News from MD Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health

E-newsletter
Volume 7 Issue 8

November 2011

Greetings!

Beginning in October, new procedures were implemented to monitor antipsychotic medication prescribed for children younger than age 5.

Maryland Medicaid Pharmacy Program (MMPP), in partnership with the Mental Hygiene Administration and the University of Maryland Medical Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, established the new procedure as a result of concerns about unhealthy weight gain and/or high cholesterol in young children taking these drugs. Medicaid will require appropriate monitoring, including weight and laboratory tests every 90 days, before reauthorizing the medication. Physicians throughout Maryland have been notified of this new procedure.

All parents want to take every precaution when it comes to giving medication to our children. We applaud these steps Maryland has taken and think that closely monitoring these medications in young children will help prevent health problems for them in the future.

-Jane A. Walker

Executive Director

MCF's Annual Luncheon Set for Dec. 9

We look forward to gathering again at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City to have some lunch and celebrate our connections with each other and MCF. This year's luncheon pays special tribute to military families and their children. Our book selection, A Paper Hug, was written by Stephanie Skolmoski and illustrated by her daughter. The book is about a little boy whose father is deployed. We are honored that our guest reader will be Audrey Rothstein, wife of Col. Edward C. Rothstein USA, the garrison commander at Fort Meade.

As always, we will be presenting our special awards and have some fun surprises for attendees. Invitations will be on their way via e-mail shortly.

Make Your Voice Heard: Input Sought on New Schools Superintendent

The Maryland State Board of Education has scheduled a series of open forums seeking input from stakeholders to identify characteristics desired in a new state superintendent of schools.

MSDE is responsible for special education services, the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program and the vocational rehabilitation program through Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). These programs are vitally important to children, youth and adults with mental health challenges.

Parents and guardians have two ways to offer their views on the superintendent search-completing the online survey at www.ecragroup.com/mdss by Nov. 18, or by attending one of several forums scheduled around the state.

Each forum will be held at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. in each location:

November 2
Laurel High School (Prince George's County)
8000 Cherry Lane, Laurel

November 3
Seneca Valley High School (Montgomery County)
19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown

November 7
Huntingtown High School (Calvert County)
4125 N. Solomons Island Road, Huntingtown

November 7
Mountain Ridge High School (Allegany County)
100 Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Lane, Frostburg

November 9
Edgewood High School (Harford County)
2415 Willoughby Beach Road, Edgewood

November 10
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Baltimore City)
1400 West Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore

Once all the information is gathered, the State Board of Education will discuss it at its Dec. 6 meeting and the report will be posted at www.marylandpublicschools.org.

1 in 25 Youths on Antidepressants

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study recently on the use of antidepressants among youth ages 12 to 17. According to the CDC, roughly one in 25 adolescents in the United States is taking such medications.

The study is based on surveys and depression screenings of about 12,000 U.S. adolescents and adults conducted in 2005 through 2008; the government says it is the first study of its kind to include such information about the youth cohort.

In comparison, about one in 10 adults is taking antidepressant medication.

Among other findings for youth, females are more likely than males to be taking antidepressant medication and non-Hispanic whites are more likely than any other race to be taking such medications. To see the report, click here.

How Can I Tell if My Teen is Depressed?
Teens have always been emotional, given the confluence of hormones, the pressures of school and friends and perhaps a job or family issues as well. How do you know when it's typical teenage behavior or something more serious, like depression?

One of the most frequent signs in teenagers is irritability, but it must be accompanied by other symptoms and these changes must last longer than two weeks. When these changes in mood and behavior start to have an impact on daily life inside and away from home, it's likely time to seek help:

Less focus or interest in school
Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
Changes in social activities, like withdrawing from friends or interests
Thoughts about death, dying or suicide
Preoccupation with being perfect
Sadness and despair
Lack of concentration
Frequent use of drugs and alcohol

Depression in teens usually is treated with a combination approach-cognitive behavior therapy to help change negative thoughts and actions coupled with medication. And the family is called upon as well, to help children set realistic goals for themselves and to provide support for the teen.

Click here for more information and ways to help your struggling teen.

Remember the Coalition in Your 2012 Pledge

Please help us to continue to serve Maryland families touched by a child's mental health needs. Please designate the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health when you make your 2012 pledge to the United Way, the Maryland Charity Campaign or the Combined Charity Campaign:

Maryland Charity Campaign: #11970
United Way Campaign: #1105

Thank you.

National Federation Poster Contest
Children and youth up to age 18 are invited to help raise awareness for children's mental health and reduce stigma by participating in the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health annual poster contest.

The theme is "Youth Overcoming Trauma." Artists are encouraged to create artwork that expresses what matters to them in life.

