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

E-newsletter
Volume 8 Issue 7

September 26 , 2012

Greetings!

I always try to keep this letter on an upbeat note. Not so this month! Stick with me as I try to explain a complex and unfortunate situation affecting our children in Maryland.

On September 29^th, the Children's Mental Health Waiver ends for families whose children are not already in the waiver. This only pertains to the Children's Mental Health Waiver and does not affect any other waiver for children. Needless to say, we are upset that the Children's Mental Health Waiver will no longer be available to families, but we also need to say this is not the state's fault.

To back up a bit, five years ago Maryland applied to federal Medicaid for a pilot initiative called the Medicaid Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) Demonstration Waiver. States could apply for this five-year waiver to serve children who meet the criteria for a Residential Treatment Center placement. Instead of being removed from their home, the waiver allowed children and their families to receive intensive services in their community using a wraparound approach. Maryland was one of nine states selected for the waiver and we were overjoyed!

OK, you're asking why did this have to end and who is to blame? Well, the Demonstration Waiver was a Medicaid five-year pilot and the five years are up on September 29, 2012. The hope (and prayer) has been that Congress would re-authorize the waiver, but that has not happened yet.

Legislation, called the Children's Mental Health Accessibility Act, has been introduced in Congress. This legislation would make the provisions of the waiver available to all states and Maryland would be able to pick up where we left off on September 29^th. Given the elections and the budgetary issues under discussion in Washington, children's mental health is not at the top of anyone's list - except ours!

So, you ask, what is the state doing in the meantime? Well, the long term plan it to submit a state plan amendment (called a 1915i) to federal Medicaid for approval to incorporate wraparound into the state Medicaid plan for children eligible for an RTC. The draft has been written, but has not been submitted to Medicaid - - - yet.

Bottom line - until something happens at the state or federal levels, families caring for a child who meets eligibility criteria for an RTC will most likely need to place their child in an RTC. There are a few exceptions. Wraparound is still available to families who have a child in Juvenile Services or foster care. Also, Baltimore City and the Eastern Shore have federal grants, MD Cares and Rural Cares, that will continue to serve children through wraparound.

All right now, we can't sit back and wait for the wheels of government to turn without making our voices heard. Read below to see what you can do to let our Senators know that we need the legislation to help families care for their child with intensive, complex mental health needs at home and in their community.

Thanks for staying with me through this messy explanation. I promise to make it short and sweet next month.

Hope all the kids are settled back into school.

- Jane A. Walker, Executive Director

jwalker@mdcoalition.org

What You Can Do Now to Help Pass the Children's Mental Health Accessibility Act in Congress!

MCF wants Maryland Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin to sign on as co-sponsors of the Children's Mental Health Accessibility Act. We are collecting letters from families telling legislators their child's story and how the Waiver has or could help their child and family. The letters can be as short or as long as you like. It is your time to have your voice heard in the halls of Congress! In addition to telling your story, be sure to make the following points:

The Children's Mental Health Accessibility Act would help families caring for a child with intensive mental health needs by:

Keeping the Waiver Maryland has had for three years
Giving families choices in caring for their child
Preventing families with private insurance from having to place their child out of their home through a Voluntary Placement (VPA) with Social Services
Strengthening community services for all our children

Address your letters to:

Senator Barbara Mikulski Senator Ben Cardin

503 Hart Senate Office Building 509 Hart Senate Building

Washington D.C 20510 Washington D.C. 20510

Send your letters by mail to:

MCF

Children's Mental Health Accessibility Act Campaign

10632 Little Patuxent Pkwy #234

Columbia, MD 21044

Or email your letters to:
jwalker@mdcoalition.org

We will put your letters together and deliver them to Senators Cardin and Mikulski as well as Senators Grassley and Kerry, so the letters will have a greater impact.

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Child and Youth Resources Featured on Bullying Website

If you haven't visited www.stopbullying.gov recently, check it out! Just in time for the start of the school year, the site has added a new Kids page featuring facts about bullying, strategies to help kids cope with and stop it, videos, quizzes, and games.

In addition, you'll find information on the Stop Bullying Video Challenge. Youth ages 13-18 are invited to create and submit a 30 to 60 second video that focuses on how youth can be more than just a bystander when bullying occurs. The grand prize video will receive a $2,000 cash prize and be featured on the www.stopybullying.gov site. The deadline for entries is October 14, 2012.

