The President’s New Freedom Commission report, released in 2003, called for "transforming mental health care in America." The report called for action on six goals:
- Americans understand that mental health is essential to overall health;
- Mental health care is consumer and family-driven;
- Disparities in mental health services are eliminated;
- Early mental health screening, assessment and referral to services are common practice;
- Excellent mental health care is delivered and research is accelerated; and
- Technology is used to access mental health care and information.
Building on the report, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded grants to seven states to “transform” mental health care across the life span, from early childhood to aging adults.
Last fall, Maryland was notified that it was one of the seven states to receive the five-year grant. Maryland’s grant application places a great deal of emphasis on children and youth with mental health needs. The grant is just getting under way and committees will be forming and focus groups will be held to get input from families and youth. We will keep you up to date on this major initiative in Maryland and ways that you can participate in the process.
—Jane A. Walker
Executive Director
Get Involved in Special Education!
One good way to keep up to date with educational happenings in your county is to get active in your local Special Education Citizens’ Advisory Committee (SECAC).
Regulations adopted by the Maryland State Department of Education in September 2004 require each school system to have such a committee to facilitate a partnership between parents, service providers, educators, administrators and the community to work together on issues involving the delivery of special education services and the achievement of students with disabilities.
Maryland students also benefit from the Special Education State Advisory Committee, which fulfills the SECAC role at the statewide level.
SECACs may review special education practices and offer suggestions for improvements; survey needs of parents of students with disabilities to help shape budget and policy priorities; offer testimony on budget and other issues before county school boards and county councils; and help evaluate the local school system’s staffing plan.
Attending SECAC meetings regularly also offers a parent the opportunity to get to know key school system personnel and to gain a greater understanding of how the system works—and doesn’t work. SECAC meetings are full of parents who understand what you’re going through and can offer practical advice on certain situations as well!
Visit http://family-networks.org/secac.cfm#contacts for information on how to get in touch with the SECAC in your county.
Support is Just a Click Away
It’s tough to raise a child with a disability—and make ends meet, take care of the needs of other family members and yourself, stay current on the latest news regarding your child’s disorder, keep friends, get dinner on the table, etc.
Many parents able to break away for a couple hours to attend support group meetings find the experience well worth it. “What a relief not to have to explain the ‘alphabet soup’ of his diagnoses!” is a common refrain. Fellowship, information-sharing, guest speakers and training sessions are all part of the support group experience.
Visit http://www.mdcoalition.org/supportgroups.htm for contact information on groups in your area. NOTE: The listing of support groups is provided as a service of The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health. A listing on this page should not be considered an endorsement by the Coalition. Please call the numbers listed for the group(s) in advance as times and locations often change.
Good Conflict Resolution
Conflict is inevitable for all of us—at home, in school, on the job or in the community. It produces stress, creates hurt feelings and disrupts our daily activities. Because it’s part of life, we do ourselves and our children a favor when we learn to manage conflict.
Good stress management helps our children express their feelings in ways that lead to better decisions and better relationships. Parents can teach children how to work through conflict by doing a good job of it themselves. The following quiz can demonstrate what kind of conflict-solving example you’re setting at home. Answer “yes” or “no”:
- I try to live by the “Golden Rule,” doing to others (including my children) as I would have them do to me. My actions show my child “this is the way we treat one another, mad or not.”
- I keep the lid on hurtful anger. When I say things like, “You are so stupid!,” my child may learn to deal with his own anger and conflicts in the same way, by lashing out and saying hurtful things.
- When I am angry with my children, I stay as calm as possible. I state my anger in a firm voice, without yelling, reminding my child of family rules and how I feel about what he has done.
- I don’t duck tough issues. Discussing problems as soon as they start shows my child how to keep them from exploding into bigger problems.
- I admit it when I am wrong. When I can admit error, my child learns he can, too. It teaches that part of life is taking responsibility for what you say and do. It stops many conflicts.
How did you score? Four or five “yes” answers is very good. Three is average. Less than three “yes” answers? Use ideas from the quiz to set a better example for your child on how to resolve conflicts.
Around the State
The Coalition has been hard at work around Maryland:
- On March 1, 2006, the Coalition took over responsibility for the family support component of the Baltimore City wraparound initiative. Some 140 children are expected to come into the project by June 30, 2006. Staff hiring is ongoing.
- A curriculum for Family Partners in wraparound and one for Family Navigators for local access plans have been developed; trainings on the new curricula will be conducted this year around the state.
- A report on children’s mental health needs in Southern Maryland has been submitted to area Local Management Boards.
Looking for Summer Camps?
It's crunch time for parents in setting up summer schedules. That's a trickier process for parents of children with disabilities, but the right fit can make for a rewarding experience and memories for a lifetime.
Check out these websites for information on camps for your youngsters:
Upcoming Events
- Mental Hygiene Administration Conference—May 9–10.
- Children's Mental Health Conference sponsored by the Mental Hygiene Administration—May 25.
- 2006 Youth Leadership Weekend—June.
