In the midst of the opioid tragedy, it is important to not lose sight of another common addiction—alcohol. It is estimated that alcohol causes about 88,000 deaths annually and is the third leading preventable cause of death in the US. Because alcohol consumption is legal for those over age 21, we sometimes forget the serious consequences of alcohol abuse. Ther ..

May was National Mental Health Awareness Month and MCF was engaged in a number of activities to raise awareness of the importance of children’s mental health. Each year, in coordination with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, the Mental Health Association of Maryland and Maryland Coalitio ..

by MCF Director of Public Policy Ann Geddes—During the state’s legislative session which ended earlier this month, MCF advocated for behavioral health funding and legislation. Our Director of Public Policy, Ann Geddes, tracked legislation, submitted testimony and supported families to have their voices heard by legislators. Below, see a list of recent bills related to ..

by MCF Director of Public Policy Ann Geddes Some caregivers are upset upon learning that their child is gay or transgender – they may believe that homosexuality and gender non-conformity are wrong, abnormal or harmful. This negative response can manifest itself in a number of ways – caregivers might prohibit their child from having a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, ..

by MCF Program Coordinator - Problem Gambling Nancy Quidas Many teenagers are gambling and, as parents, you may not even know about it. Recent research revealed that approximately 4-5% of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 are struggling with a gambling addiction. Another 10-14% are at risk of developing an addiction, which means they are already showing signs  ..

by MCF Director of Public Policy Ann Geddes The goal of legislative advocacy is to inform and to influence a legislator about their vote on a piece of legislation. Legislators actually do listen to what their constituents have to say and you have more power than you may realize. Legislative advocacy is not difficult, but there are a few things you should know before you ..

by MCF Chief Operating Officer Gail Doerr One of the most encouraging findings to have emerged from the science of happiness is that people take delight in giving to others. In fact, several studies have found that spending money on others brings more happiness than spending on yourself. The research suggests that certain factors need to be in place in order to maximiz ..

by MCF Director of Public Policy Ann Geddes The Department of Health recently released preliminary data for unintentional overdose deaths for the period January through September 2018. During this time there were 1,848 unintentional overdose deaths – an eight percent increase over the same period in 2017. While the number of heroin-related deaths and prescriptio ..

by MCF Director of Public Policy Ann Geddes The Children’s Behavioral Health Coalition, a group of 20 organizations, has established its advocacy platform for 2019, and its first priority is to request more funding from the Kirwan Commission (https://www.acy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ACY-Kirwan-Commission-Info-Sheet-Version-2.pdf) for school-based behavioral healt ..

by MCF Director of Public Policy Ann Geddes You may have seen or read about the Kirwan Commission in the news, but are uncertain about its specifics and how it could impact your family. Here is a brief overview of the origin and focus of this Commission. In 2016 the Maryland Legislature established the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education to make Ma ..