Resources for Kinship Care Providers

Kinship care is defined as "the full-time care of a child or children by relatives, members of their Tribe or clan, stepparents, or godparents, or other adults who have a family relationship to the child."* While there are often many benefits to kinship care, including increased stability and maintenance of cultural and family traditions, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Click here to find resources for caregivers and the staff who work with them at the Child Welfare Information Gateway under the Out-of-Home Care/Kinship tab on the left sidebar

Baltimore County Department of Social Services has also produced a Kinship Care Resource Manual. Go to dhr.maryland.gov/ssa/pdfs/kinman.pdf to access the manual. It includes information on financial assistance, legal issues, education, and health care, as well as local community resources and supports.

*Source www/childwelfare.gov/outofhome/kinship/

Youth Guide on Use of Psychotropic Medications Posted by NRCYD

Making Healthy Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care was written specifically for youth in foster care with input from youth and professionals. The guide looks at ways to handle powerful feelings and behaviors and make healthy choices. It includes tips for youth on:

Recognizing you need help
Knowing your rights about your health and who can help you make decisions
Considering your options, including helpful approaches other than medication
Making decisions about how best to stay healthy
Maintaining treatment (taking medication safely and continuing or stopping treatment after leaving foster care)

You can download the guide from the National Resource Center for Youth Development (NRCYD) website.

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Mental Health America Releases Back to Campus Guide

We all know that mental health issues among college-aged students are on the rise. In addition, more students with mental health issues are attending college, thanks to better screening, diagnosis and treatment options. Included in the guide:

How to tell the difference between stressed and depressed
Tips for self-care
Top 10 freshman year issues
Information on how and where to get hel[p

Action Alliance Releases Landmark Suicide Prevention Strategy

On World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th), the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) released the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, a report of the Surgeon General and the Action Alliance. The strategy highlights four immediate priorities to reduce the number of suicides: integrating suicide prevention into health care policies; encouraging the transformation of health care systems to prevent suicide; changing the way the public talks about suicide and suicide prevention; and improving the quality of data on suicidal behaviors to develop increasingly effective prevention efforts. To view or order printed copies of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and other materials, visit www.samhsa.gov/NSSP.

Help for Heating Bills Available

Many people, especially those that rely on government assistance due to a disability, may find themselves needing help with home heating bills as fall and winter approach. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be able to help some individuals and families who meet specific income and other eligibility criteria. Click here for more information on the program and what is needed to apply for assistance.

Upcoming Events

High Noon WebCafe - Fall Schedule:

October 4, Noon - 1 p.m. Irritability, Pediatric Disorder & Server Mood Dysregulation - Kenneth E. Towbin, MD, Chief of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NIMH, and Ellen Leibenluft, MD, Senior Investigator & Chief of Section on Bipolar Spectrum Disorders, NIMH.

October 25, Noon - 1 p.m. Understanding the Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD) - Carmen Lopez-Arvizu, Medical Director, FASD Clinic, Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Bright Lights of Broadway! Sponsored by the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts.Year-long musical theater program for children with communication disorders and social skills needs. Grades 4 - 8. Fall Semester begins 9/22. $185 per semester. St. John's Parish Day School, 9130 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City 20142. Register online at www.CCTArts.com or call 410-381-0700 for more information.

FREE Workshops from Frederick County Public Schools Partners for Success:

October 2, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Understanding Severe Irritability and Bipolar Disorder in Children & Youth. Dr. Towbin of the National Institutes of Mental Health will address common signs and symptoms of severe irritability in children and what parents can do to help a child struggling with irritability and hyper behaviors. Frederick County Health Department, 350 Montevue Lane, Frederick 21703.
October 11, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Preparing Your Teen with Autism for the Real World. Heather Hinkle, MED, will provide parents with practical strategies for providing their teen with self-advocacy, social, higher education and job skills. FCPS Staff Development Center, 44 W. Frederick St., Walkersville 21793.
October 24, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Yoga for Parents of Children with Special Needs. Learn how yoga can reduce stress for both parents and children. Limited space; pre-registration required. FCPS Staff Development Center, 44 W. Frederick St., Walkersville 21793.

