Ask any family who has come to our day in Annapolis and they will tell you several things. They will admit that it was scary at first when they entered their legislator’s office in the Senate or House office buildings. They also will say they quickly relaxed and found it empowering to sit with their legislator or a staffer and tell them the challenges they face every day caring for their child with mental health needs. Lastly, they will say they learned a great deal and had a great time in the process.
I hope you can join us for our 7th annual event that brings the voices of families caring for children with mental health needs to the halls of Annapolis. To learn more, read the article below and mark your calendar for February 6.
See you there!
—Jane A. Walker
Executive Director
Day in Annapolis
It’s time once again for the Coalition’s annual Family Day in Annapolis for Children’s Mental Health—set this year for Tuesday, Feb. 6. We’ll gather at 9 a.m. in Room 1 West of the Miller Senate Office Building at 11 Bladen St. Please allow at least 15 minutes to get through security to enter the Miller building—you’ll have to go through security each time you enter a building throughout the day.
We’ll begin with a briefing to update everyone on legislation that could impact services for our children with mental health needs. The day continues with visits to your legislators to share your stories and ways in which lawmakers can make a difference. This is an opportunity for families to personally communicate with legislators and their staff about our children’s needs and the needs in our communities. In past years, family members have made up their own fliers featuring their children’s pictures, left business cards with contact information and used several other ways to personalize the day and make the issues real for lawmakers and their staff members.
Please consider joining us on this important day! You can register at www.mdcoalition.org. Carpools are being organized from Baltimore City, Howard County, Montgomery County, Southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland. Please check the Coalition website for details or call the Coalition office at 410.730.8267 or toll free at 1.888.607.3637.
Please start making your phone calls now for appointments with your individual legislators. If time with your lawmaker isn’t available, please ask for an appointment with key staff—we want to make sure our message is delivered, and a representative’s key assistant can be our best ally. If you are unsure who is representing you in Annapolis, please visit http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/ and plug your information into the form. You can find contact information for your lawmakers by clicking on their names at left.
We will provide you with handouts to leave at each appointment and give you an overview of what to expect when we see you that morning. But we know that you will be an effective representative for the needs of Maryland’s children simply because of your experiences.
Alphabet Soup
There are many community-based groups that can help families get the services they need for their children with mental health issues. Navigating through the various groups can be a bit like working through a can of alphabet soup. Here’s a brief guide to help define some of these groups:
CSA
CSA stands for Core Service Agency. CSAs are the local mental health authorities responsible for planning, managing and monitoring public mental health services at the local level. Many CSAs have specialists that coordinate services for children and adolescents in the public mental health system. Each jurisdiction has a CSA except for the Mid Shore, where one CSA serves five counties. CSAs may be private, nonprofit organizations or a part of county government. They may be called by a name other than CSA. Some jurisdictions call their CSA the Mental Health Authority. You can find the CSA in your jurisdiction by visiting http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/mha/csa.htm.
LMB
LMB stands for Local Management Board. LMBs are charged with conducting needs assessments and setting priorities for children in their jurisdictions. Each county and Baltimore City has a Local Management Board. LMBs may be called by a different name and may be a part of county government or a private, nonprofit organization. Every LMB is required to have a board or advisory board that includes family members, representatives of local child-serving agencies, local child providers and community representatives. Together they work to ensure implementation of services in their communities to address priorities. LMBs also have some limited flexible funding to serve families whose children may be at risk of out-of-home placement because of the severity of the child’s needs. To find the LMB in your jurisdiction, go to http://www.goc.state.md.us. and click on “Contact List” under Local Management Boards on the right-hand column.
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.
Tips for Successful Meetings
In the course of advocating for your child, you may find yourself in many meetings—with LCC staff, for educational placement, with mental health professionals. Here are a couple ideas to help reach the most successful outcome possible for your child:
• Trust in your abilities—you know your child better than anyone else. Present a polished appearance through appropriate dress and carry yourself with confidence. Be prompt, introduce yourself and make and maintain eye contact.
• Bring a friend, family member or another parent for support. If appropriate, as in the case of an LCC meeting, invite professionals who know your child, such as a psychologist or therapist.
• Sit with team members, between those with power—you are part of the decision-making process, it’s not a you-vs.-them situation.
• Be as specific as possible in discussing your child’s needs and abilities—be positive, and be clear.
• Stay on topic and stick with the issue or issues at hand.
• Remain as friendly as possible and seek to understand other viewpoints—you are willing to work together, as a team, to reach solutions.
• Ask questions.
• Be flexible enough to accept minor revisions, but be firm on what you consider to be the major issues.
• Take notes and keep track of letters, phone calls, e-mails and all contacts.
• Follow up on the meeting; if things aren’t working, point it out and, if necessary, ask for another meeting.
Most parents find a filing system helpful in keeping things straight. It should include your child’s medical and educational records, your notes, and any communications. You could have one large file or keep a file in each area—medical, educational/elementary, educational/secondary, transition, etc. A bonus in keeping a filing system is that everything will be in one place when it’s time to prepare for the next meeting!
A Last Look at 2006
The Coalition has many challenges this year as the state welcomes a new governor and new legislature and we grow to continue helping families throughout Maryland. Here’s a look at some of the highlights of 2006, a year of new programs, new places and new people:
• Supported 153 families caring for children’s mental health needs, attended more than 120 meetings with families at schools, court or social services and responded to 163 requests for information and referral.
• Opened an office in Baltimore City with seven new staff members serving 90 families.
• Organized the sixth annual Day in Annapolis with 35 families attending and held the sixth annual luncheon in December with more than 130 attending.
• Conducted six transition focus groups and held 20 support group sessions at locations across the state.
• Published Navigating the Juvenile Justice System: A Handbook for Families and Listening and Learning from Transition-Age Youth and Their Families.
• Established a training partnership with the University of Maryland Innovations Institute.
• Developed a wraparound curriculum and five other curricula for families to earn a certificate in family support.
• Unveiled the first student poster for Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 8, 2006.
Upcoming Events
• Children’s Mental Health Day in Annapolis, Feb. 6, 2007, Miller Senate Office Building, 9 a.m. Visit www.mdcoalition.org, e-mail info@mdcoalition.org or call 410.730.8267 or 1.888.607.3637 for more information and to register to attend.
