The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health is keeping up with the times. Instead of the lengthy task of printing and mailing newsletters, we believe we can get information to you, our families, in a more timely fashion with a monthly e-newsletter. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to other families and professionals. We also invite you to send us information or suggestions on topics for upcoming editions. Information should be submitted to info@mdcoalition.org.
We hope you and your family are enjoying the last days of summer.
Jane Walker
Executive Director
Recruiting for Family Leadership Institute 2005
If you have ever been frustrated trying to access services for your child and thought, “No family should have to go through this,” the Coalition's Family Leadership Institute is for you!
Designed to inform, train and empower families to be advocates in their communities and in the state, the Family Leadership Institute, is an intensive program for families caring for a child with mental health needs. Sessions are held on six weekends from January through May. Prominent speakers, policy-makers and advocates address the class on topics ranging from special education to skills-building. In addition to the knowledge learned, participants develop a network of friendship and support that lasts well beyond the formal Leadership Institute.
You can download an application at the Coalition's website www.mdcoalition.org. Family members across the state are encouraged to apply. Space is limited to 25 participants.
While there is no charge for the program, participants must make a commitment to attend all six sessions. Based on evaluations from last year's class, you wouldn't want to miss a minute!
Education
Please click here to visit the WrightsLaw website for their "Back to School" newsletter published earlier this month!
Medication Update
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
Joint Meeting of the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee
Date and Time: September 13, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and September 14, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn, Versailles Ballrooms, 8120 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD.
Contact Information: Anuja Patel, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (HFD-21), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane (for express delivery, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1093), Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-7001, FAX: 301-827-6776, e-mail: patelA@cder.fda.gov, or FDA Advisory Committee Information Line, 1-800-741-8138 (301-443-0572 in the Washington, DC area), code 3014512544. Please call the Information Line for up-to-date information on this meeting.
Agenda: The Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee will discuss reports of the occurrence of suicidality (both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts) in clinical trials for various antidepressant drugs in pediatric patients with major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders.
Persons attending FDA's advisory committee meetings are advised that the agency is not responsible for providing access to electrical outlets. FDA welcomes the attendance of the public at its advisory committee meetings and will make every effort to accommodate persons with physical disabilities or special needs. If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Anuja Patel at 301-827-7001, at least 7 days in advance of the meeting.
For Your Information
Johns Hopkins recruiting for five studies:
Anxiety Study - Kids get anxious too! Contact: 410.614.4460.
Anxiety Prevention Study – Are you a parent struggling with anxiety? Are you concerned that your child will develop problems with anxiety? Contact: Rachel Grover, Ph.D., 443.287.4349.
Stress and Coping in Families Study – Are you a parent with a healthy child between the ages of 7 and 12? Contact Anu Palapattu, Ph.D., at 410.614.4970.
Bipolar Treatment Program for children and adolescents (ages 6-15) who are struggling with symptoms of bipolar disorder. Contact: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 410.955.8391.
Depression Treatment Program for children (ages 12-18) who are struggling with symptoms of depression and had a suicide attempt within the past 45 days. Contact: Maureen Masarik, MS, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 410.955.8391.