To register or for more information, please call 240-236-8744 or 301-600-1617.

32^nd Annual MARFY Conference-Oct. 3-5. Systems Redesign: Private Providers as Change Agents in the System of Care. Topicsinclude reform of child welfare, juvenile justice and children's mental health systems at the national and state levels. Hunt Valley Marriott. Contact Rene Bazel at 410-312-3161 x102 for more information. www.marfy.org.

MRA/DORS Training Conference-Oct. 10-11. For more information on the conference and how to register, contact John Stem at jstem@dors.state.md.us or 410-554-9536. Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel, 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City.

Phone Workshop for Parents-October 11, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Is My Child's IEP Complete?This FREE 1-hour phone workshop will go through each component of an IEP to help you make sure that your child's IEP is ready for the school year. For more information, contact Rochelle Howell at Rochelle@ppmd.org or 410-768-9100, x104.

Pediatric Anxiety Seminar-October 11, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Is Your Child Anxious? What Parents Need to Know. Presenter: Erin D. Berman, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, NIMH. Topics include common signs and symptoms of anxiety in youth, understanding treatment options, and current research in pediatric anxiety at NIMH. JHU, Montgomery County Campus, A&R Building, Room 106/8/10, 9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. Call 301-402-8225 to register.

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference with Pete Wright, Esq. -October 18, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. This one-day program will focus on four areas: Special education law, rights and responsibilities; tests and measurements; SMART IEPs; and an introduction to tactics and strategies for effective advocacy. Sponsored by the Parents' Place of Maryland. The Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring 20910. Fees range from $100-$150. Register online at www.ppmd2.org/Register.html. Contact Suzie Shannon at 410-768-9100 x 108 or suzie@ppmd.org for more information.

14^th Annual Respite Awareness Day Conference-October 24, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Revitalizing Respite. Sponsored by the Maryland Respite Care Coalition. The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute (near BWI airport) 692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum Heights 21090. $60 for caregivers and $125 for professionals. Visit respitecoalition.org for more information and to register.

17^thAnnual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health - October 25-27, Salt Lake City, Utah. This year, the theme of the conference is School Mental Health: Promoting Positive Outcomes for Students, Families, School and Communities. The conference offers outstanding opportunities to learn new skills and knowledge related to practice, research, training, and policy, as well as to network with others invested in school mental health. The Conference is sponsored by the Center for School Mental Health (CSMH) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the IDEA Partnership, funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, sponsored by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. For detailed information on the conference and to register online, visit our website.

12^th Annual Autism Conference-October 25-26. Understanding Autism: Finding Hope, Possibilities, and Solutions.Kennedy Krieger Institute's annual conference for educators, professionals, researchers, families and clinicians covers early identification and intervention, education, employment, communication, social skills, and evidence-based interventions across the lifespan. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Timonium 21093. Register here.

NAMI Maryland 2012 State Conference-October 26-27. Stronger Together: Partners for the Future. Annual conference will feature speakers Dr. Brian Hepburn, Executive Director of the Mental Hygiene Administration, and Charles J. Milligan, Jr. of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt, Towson. CEUs for professionals and special rates for those who need financial assistance are available. Find registration information here.

2012 Maryland Transition Conference-November 17, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Transition Outcomes: From High School to Life Long Learning. Sponsored by the Governor's Interagency Transition Council for Youth with Disabilities. Comfort Inn & Conference Center, Bowie 20716. Contact Rachael Faulkner at rfaulkner@mdod.state.md.us or Sequaya Tasker at Sequaya.Tasker@maryland.gov for more information.

Support Groups

NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore Family Support Groups. For adult relatives of persons with mental illness. Come share wisdom and coping techniques. Call 410-435-2600 for more information. Groups are held:

Every Tuesday, 7-8:30 p.m. at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore 21208, and
Every Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m. at Govans Boundary United Methodist Church, 5210 York Rd. (near Cold Spring), Baltimore 21212.

A Time to Share (Support, Help, and Really Encourage)-October 18, November 15, December 20, 6:30-8:00 p.m. A support group for parents of special needs children, sponsored by FCSP Partners for Success and FCDC Family Support Network. YMCA of Frederick, 1000 N. Market St., Frederick 21701. Call Susan Donoghue-Rick at 240-236-8744 for more information.

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