A wonderful thing happened the other day. A mother who called the Coalition several years ago came back to see us to tell us that her son, now in his 20s, was doing very well. He had been employed in the same job for more than a year. He had a girlfriend and other friends he socialized with. He still lived at home, but he was saving money to move out.
When the mother first called our office, she was distraught because her teenage son would not leave his room and was not able to go to school. There had been repeated IEP meetings that merely changed the placement, but did not address her son's complex mental health needs. Insurance was a major consideration. Through the skill of several professionals and the work of our advocates, he was able to enter a residential treatment center for a period of time.
As the mother said when she was walking out the door, "He's not like other 20-year-olds, but he is so much better than he had been. I am so grateful." This mother's words convey a message of hope. Sometimes it is hard to keep that in mind when it seems there is no end to the problems and stress.
Wishing you HOPE in 2008!
- Jane A. Walker
Executive Director
See You in Annapolis Feb. 5
You know what your budget is looking like these days—and if you've followed news reports, you know Maryland's legislators will be spending most of their time during the 2008 legislative session trying to balance the state's books.
Budget issues will be at the top of the agenda as well for the Coalition's annual Family Day in Annapolis , planned this year for Feb. 5. We'll kick things off with a briefing in the Miller Senate Office Building , then fan out throughout the House and Senate office buildings visiting legislators on behalf of Maryland 's children and families dealing with mental health issues.
Brian Hepburn, MD, the executive director of the State Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA), and Al Zachik, MD, of MHA's Office of Child and Adolescent Services, will join us in Annapolis. The Senate hearing on the MHA budget currently is slated to be held that day; we encourage all participants who are able to attend that very important budget hearing.
Carpools and vanpools are in the planning stages now from the following areas: Baltimore City, Allegany, Calvert, Howard, Montgomery, St. Mary's, Washington and Wicomico counties, and the Mid-Shore.
Please visit the Coalition's website to register and for more information: www.mdcoalition.org.
Navigators—Helping You Find Your Way
GPS systems have revolutionized how we navigate from place to place and avoid getting lost. Now each Local Management Board in Maryland has Navigators to help families find their way through the maze of services for their children with intensive needs. Each jurisdiction was given the option of how they would provide navigation. Some Navigators are family members who have received training to assist other families; other Navigators are professionals and are referred to as Systems Navigators. Both Family and Systems Navigators provide information, referral and linkage to appropriate services in your community.
The following is a listing of Navigators for each jurisdiction:
| Allegany County |
MD Coalition—The Family Network |
301.777.2005 |
| Anne Arundel County |
The Family Tree |
410.266.5105 |
| Baltimore City |
Families First |
410.662.5500 x286 |
| Baltimore County |
Villa Maria Continuum |
410.252.4700 x265 |
| Calvert County |
ARC of Southern Maryland |
410.535.4461 x112 |
| Caroline County |
MD Coalition of Families |
410.479.1146 |
| Carroll County |
Get Connected Family Resource Center |
410.871.0008 |
| Cecil County |
MD Coalition—The Family Link |
410.620.3221 |
| Charles County |
Family Connection Center |
301.885.1334 |
| Dorchester County |
MD Coalition of Families |
410.479.1146 |
| Frederick County |
Mental Health Association |
301.663.0011 |
| Garrett County |
Partners SysCare |
301.334.1189 |
| Harford County |
MD Coalition of Families |
410.420.9880 |
| Howard County |
MD Coalition of Families |
410.730.8267 |
| Kent County |
MD Coalition of Families |
410.810.2673 |
| Montgomery County |
Federation of Families |
301.681.8929 |
| Prince George's County |
The Family Tree |
301.909.2138 |
| Queen Anne's County |
MD Coalition of Families |
410.479.1146 |
| Somerset County |
Somerset Family Link |
410.623.2906 |
| St. Mary's County |
The Family ACCESS Center |
301.863.6664 |
| Talbot County |
MD Coalition of Families |
410.479.1146 |
| Washington County |
MD Coalition—The Family Network |
240.313.2086 |
| Wicomico County |
Wicomico Partnership for Families |
410.546.5400 |
| Worcester County |
Family Connections |
410.352.5616 |
More Opportunities to Weigh In on DJS Interagency Plan
The Department of Juvenile Services, in partnership with other child-serving agencies, is holding Listening Forums across the state to get input on the needs of families and to make recommendations for an interagency strategic plan. Family input is crucial!
Listening forums are planned from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Easton , Annapolis and Hagerstown (see Upcoming Events below for the exact locations and registration details). Discussion groups tentatively are slated for Baltimore City on Feb. 9, 2008; Wicomico County on Feb. 23; and one conducted in Spanish on March 8, 2008.
The Coalition will keep you informed as additional information about the locations is finalized.
Save the Date—April 28
More than 9,000 Maryland students are identified as emotionally disturbed (ED) through the special education process. Many more students come to school with significant emotional or behavioral problems that affect their learning and ability to even stay in school. Tragically, about one-quarter of all students with ED drop out of school. This is the highest dropout rate of any disability group.
The Maryland State Department of Education will be hosting a forum on students with emotional disturbance on April 28, 2008, at Sheppard Pratt Conference Center in Towson. We will forward more information as it becomes available.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday Lecture Series, The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt, Jan. 23, 2008, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 6501 N. Charles St., Baltimore . An update on mental health issues for medical and mental health professionals and family members. "Evidence-Based Practice, Competencies & the Excellent Clinician," Mark Riddle, MD, director of the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins.
New Directions Waiver Orientation, Jan. 28, 2008, 6 p.m., Hagerstown. Maryland's Developmental Disabilities Administration self-directed services waiver is explored by Catriona Johnson and Edward Willard to help those transitioning into adult services in 2008. Contact Terri for more information and to register at 410.767.5421 or TElliott@dhmh.state.md.us.
8th Annual Family Day in Annapolis , Feb. 5, 2008 , 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health will bring the voice of families concerned about children's mental health to Maryland legislators. Registration required by Jan. 31; please visit www.mdcoalition.org or call 410.730.8267 or 1.888 .607.3637 for more information.
Department of Juvenile Services Interagency Plan Listening Forum, Feb. 5, 2008 , 6:30–8:30 p.m. , Easton High School, 723 Mecklenburg Ave. A light dinner will be available at 6 p.m. Registration DEADLINE is Jan. 28, 2008. Visit http://www.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.asp?s1=46&s2=8649&aid=UOFM to register, or call Mike Tager at 410-706-0961.
Department of Juveniles Services Interagency Plan Listening Forum, Feb. 13, 2008, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Broadneck High School, 1265 Green Holly Drive, Annapolis. A light dinner will be available at 6 p.m. Registration DEADLINE is Feb. 5, 2008. Visit http://www.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.asp?s1=46&s2=8692&aid=UOFM to register, or call Mike Tager at 410-706-0961.
Wednesday Lecture Series, The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt, Feb. 13, 2008, "Chinese Medicine: An Eastern Perspective on Mental Health and Illness,” Steve Kaufman, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. & C.H., acupuncturist.
Department of Juveniles Services Interagency Plan Listening Forum, Feb. 25, 2008, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Otterbein United Methodist Church, 108 E. Franklin St., Hagerstown. A light dinner will be available at 6 p.m. Registration DEADLINE is Feb. 15, 2008. Visit http://www.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.asp?s1=46&s2=8693&aid=UOFM to register or call Mike Tager at 410-706-0961.
Wednesday Lecture Series, The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt, Feb. 27, 2008, "Challenges and Controversies with Pregnancy and Depression," Stephanie Durruthy, MD, psychiatrist in private practice.
