Tired but happy-that's how we all felt at the end of Children's Mental Health Awareness week. With 85 partners, including state and local agencies, providers, hospitals and schools and three major media partners, activities and events were held in almost every county in Maryland and in Baltimore City. A dozen Rita's Italian Ice franchises joined us this year in designating one evening for families to "Get the Scoop on Children's Mental Health." Thanks to everyone who made the week such a success! Here's a snapshot of some of the events. Check out the website for more.

"What Makes Me Happy"

2011 poster created by six students at Villa Maria Schools

The Redhead Companies, a leading marketing firm in the Baltimore/Washington region that assisted with ads for the Children's Mental Health Awareness campaign, each year selects someone who stands up for what she or he believes and does good things for the world. According to the firm, this is the very definition of a redhead (red hair not required).

This year, MCF congratulates Jordan Geddes, the winner of the third annual Redhead of the Year competition. Jordan has been an MCF volunteer and staff member-and once you read her story, you will know why she was selected from a large number of worthy nominees. We couldn't be prouder!

"From the ages of 12-19, Jordan suffered from mental health issues, including depression, gender identity issues and thoughts of suicide and she spent time in and out of hospitals and rehabs," said Jane Walker, MCF executive director and Jordan's nominator. "Today she is 23, she's in school, working and she advocates for children's mental health. She's overcome so much and is an incredible person."

"I learned that I can do more than I think I can," said Geddes. "Life gets better. You just need to stick it out. We're all stronger than we think we are. I have no regrets, and while I wish my family and I didn't have to go through all that pain, it shaped who I am today and I like who I am today. I like my life, my family and my friends."

Geddes has experienced more in two decades than most people experience in a lifetime. After years of struggling with mental health issues, sexual identity, being overweight and suicide, she decided she was done being sick and changed her life. She started working, enrolled at Howard Community College, lived healthier, exercised more and lost weight. Today she works to help others, speaking about her experiences and hoping it will make someone else's life easier. She has testified before the Maryland General Assembly on bills affecting youth with mental health needs and volunteers with the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health. If she could change anything for anyone, it would be to have zero tolerance for bullying. She says that calling people names or making fun of them for any reason is "not OK."

"Working with MCF gives me purpose. It is part of the healing process and a way for me to give back and help others," added Geddes.

While the award is entering its third year, this is the first time the public was asked to submit nominations of someone who inspires-a friend, co-worker, teacher or business associate. Geddes received $500 to donate to a charity or cause of her choice, which will be MCF.

Past winners include President Obama in 2008 for uniting and inspiring a country, and in 2009, Murat Turimcilar, the associate dean of The George Washington University School of Business who created an MBA curriculum focused on ethics and corporate social responsibility.

The ERIC Fund, founded in 1998 in honor of disability rights proponent Eric Savader, provides assistive technology, devices and equipment for individuals with disabilities in the Washington, D.C., area to help them live, work, go to school and participate actively in community life.

This is the 13th year The ERIC Fund is offering up to $10,000 in grant awards to residents ages birth to 65 in the District of Columbia, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's and St. Mary's counties in Maryland; and Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties and the city of Alexandria in Virginia. Eligible individuals must have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act: "Disability - The term 'disability' means with respect to an individual: (a) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (b) a record of such an impairment; or (c) being regarded as having such an impairment." Applicants also must demonstrate financial need; demonstrate in writing how the assistive technology or equipment requested will improve the individual's quality of life and assist them in living more indepedently in the community; have had an evaluation within the last 12 months for the assistive technology or equipment for which they are requesting funding; and identify a manufacturer or retailer for the assistive technology and/or equipment requested and an estimated price for the equipment/technology. (The ERIC Fund will only issue checks to manufacturers or retailers and will not issue money directly to individuals).

Applications must be postmarked by Saturday, June 25, 2011; award winners will be notified by Aug. 12, 2011. Visit www.ericfund.org to download an application. Completed applications should be mailed to:

The ERIC Fund

P.O. Box 65188

Washington, D.C. 20035

For more information, call 301.654.1547 or e-mail info@ericfund.org.

Two new studies have added to the body of evidence supporting yoga as being of some benefit to individuals with mental illness.

