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

E-newsletter
Volume 8 Issue 3

March 2012

Greetings!

From the Executive Director

Have you noticed that primary elections are in full swing? You may even have heard a few comments about health care reform from some of the candidates.

In spite of some of the national rhetoric, Maryland's Gov. Martin O'Malley is committed to health care reform, which the state is steadily moving to implement by 2014. This may seem like the distant future, but decisions about how it will play out are being made now!

Of particular interest to families caring for a child with behavioral needs is the initiative to begin integrating mental health and substance abuse care and possibly behavioral health care with physical health care. For information regarding behavioral health integration in Maryland, go to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's homepage and click on "Integration Efforts" under "Behavioral Health and Disabilities," or simply visit http://dhmh.maryland.gov/bhd/SitePages/integrationefforts.aspx.

MCF will stay on top of what is happening, keep you informed and let you know when and where to voice your opinion.

In the meantime, enjoy the primaries-Maryland's is April 3-and, it's less than eight months until the election in November!

-Jane A. Walker

Executive Director

Legislative Roundup

The legislative session has three weeks to go and bills are winding their way through the process.

Budget

Of greatest importance is the budget for mental health services. MCF, along with other advocacy groups, has advocated that no further cuts be made by the legislature to the governor's budget. Budget language also was added to require the Mental Hygiene Administration to submit a report on residential treatment centers in Maryland. The report is to include an analysis of how well the current residential treatment center system meets the needs of Maryland's children and any barriers that exist to meet identified unmet needs, and is due Nov. 1, 2012.

Advocates also are seeking a supplemental budget from the governor to sustain mental health services for children and adults. Please call or e-mail the governor and urge him to provide supplemental funding for mental health services:

Gov. Martin O'Malley

410.974.3901

governor@gov.state.md.us

Bills

HB 53-Expands the SSI waiver coverage at community colleges to include certain noncredit courses, including life skills courses. The bill unanimously passed in the House of Delegates and now is waiting to be heard in the Senate.
HB 103 - Provide youth exiting foster care at age 18 with Medicaid coverage until the age of 26. The bill was heard in the House of Delegates, but has yet to be voted on.
HB 567 (SB 329) - Allows family members to take unpaid leave in order to attend parent/teacher meetings, which would include IEP meetings. A House hearing is scheduled for March 21. There is no pending action in the Senate.

MCF supports all of these bills.

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New Publication on Medication for Children

Approximately 75 percent of youth with psychiatric disorders are seen for initial assessment in the office of their primary care provider (PCP)-meaning PCPs are on the front line in the effort to identify, diagnose and treat psychiatric disturbances in youth.

This is just one of many facts presented in a new publication called A Guide for Community Child Serving Agencies on Psychotropic Medications for Children and Adolescents from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

For more information on the guide and other offerings from the academy, visit www.aacap.org.

New Information in Federal Student Aid

The Funding Your Education: The 2012-2013 Guide to Federal Student Aid has information about all federal aid programs available for students planning to attend college; page 6 has information specifically for students with disabilities.

You also can find information about federal student aid programs at www.studentaid.ed.gov. Click here to find information about scholarships and here to learn about available loans.

Moms Sought for New Online Support Group

The Temple University Collaborative has begun an online parenting education and social support group for mothers with a psychiatric disability, part of a national research study testing the effectiveness of such a program.

Topics to be discussed include illness management, child development, stress reduction, parent-child communication and promoting resiliency in your child. This program also involves Internet social support through a listserv, which will be co-moderated by a parent with a psychiatric disability and a mental health professional. This group can connect you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to a community of supportive peers, in your own home or anywhere you can access the Internet!

The collaborative is specifically looking for people who:

Are mothers (over the age of 18) diagnosed with a mental illness (major depression, schizophrenia spectrum disorder or mood disorder);
Currently have primary/ shared custody and are serving as the caretaker for at least one child (natural, adopted or stepchild) under the age of 18;
Have access to a computer and the Internet;
Would consider using the Internet for support and information;
Are U.S. residents; and
Are fluent in English.

Participants will be compensated up to $100 for their participation in this study. For more information about this project, click here or e-mail momsupport@temple.edu. For more information on this study, contact Katy Kaplan at katy.kaplan@temple.edu or 215.204.6779.

Putting a Face on SSI

Like many programs in these difficult budget times, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program for children is at risk. The SSI Coalition for Children and Families, a network of more than 80 organizations working to preserve SSI for low-income children with disabilities, is compiling stories from families whose children receive SSI to help members of Congress understand the program's importance and why it should be preserved.

