Crisis may be the only predicable thing in the life of a family caring for a child with complex mental health needs. Depending upon the child’s mood or stability, the day may go smoothly or it may erupt into major explosion. Unlike weather reports, one cannot predict what each new day will bring. Therefore, knowing the crisis services available in your community may be the best “homeland security” for a family. The article below lists the contact information for all of the existing mobile crisis teams across the state.
Speaking as someone who has had to call a mobile crisis team, I know how difficult it is to make the call. But, the crisis team was experienced and skilled at managing a situation that I was unable to handle on my own. I am very glad I made the call!
It is truly unfortunate that only nine of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions have mobile crisis teams and many of these operate on limited hours. If your jurisdiction does not have a mobile crisis team, check with your local mental health authority to find out who to call in the event of an emergency. Hopefully, being prepared, you won’t ever need to make that call.
—Jane A. Walker
Executive Director
Legislative Update
Legislators are in full swing in Annapolis and many bills are moving through process. Coalition staff member Ann Geddes testified recently before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on SB 579, a measure on voluntary placement agreements for children with disabilities. The bill would address some of the shortcomings evident with implementation of 2003 legislation seeking to end custody relinquishment as the only means to out-of-home placements.
The Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA) process helps families access such placement while retaining custodies—but too many families aren’t told of the option or learn about it very late in a lengthy undertaking to gain needed services for their children in crisis. SB 579 would ease such situations by empowering judges to make a determination that a VPA should be used instead of a custody relinquishment petition, by ensuring local staff across the state have proper training and knowledge of VPAs and by providing families with immediate access to community support services while their child is awaiting placement.
Other legislative items of interest include:
• HB 100, Health Occupations—Cultural Competency Workgroup, which would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to take steps toward increasing cultural competency among licensed health providers.
• HB 132/SB 149, Maryland Health Care Access Act of 2007, which would require insurers to cover children under a parent’s health plan up to age 25 subject to certain provisions.
• HB 138, Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement, which would establish a task force to study reimbursement rates paid to providers by insurers and to study the impact of reimbursement changes on access to care and quality of care.
• SB 178, Human Resources—Children in Out-of-Home Placements—Visits by Local Departments, which would set parameters for visits to children newly placed by DSS.
• A “Patients’ Bill of Rights” for individuals in facilities.
• Various budget initiatives covering funds for the implementation of the “Residential Treatment Center Demonstration Project,” parity in the availability of respite care for families and mental health care services for the growing Medicaid population.
You can track the progress of legislative measures through their number by visiting http://mlis.state.md.us/#bill.
In Time of Crisis
Mobile Crisis Teams are up and running in nine jurisdictions across Maryland under the auspices of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Special teams of social workers, mental health clinicians and law enforcement personnel are available to help families and individuals in crisis.
The Maryland Crisis Hot Line, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, may be reached at 1-800-422-0009.
LCC
LCC stands for Local Coordinating Council. The LCC is the local body established in each jurisdiction for the purpose of developing and implementing plans of care for residential placement or alternatives for residential placement of children with special needs. LCCs include representatives from each of the child-serving agencies (education, juvenile services, social services, developmental disabilities, core service agency) and also may include a parent from the community and a member of a local parent advocacy group. Generally, a family must be brought to the LCC by a member agency to have their child considered for out-of-home placement. Local Coordinating Councils are administered by the Local Management Boards. To contact the LCC in your area, contact the LMB at http://www.goc.state.md.us.
Some teams go to individual homes, some provide aftercare and assistance in applying for benefits and some counties have crisis centers as well.
Visit www.maps-md.com/forconsumers.htm for more details.
Spotlight on Siblings
Beginning in June 2006, 66 families from 17 states across the country have participated in a research study on sibling resilience. This unique project addresses the needs of children not identified with emotional, behavioral or mental disorders, but who are their sisters and brothers. Thus far, families have shared how their children are doing, the challenges they face and the strengths they have developed.
Please consider joining this study—researchers need a total of 240 families to provide the most useful information to improve family-centered services and better meet the needs of youth and families. A stipend is available to compensate families for their time.
For enrollment information, contact Eylin or Jessica at 1-866-431-7437. For general information about the study, contact Drs. Ryan Kilmer at 704-687-3689 or rpkilmer@email.uncc.edu or Jim Cook at 704-687-4758 or jcook@e-mail.uncc.edu .
Let's Go Camping
It's never too soon to think about how you'll help your child fill those warm days of summer sunshine that surely will come. Washington Parent magazine's summer camp issue is available now—click on http://www.washingtonparent.com/guides/guide-camp.htm .
Upcoming Events
• 2007 Parent Seminar Series, Phillips School , 8920 Whiskey Bottom Road , Laurel . In celebration of its 40th anniversary, Phillips Programs is sponsoring a three-part series of seminars on Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon . The cost is $20 per seminar or $50 for all three seminars; scholarships and child care are available. Preregistration is required; visit www.phillipsprograms.org for a brochure and registration form, call Lindsay Harris at 703-941-8810 or e-mail parent.seminars@phillipsprograms.org for more information.
- March 10, 2007 . Managing and Improving Behaviors: Keys to Child and Adolescent Behavior
- April 14, 2007 . I'm Special, Too! Siblings of Children with Special Needs
- May 5, 2007 . Maintaining Calm Amidst Chaos: Dealing with Power Struggles
• “A Chance to Parent” conference, May 18, Maryland State Fairgrounds, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The Mid-Atlantic Coalition for Supporting Parents with Cognitive Challenges and their families hosts this conference at 2200 York Road , 2nd Floor, Vista Room (between the expo hall and the racetrack). Highlights include speakers from the Marcus Institute and various universities, a parent panel and a legal panel. Register by May 4; $65 fee includes continental breakfast and entrance into the World of Possibilities Disability Expo. Visit http://www.ddamaryland.org/Training/3rdversion.pdf for more information and registration information.
• Child Art Therapy Training Workshop: “Healing Children Through Creativity,” June 4–5, 2007 , Johns Hopkins University , Homewood Campus Conference Center , Baltimore . Focus on children with mental health needs and medical stress. Visit www.paintedchild.com for more information.
• 4th Annual Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference: Connecting Families with Evidence-Based Practice, Practice-Based Evidence and Promising Practices, June 5–6, 2007 , Sheraton Columbia Hotel. Sponsored by the Mental Hygiene Administration, Mental Health Transformation Grant, Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health.
