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

E-newsletter
Volume 8 Issue 1

January 2012

Greetings!

You will definitely want to check out the two new publications we are highlighting in this month's newsletter.

The first is a publication that was many years in the works, but recently released by the Maryland State Department of Education. Don't let the title, The Role of the School Psychologist in Identification of Emotional Disability put you off. This publication is not just for school psychologists. The publication contains guidelines for identification of emotional disability (ED) for special education services. There has been a record of inconsistency in regions across the state when it comes to identification of ED for special education. Some regions under identify, while other regions over identify. This publication is an effort by the Maryland Association of School Psychologists and the Maryland State Department of Education to establish statewide guidelines and ensure more consistency when identifying children with ED for special education.

The second publication addresses an issue we are frequently asked about - guardianship. It is every family's worry that once their child turns 18 years, they will not have any rights or ability to stay involved with their child's care. A new publication, Guardianship and Its Alternatives: A Handbook on Maryland Law, by The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and the Maryland State Bar Association can answer that question and more. I went through the guardianship process a few years ago for my daughter and wish this handbook were available at the time. It wasn't. Links to both of these publications are included in the articles below.

Don't forget to join us for our Day in Annapolis on Tuesday, January 24th! It's lots of fun - very empowering - and - we need you more than ever!

Go Ravens!

-Jane A. Walker

Executive Director

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Join Us for Day in Annapolis on Jan. 24

Please make plans now to attend our 12th annual Children's Mental Health Day in Annapolis on Tuesday, Jan. 24. We know budget issues will be key in this General Assembly session, as they have been for several years. We are honored that Delegate Norman Conway, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rosemary King Johnston from the Governor's Office for Children and Dr. Al Zachik from the Mental Hygiene Administration, and Alice Harris from the Maryland State Department of Education will be joining us at our morning briefing before we all disburse and visit our legislators.

If you have thought about coming, but were uncertain about speaking to legislators, never fear! 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 at the Miller Senate Office Building, Rooms West 1 and 2, beginning with registration and breakfast at 8:45 a.m.

We've allotted two hours for you to meet with your legislators after the briefing. Please remember to make appointments with your legislators before the 24th, between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. if possible. We also are featuring a special program for youth, Colonial Myths and Legends Walking Tour.

You'll need to bring a photo ID to get through security; food and cameras are prohibited and cell phones must be turned off. You can park at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium off Rowe Boulevard for $5 and take a free trolley shuttle to the Legislative Services stop.

For more information visit www.mdcoalition.org

or call 410.730.8267.

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Role of School Psychologist in ED Determination

The Maryland State Department of Education has released a new report, The Role of the School Psychologist in the Identification of Emotional Disability (ED), to provide guidance and technical assistance for school psychologists in assessing, identifying, providing services and monitoring progress of students with ED.

These guidelines can help form a comprehensive approach for local school systems, parents and IEP team members to gain identification of and appropriate services for children with emotional disabilities. MSDE plans to develop training and professional development activities based on the report's recommendation to ensure school psychologists play a large role in identification and service provision.

Such an approach is necessary for the approximately 7,600 children and youth in Maryland who have been identified as having emotional disability (ED)-more than 7 percent of all students with disabilities receiving special education services in the state. These students have the highest dropout rate of all students, the highest rates of suspension and expulsion of all students with disabilities and the poorest outcomes in terms of academic achievement and secondary transition to higher education and employment. Strengthening the process for identifying students with ED and ensuring the provision of services can help turn these numbers around.

For more information about the report, please call the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services, Family Services and Interagency Branch, 410.767.0858.

Guardianship Handbook Available

The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and the Maryland State Bar Association have collaborated on Guardianship and Its Alternatives: A Handbook on Maryland Law. Click here Guardianship Handbook to view a pdf of the handbook.

In plain, easy-to-understand language, the 88-page handbook covers the various scenarios of guardianship-for example, a child with a lifelong disability about to turn 18, a young adult with mental health issues, an older person with failing capacity. The authors also discuss the alternatives to guardianship, including advance health care directives, designation as representative payee and seeking a durable power of attorney among them.

The goal is to help families and caregivers to provide the necessary support to their family members to ensure their needs are met but that autonomy and independence is also secured. Chapters cover a look at guardianship and its alternatives, determining competency or capacity, guardianship of the person and public guardianship, guardianship of the property, emergency guardianship and where to get help.