If you have a child who receives SSI disability benefits, please tell us your story by clicking here: https://clsphila.org/CalendarItem.aspx?id=104.

Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution calling for $1.4 billion in cuts to children's SSI. While these cuts were stopped for the 2012 budget, similar proposals are expected to surface this year. The SSI Coalition is seeking stories to show lawmakers and the media that SSI is a vital lifeline for many families caring for children with challenging conditions.

With the permission of those submitting stories, the SSI Coalition may share your story with media and lawmakers as an example of why SSI is so important. We will share only as much identifying information as you allow. Please indicate your preferences in your submission (e.g., that we use only initials, only first names, or only the state in which your child lives).

If you have questions or would like to get involved with the SSI Coalition, please contact Dominic Holt at 202.467.5730, or dominic@bazelon.org, or Rebecca Vallas at 215.227.2400, or rvallas@clsphila.org.

Transition Survey for Youth with Special Needs

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, through the Office for Genetics and Children with Special Health Care Needs (OGCSHCN) is conducting a survey to find out about the services needed by youth with disabilities as they move toward adulthood.

Questions cover community-based services and key issues affecting the ability of such youth to transition to adult life. Maryland parents/caregivers of youth with special needs who are ages 12-21 are asked to respond to this survey and share it with other parents and caregivers.

Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/3RTJYCT to take the survey, which is being conducted in partnership with The Parents' Place of Maryland, or click here for a hard copy you can fill out and mail.

For more information, contact Meredith Pyle in the OGCSHCN at 410.767.5185 or mpyle@dhmh.state.md.us, or Josie Thomas at The Parents' Place of Maryland at 410.768.9100 or josie@ppmd.org.

Summer Camp Directory

As the flowers and bushes are just coming into bloom, now is the time to make summer plans. The Arc Baltimore has compiled a 77-page director of day and residential camps for children and adults with special needs, vacation opportunities and information on therapeutic riding classes and swimming pools.

Click here to access the directory. Visit www.thearcbaltimore.org for more information.

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Alternatives to Diplomas for Job-Seeking Individuals
with Disabilities

A high school diploma often is listed as a minimum job requirement, but a government agency says employers may need to waive such criteria for applicants with disabilities.

It is legal for employers to require a diploma, but the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionÂ (EEOC) is advising businesses to look further to evaluate the skills of individuals who are unable to complete the requirements of a high school diploma due to a disability.

In a question and answer document from the agency, officials at the EEOC said employers might be required to offer applicants with disabilities an alternate way to prove their readiness for a job, such as work experience at the same or a similar job, or a demonstration of performance of the job's essential functions.

The EEOC offers guidance to employers on how to comply with the law. Recommendations about the handling of high school diploma requirements for applicants with disabilities are rooted in the Americans with Disabilities Act, the agency said.

Blog Highlights Home-School Communications

A new blog from NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, highlights tips for improving communication between families and teachers and other school personnel.

Written by a teacher with nearly 20 years of classroom experience, the blog touches on trouble spots and offers advice for making the crucial home-school connection.

NICHCY offers a variety of blogs on such topics as IEPs, full participation and inclusion, and allows reader comments. Visit http://nichcy.org/blog to read up on all the offerings.

Upcoming Events

Finding Social and Recreational Resources for Your Youth-March 21, 6:30-8 p.m. Part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Life Transition Series, this discussion focuses on recreational opportunities in Anne Arundel County, particularly integrated programs designed for youth of all abilities, and how to determine appropriate activities for your child. Registration is required. For more information or to register, e-mail or call: Michele Dilegge, AACPS, at mdilegge-goldfein@aacps.org or 410.222.5481; Katy Schieman, AACPS, at kschieman@aacps.org or 410.222.3805; or Jessica Dicus, The Arc of the Central Chesapeake Region, at jdicus@thearcccr.org or 410.268.8085. Woods Memorial Church, Fellowship Hall, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Severna Park.

Latino Family Support Consortium-March 22, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Parents' Place of Maryland-sponsored group provides a voice for families, providers and stakeholders serving Latino families of children with special needs. The consortium will seek to connect organizations, groups and agencies to discover and share resources and help improve services. The meeting will be conducted in English; lunch will be provided. Space is limited; please register by contacting Zayli Bocanegra at zayli@ppmd.org or 401.768.9100 ext. 105. The Meeting House, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia.

