Women's Center | |
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| 2009 Bridging the Gap Runs Nov. 2-3, 2009 |
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 Focus on Birth through Age 11
Cook Children's Medical Center says the number of preschoolers needing inpatient psychiatric care has risen 35 percent in the past three years. The figures are even more staggering when you add children up to age 11. Yet, there has been little research on this fast-growing population.
To help providers better treat these youngest members of our community, Mental Health Connection is devoting the 3rd Annual Bridging the Gap Symposium to children from birth through age 11. What is the research on medications for this age group? How do poverty and trauma affect brains in the earliest stages of development? How can we stop the Cradle-to-Prison cycle? And how do we create policy that supports trauma-informed practices and perspectives?
National experts in each of these areas will present their findings at the November 2-3 Symposium. The event will be held at the Texas Christian University Brown-Lupton University Union, 2901 Stadium Drive. CEUs will be provided for physicians, nurses, social workers, licensed professional counselors (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).
Generous sponsors for Bridging the Gap help to keep registration fees down. Sponsors for the 2009 symposium are:
Cook Children's Medical Center
All Church Home for Children
Lena Pope Home, Inc.
MHMR of Tarrant County
Texas Health Resources
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| Family and Consumer Connection Grows |
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 Culturally Competent Meetings Attract Community Members
As they planned for the
July meeting of Family and Consumer Connection, leaders decided they needed to find a way to break through stigma and misunderstandings to reach the Hispanic community. So the group held the entire meeting in Spanish with English translators. Spanish-speaking parents who have been active through Community Solutions spread the word, and approximately 13 parents attended - many with their children.
At the next meetings in August and September, word had spread even further, drawing a capacity crowd of almost 40 parents with their children to each meeting. The September meeting was in Spanish with English interpretation, and the group will continue to alternate languages in their meetings.
Many of the attendees were parents whose children had mental health issues previously and will not be served by Hand in Hand. They just wanted to help others. Some were excited to find a place where others understood what they were experiencing.
Family and Consumer Connection is a Mental Health Connection committee composed of community stakeholders. The group is currently forming action groups to take on specific tasks, including building support groups, creating an informal network of assistance, and participating on the Community Evaluation Team.
Cook Children's Medical Center provides meeting space, food and child care for Family and Consumer Connection.
For more information, contact Jamie Souders, Hand in Hand family lead, at 817-569-5728 or by e-mail at jamie.souders@mhmrtc.org. |
| DataLink Adds Agencies, Police Departments |
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 System Growing
Throughout the County
Mental Health Connection's
DataLink, the information
sharing and referral system for
Tarrant County and beyond,
continues to grow. The following agencies have joined DataLink in the past month, committing to be part of the seamless system of care:
Arlington Police Department
Fort Worth Police Department
Safe Haven
The Women's Center
Dispute Resolution Services
As more agencies sign on to DataLink, the per-agency cost drops while the system's usefulness grows. For more information about DataLink, contact Tamra Walker at twalker@solomonedwards.com.
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| Trauma Team to Publish Matrix of Services |
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 System's Strengths and
Challenges to be Highlighted The Mental Health Connection Trauma Implementation Team will reveal a matrix of area mental health services for children and adolescents during the Bridging the Gap Symposium. The matrix includes each agency that has at least one individual participating in the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy pilot program. Zeba Salim of MHMR of Tarrant County has put many hours into this project, following up with agencies and designing the matrix.
The TF CBT study with the University of Texas at Austin now has 71 children and adolescents enrolled. The state asked Mental Health Connection to enroll 75, so we are almost there. Although the study will be full soon, there are still openings for TF CBT services. For more information, contact Carolyn Hanke at 817-538-7041.
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| Stay on TRAC Ready to Kick Off in Keller |
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 Addictions Implementation Team,
Agencies Ready
The Addictions Implementation Team has
developed a brochure to explain Stay on
TRAC (Treatment, Responsibility and
Accountability on Campus) to parents.
The Alcohol Diversion Program, based on the
drug court model, will allow students with
alcohol violations to participate in education,
intervention and treatment instead of going
to alternative school for alcohol infractions.
Four agencies are donating their services pro
bono for the one-year pilot: All Church Home
for Children, Lena Pope Home, MHMR of
Tarrant County Youth Recovery Campus and Santa Fe
Youth Services. For more information, contact Greg Sumpter
at 817-838-4600, ext. 244.
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| October Brings Cultural Competence Training |
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 Executives to
Train for Two
Days, Providers
for Four Interested in learning
to be more culturally competent? Mental Health Connection is presenting a two-day executive retreat and four-day provider retreat in October and November. If you are interested in attending, contact Patsy Thomas, 817-927-5200, or e-mail her at patsywthomas@gmail.com. |
Mental Health Connection is a collaboration of public and private agencies, as well as individuals who need mental health care services and their caregivers. The organization works to revolutionize the mental health delivery system, with a vision of creating No Wrong Door to the Right Mental Health Resources.
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