Artwork must be original work and be accompanied by completed release forms - and postmarked by Nov. 4. Winners will be announced during the federation's annual conference in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19. Cash prizes and national recognition in the 2012 poster will be awarded.

All details of the contest, including submission guidelines and release forms, may be found at http://ffcmh.org/events/annual-conference/poster-contest/.

Mark Your Calendar for Jan. 24, 20 12

You've probably seen them lurking in the stores and resisted purchasing one because you don't want to think that far ahead...but it's not too early to consider your 2012 calendar!

Without pushing you too quickly into the next year, MCF urges you to mark your calendar for our 2012 Day in Annapolis, which will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. That dreaded six-letter word, b-u-d-g-e-t, will be the topic of discussion, as it has been for the past several years. The voices of families and youth are the most powerful tools to influence legislators to protect funding for services for our children. Please join us! Watch the newsletter for more details as we get closer to the date.

Upcoming Events

MANSEF Conference-Nov. 4, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Baltimore Convention Center. Click here for more information or e-mail Nancy at MANSEFAssistant@aol.com. To register, click here.

Beyond Sticks and Stones: Bullying and Harassment-Nov. 5, 1-4 p.m. An interactive workshop for parents and teens-middle school and high school students-features a keynote address and panel discussions. Students must be preregistered and at least one parent must attend with the student. Free; space is limited and registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Sarah Pinsker at 410.828.7700, ext. 1259, or spinsker@abilitiesnetwork.org. Abilities Network, 8503 LaSalle Road, Towson.

Navigating the Transition Years-Nov. 7 and 14, 6:30-9 p.m. MCF's two-session course for caregivers of transition age youth (ages 14-24) with mental health needs discusses high school transition planning, available services, employment and continuing education, housing and community life, health care, benefits programs and changing roles and legal rights. Free and open to families across Maryland. For more information and to register, contact Ann Geddes at ageddes@mdcoalition.org or 410.730.8267. Maryland Choices, 1801 Research Blvd., Suite 615, Rockville, Md.

Adoptive Parenting: Meeting the Challenges with Wisdom and Grace Webinar-Nov. 15, 12 noon-1 p.m. November is National Adoption Month; this MCF webinar is for adoptive parents and the professionals who support them, and will touch on three parenting challenges: parental entitlement, loss and trauma. For more information and to register, contact Carol Allenza at callenza@mdcoalition.org or 410.730.8267.

Navigating the Transition Years-Nov. 15 and 22, 6:30-9 p.m. MCF's two-session course for caregivers of transition age youth (ages 14-24) with mental health needs discusses high school transition planning, available services, employment and continuing education, housing and community life, health care, benefits programs and changing roles and legal rights. Free and open to families across Maryland. Click here for more information and to register, or contact Ann Geddes at ageddes@mdcoalition.org or 410.730.8267. Century Plaza Building #2000, 10632 Little Patuxent Parkway, 1st Floor Conference Room, Columbia.

Parent Support Provider Institute-Nov. 16, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Join other parent support providers, family leaders, researchers, health care providers and policy makers for plenary sessions, workshops and a dialogue in this institute sponsored by the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. Space is limited; preregistration is required. Click here for more information and click here to register. Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H St., N.W., Washington, D.C.

Sexual and Reproductive Health in Transitioning Youth Webinar, Nov. 16, 12 noon-1 p.m. Resource Network presents Barbara Obst, RN, a project coordinator at Kennedy Krieger Institute, to discuss sexuality among adolescents. To register, contact the Resource Finder at 1.800.390.3372 or resourcefinder@kennedykrieger.org.

Addressing Disparities in Behavioral Health: SAMHSA and Office of Minority Health in Action! Webinar-Nov. 17, 1-2:30 p.m. The National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health at Georgetown University presents a webinar discussing the newly created SAMHSA Office of Behavioral Health Equity as well as the HHS Action Plan to End Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities. Free; click here for information and to register.

Navigating the Transition Years-Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-12 noon. MCF's course for caregivers of transition age youth (ages 14-24) with mental health needs discusses high school transition planning, available services, employment and continuing education, housing and community life, health care, benefits programs and changing roles and legal rights. Free and open to families across Maryland. For more information and to register, contact Ann Geddes at ageddes@mdcoalition.org or 410.730.8267. 2701 N. Charles St., 4th Floor, Baltimore.

Linking Primary Care and Systems of Care: Innovation at the State and Community Levels to Support the Social and Emotional Well-Being of All Children Webinar-Dec. 15, 1-2:30 p.m. The National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health at Georgetown University presents a webinar discussing the linkage of medical home, accountable health homes and systems of care as an ongoing process. Several states and communities have focused their system-building efforts on collaboration with primary care, including pediatric practices and public health clinics. This webinar will look at how these new relationships can stimulate innovation and change. Free; click here for information and to register.

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