Disabilities Got Talent-March 25, 1-4 p.m. B'moreAbilities Special Arts Center and CreateAbilities in the Arts seek exceptionally talented and skilled singers, dancers, musicians, writers of short stories and poems, painters and artists with disabilities, ages 15 and older, who desire a career in the arts or just want an arts experience to come show the world your stuff. Winners will be offered an internship for transitional and vocational training in the arts, and will showcase their talents in a June 2012 cabaret performance. Click here for more information and here to register. B'moreAbilities Special Arts Center, 1546 Eastern Blvd., Baltimore.

Navigating a Complex World: Special Education Law, Guardianships and Its Alternatives, and Special Needs Trusts-March 28, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn about critical lifespan issues affecting education and quality of life from four experts. Space is limited; RSVP to Stephanie Sweeney at ssweeney@abilitiesnetwork.org or call 410.828.7700 ext. 1298. Pathfinders for Autism, 303 International Circle, Level T-Conference Room, Hunt Valley.

NAMIWalks Kick-off-March 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is planning walks in more than 80 communities across the nation to raise money and awareness about our country's need for a world-class treatment and recovery system for people with mental illness. The year 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of NAMIWalks. Interested walkers are invited to the kick-off event to receive training, materials, tools and the motivation to build awareness and raise funds. Light refreshments will be served. Click here to register. For more information, call 410.884.8691 or e-mail info@namimd.org. NAMI Montgomery County, 11718 Parklawn Drive, Rockville.

"Giving a Fish a Bath: The Untold Story of the Adolescent Brain," and "Jack's Brain, Jill's Brain: Gender Differences and Why They Matter"-March 30, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Two workshops in one, for those who work with, live with and care for adolescents and young adults, co-sponsored by Salisbury University School of Social Work and Rural CARES. These sessions outline recent findings in how teen brains really work, and look at how brains differ developmentally, structurally and functionally by gender. $50 for professionals/$10 for students/limited number of free admissions for parents/families; registration deadline March 23. Click here for a registration form; for more information, contact Rebecca Lepter at 410.763.6645 or rlepter@ssw.umaryland.edu. Salisbury University, Perdue Hall, Room 156.

NAMIWalks Kick-off-April 4, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is planning walks in more than 80 communities across the nation to raise money and awareness about our country's need for a world-class treatment and recovery system for people with mental illness. The year 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of NAMIWalks. Interested walkers are invited to the kick-off event to receive training, materials, tools and the motivation to build awareness and raise funds. Light refreshments will be served. Click here to register. For more information, call 410.884.8691 or e-mail info@namimd.org. Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, 1500 Union Ave., Suite 2500, Baltimore.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Summit in Western Maryland-April 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Opportunity to meet and network with pediatric primary care practitioners and mental health professionals to address child/adolescent mental health needs. Free; contact Kate Franklin at kate@mdaap.org or 410.828.9526 to register. Spring Hill Suites Hotel, 17280 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown.

Transition Conference for Youth with Special Health Care Needs-April 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free conference for parents and their teens with disabilities or special health care needs, offering information, ready-to-use planning tools and resources for youth, families and providers to ease the health care transition process. Registration deadline April 13. For more information or to register, visit www.ppmd2.org, e-mail Jeanette@ppmd.org or call 410.768.9100 ext. 103. Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, 500 Glen Ave., Salisbury.

How Does Trauma Affect Your Children and Family? High Noon Webcafe April 24, 2012, Noon. Kay Connors, MSW, Project Director, Family Informed Trauma Treatment Center, University of Maryland Founding Campus. All parents and caregivers try to protect their children from experiences that cause trauma, but unfortunately, in today's world this can be difficult to do. Whether on the television, in the schoolyard, or at home, children are likely to be exposed to some level of violence and other kinds of trauma in their early years. However there are many things that parents and families can do to lessen the impact of such experiences. How does trauma affect children? What can parents and families do to lessen the impact of such experiences? Participants will learn about how to recognize trauma responses and symptoms in your children and ways to support coping and trauma recovery for your children, teenagers and your family. Look for information about joining the session in the future. Contact Carol Allenza at callenza@mdcoalition.org for more information.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week-May 6-12.

Transition Conference for Youth with Special Health Care Needs-May 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free conference for parents and their teens with disabilities or special health care needs, offering information, ready-to-use planning tools and resources for youth, families and providers to ease the health care transition process. Registration deadline May 4. For more information or to register, visit www.ppmd2.org, e-mail Jeanette@ppmd.org or call 410.768.9100 ext. 103. Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort, 16071 Lakeview Road NE, Cumberland.

2012 National Transition Conference: College & Careers for Youth with Disabilities-May 30-June 1. Information and support for youth and young adults with disabilities making the transition from school to adult life. Click here for more information; online registration will be available in March. Washington Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, D.C.

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