Attorney General's Health Education and Advocacy Unit

The Health Education Advocacy Unit of the state attorney general's office provides free help to families with insurance issues.

If you have experienced denial of services, have a billing dispute, have received confusing forms and letters, or are in the process of selecting a new insurance plan, the unit might be able to assist you.

The office also investigates formal complaints on health care-related matters.

For more information and/or to file a complaint online, visit www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/heau.htm; you can also reach the unit at 410.528.1840 or toll free in Maryland 1.877.261.8807.

Facebook Takes Suicide Prevention Steps

In partnership with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the popular social networking site Facebook has announced a new service attempting to prevent suicides across North America.

The service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment posted by a friend using either the Report Suicidal Content link www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=suicidal_content or the links found throughout the site. The poster of the comment immediately will receive an e-mail from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.TALK (8255) or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat with a crisis worker.

The project is collaboration among the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Facebook.

Youth suicide-attempted and completed-remains a difficult issue in the United States. A recent survey by University of Washington researchers has found that, while about one of nine youths attempt suicide by the time they graduate from high school, nearly 40 percent of those who said they had tried suicide reported their first attempt was before they entered high school. The study was published in the November 2011 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Health Care Conference Calls

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department Partnership Center is hosting a series of interactive conference calls discussing the benefits and provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the new health care reform law.

All calls are open to the public and include a question-and-answer session with HHS staff; you also may submit questions you would like to have answered on the calls via e-mail to ACA101@hhs.gov.

To participate in a conference call, please select your preferred date from the list below and submit the necessary information. Dial-in information will be made available the day before each call. PowerPoint slides for the ACA 101 calls can be found by visiting www.hhs.gov/partnerships (under "Tools and Resources"). PowerPoint slides for the Behavioral Health conference call will be provided the day before each call.

Jan. 24, 2 p.m. EST - Affordable Care Act 101 (in Spanish)

Jan. 31, 12:30 p.m. EST - Affordable Care Act 101

Feb. 2, 12:30 p.m. EST - Affordable Care Act and Behavioral Health

Feb. 28, 2 p.m. EST - Affordable Care Act 101 (in Spanish)

The Partnership Center also is hosting a series of conference call tours of the HealthCare.gov website, in both English and Spanish. The calls will discuss the website's tools to help consumers find the best insurance plan to meet their unique needs, understand key provisions of the new health care law and when they go into effect, access resources for preventive care, and more. E-mail ACA101@hhs.gov for more information on the conference calls.

Family Leadership Institute

MCF's annual Family Leadership Institute is slated to run six weekends from March 2 to May 12, 2012, in Columbia, Md.

Parents and caregivers of children with behavioral challenges are invited to apply for FLI to learn about leadership, collaboration and advocacy. Throughout the spring, FLI-ers will meet with representatives of state agencies, allied groups, education and legal organizations and support each other as participants learn how to help their children, their families and their communities.

Applications are available by visiting www.mdcoalition.org and are due right away. For more information, contact Carol Allenza at 410.730.8267 or MDFLI@mdcoalition.org.

Upcoming Events

Navigating Social Security Benefits Webinar-Jan. 23, 2012, 12 noon-1 p.m. Another part of the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Adolescent Transition Lecture series, this webinar will discuss the rules and regulations pertaining to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), along with the Social Security Administration's work incentives to promote employment. To register and for more information, contact Resource Finder at 1.800.390.3371 or 443.923.2790 or e-mail resourcefinder@kennedykrieger.org.

12th Annual Children's Mental Health Day in Annapolis-Jan. 24, 2012, 8:45 a.m. Please visit www.mdcoalition.org for more information.

Child & Adolescent Needs & Strengths (CANS) Training-Jan. 26, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. With successful completion of this training, participants will be able to rate items on the Child & Adolescent Needs & Strengths (CANS) measure reliably and have the foundation for utilizing this measure in their work. A certification test will be administered at the end of the session. CEUs are available for social workers. Click here to register; for more information, call 410.706.0961 or e-mail innovations@psych.umaryland.edu. UMB SMC Campus Center, 620 West Lombard St., Room 349, Baltimore.

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