One study, by the Boston University School of Medicine, assigned participants to two groups for a 12-week period: one group practiced yoga three times a week for an hour while members of the other group walked the same number of times for the same duration. Researchers found those who did yoga had higher gamma-aminobutyric levels (low GABA levels are associated with mood disorders). The yoga group also reported a greater decrease in anxiety and depression.

A second study of 66 individuals with symptoms of schizophrenia divided participants into a yoga group, an exercise group and a control group not assigned to a particular exercise program. Those results showed that those doing yoga achieved a significant improvement in symptoms, with researchers noting that improvement was maximized at two months and persisted at the end of four months. Click here for the abstract of the study.

The National Institutes of Health is conducting a research study to better understand the unique characteristics of children, ages 8 through 17, who have significantly improved following a diagnosis of autism. Research participation involves medical and neurological testing and two outpatient visits to Bethesda NIH Clinical Center and one overnight stay. There is no cost for participation. Contact NIH researchers at 301.435.6205 or e-mail AutismOutcomeStudy@mail.nih.gov .

The Maryland Psychiatric Research Center is currently conducting a study exploring treatments for symptoms associated with schizophrenia and is looking for family members of people with schizophrenia to interview for the study. Contact the research center at 410.402.6834 or go to the website for more information.

This year's Parent Involvement Survey is under way. Conducted by the Maryland State Department of Education, the survey asks questions of parents of children ages 3 through 21 who are receiving special education services through their local school system-for public and nonpublic placement students-for the current school year.

It is vital that MSDE hear from parents through this survey, to ensure schools are doing a good job partnering with parents and are promoting parental involvement in their child's educational programing.

You may receive a paper copy from your child's school to be filled out by hand and returned in the provided, postage-paid envelope. If you misplace the envelope, you can mail completed surveys to REDA International Inc., 11141 Georgia Ave., Suite 517, Wheaton, MD 20902-4680. To receive a link to the online survey, e-mail IEP-ParentSurvey@mmail.macrointernational.com.

Parents with more than one child who receives special education services should fill out separate surveys for each child. Participation is voluntary, but making your opinions heard can only help improve the home-school partnership.

Linking Mental Health to Academic Success-June 1, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Daylong conference features training sessions for teachers, social workers, parents, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, child care providers, mental health practitioners and pediatricians with a keynote address by Mark D. Weist, Ph.D. $50; CEUs available. Todd Performing Arts Center, Chesapeake Community College. Click here to register; for more information, visit www.chesapeake.edu/continuing_ed or contact Karen Bailor at 410.822.5400, ext. 704, kbailor@chesapeake.edu.

Developmental Disabilities Forums-Various dates throughout June. The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities will be holding community forums to hear from the public about services for people with developmental disabilities. People with disabilities, family members and friends, advocates, providers and professionals are encouraged to attend. Forums will be held:

Eastern Shore -- June 1 and 2

Western Maryland -- June 8 and 9

Central Maryland -- June 20 and 21

Southern Maryland -- June 28 and 29

For more information, including times and locations, contact Aisha Mason at 443-923-9555 or masona@kennedykrieger.org. 

Resilience: From Theory to Practice-June 7, 8:30 a.m.-12 noon. Regional training sponsored by the Mental Hygiene Administration and the Carroll County Core Service Agency for administrators, clinical supervisors and lead staff of outpatient centers reviews MHA's commitment to resilience and its core concepts and COMAR mandates related to resiliene. CEUs available. Speech and Hearing Agency of Baltimore, 5900 Metro Drive, Baltimore. Registration deadline May 31; contact Dawn Brown at 410.876.4440 or e-mail brownd@dhmh.state.md.us. Please note-no parking available onsite; free on-street parking is available.

Maryland Systems of Care Training Institutes-June 13-15. Annual training under the auspices of the Innovations Institute will focus this year on Outreach to Special Populations: Addressing Disparities and Cultural and Linguistic Competence Across the Child Serving Systems. There will be sessions also on interagency partnership/system of care, practice improvement and workforce development, as well as leadership tracks for caregivers/parents of youth with system involvement, youth with experience in child-serving systems and administrators. The SOCTI includes a one-day pre-conference focusing solely on Understanding and Impacting Disproportionate Minority Contact Across Maryland's Child Service Systems. Pre-conference costs $40; two-day conference is $100 or $60 for a single day. Baltimore Convention Center, One West Pratt Street, Baltimore. Click here for more information and link to the registration form.