There's good news and bad news to share with you this month. The next line is usually, "Which do you want first, the good news or the bad news?" Let's start with the good news.
Hard to believe, but the Coalition is turning 10! Starting with a three-person office, we have grown by a factor of 10 and now have 30 staff in eight offices across the state. Most importantly, families caring for a child with mental health or behavioral needs now have a voice in the system and a place to turn for support. There are many people at the Mental Hygiene Administration, the Governor's Office for Children, the Maryland State Department of Education, Local Management Boards and Core Service Agencies that believed in the importance of a family and youth voice and have continued to support our work. We are honored and thankful to all for their faith and trust. We are celebrating this milestone with a luncheon on Oct. 30 and warmly invite all to attend. Details are listed below.
Now, for the tough part! The budget cuts are coming fast and furiously. While none of us would want to be in Gov. O'Malley's shoes right now, the bottom line is that the governor makes the final decisions about what gets cut. Mental health and developmental disabilities services have taken hard hits and many families are left without services or support or find themselves on lengthy waiting lists. Advocates for those with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges are asking families to write to the governor and urge him not to make further cuts to vital services for these vulnerable Marylanders.
Additional information on what you can do is described in several articles below. One thing is certain, none of us can sit back and do nothing. The consequences are too great for our children!
- Jane A. Walker
Executive Director
Happy Anniversary Maryland Coalition!
The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month! We've come a long way in our mission to be a voice for families and caregivers. There's oh! so much ground yet to cover to ensure every child struggling with a mental health issue and his or her family/guardian/caregiver has all the knowledge, supports and services they need to live a happy and productive life.
Please join us for our 10th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon under the theme "Dreams Achieved and Yet to Come" on Friday, Oct. 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center in Ellicott City . Knowing the economic strain on everyone this year, we decided to cut the price of our tickets in half from former years. We want all of our families and friends to come and celebrate with us. Tickets are $35 each and are available at www.mdcoalition.org/whatsnew.htm.
Our guest reader will be ABC2 news anchor Mary Beth Marsden, sharing the book Dream by Susan V. Bosak. The Coalition's Family Partnership Award, Youth Award and Jan Yocum dé Caldéron Awards all will be given during the luncheon. We promise a few surprises and many laughs. We'll see you Oct. 30!
State Budget Cuts Are Shredding the Public Mental Health Safety Net
Loss of $45 million and counting puts Marylanders with mental illness at risk
The public mental health system, which serves 100,000 Maryland children and adults every day, has already been cut by more than 5 percent. Four mid-year cuts in the last 12 months totaled $45 million; $30 million of this has come from the cuts approved in July and August. More deep cuts are expected in November.
More than a third of the $45 million has come from community services, significantly reducing access for uninsured Marylanders with serious and persistent mental illnesses. The community budget is being cut at the same time the economic recession has caused enrollment in community mental health services to increase 7 percent to 8 percent each year over the past two years.
Agencies across the state are closing programs and restricting access as never before.
- Nearly 100 layoffs have come from community programs already. Many hundreds more are at risk if the recent pace of cuts continues.
- Service providers already have lost critical dollars through the elimination of inflationary rate adjustments.
- A majority of programs already have had to reduce employee benefits, deny staff salary increases and institute furloughs.
Cutting community services means Maryland taxpayers will pay more. The cuts reduce the very services that prevent the use of more expensive services, such as state hospitals, community hospitals and emergency rooms.
Higher-level community programs that are successful in helping seriously ill children and adults stay out of institutions and take their place in community life have been hit particularly hard. For example, intensive outpatient program services no longer are available to anyone who is not eligible for Medicaid.
There is speculation that more cuts will be coming Nov. 18 and may be even deeper than the previous cuts.
Who Decides How Much to Cut and Where?
Based on information provided by the Department of Budget and Management, the governor determines how much needs to be cut and instructs agencies to submit possible cuts. The governor determines which agencies to cut and how much. The cuts then must be approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works. The Board of Public Works is composed of three individuals—Gov. Martin O’Malley, State Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot. Letters can be addressed to all three members of the Board of Public Works.
Nov. 12 Forum to Discuss Students with Emotional Disturbance
There are approximately 8,300 students in Maryland who have been identified through special education as "Emotionally Disturbed" (ED). These students have the worst outcomes of any students with a disability: the lowest graduation rate, the highest dropout rate and highest suspension rate.
For the past 18 months, the Coalition has been a partner with the Maryland State Department of Education, the Mental Hygiene Administration and the Center on School Mental Health looking at ways to improve outcomes for these students.
On Nov. 12 there will be a Forum on Students with Emotional Disturbance at College Park . Families are welcome to attend as well as classroom teachers, student support personnel, special education directors and non-public school staff.
The upcoming forum is a follow-up to three forums held in Spring 2008. Since that time, an interdisciplinary Steering Committee has been meeting to develop recommendations to improve outcomes for students in special education with emotional disturbance. The Maryland Mental Health Transformation Initiative has supported this yearlong effort and this upcoming forum.
The Forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Maryland Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center . Registration begins at 8 a.m. Directions to the Center can be found on the electronic registration form at http://edforumfall.eventbrite.com/. The deadline for registration is Oct. 30. We encourage you to register early as seating is limited.
The forum will feature a keynote presentation by Lucille Eber, Ed. D., the statewide director of the Illinois PBIS Network, and the agenda will include the Steering Committee recommendations and report. Opportunities for communication, collaboration and connections will be provided to assist participants in sharing their experience in meeting the needs of these children and their families. Should you have any questions, please call or e-mail Karla Saval at 410-767-0858 or ksaval@msde.state.md.us or Cheryl Wells at 410-767-0858 or cwells@msde.state.md.us.
Town Hall Meetings Set on DDA Issues
After budget cuts that went into effect at the beginning of this month will have great impact on people currently receiving services from the Developmental Disabilities Administration and those on DDA's waiting list—and on the community programs providing services.
Specifically, residents may expect reduced rolling access; reduced respite care services; fewer staff for residential and supported living, as well as employment transition; service coordination cuts; and an increased waiting list and time spent on the list.
As of September, there were more than 19,000 individuals on the waiting list for DDA services.
Town meetings have been set around the state to discuss the cuts and their potential impact. Meetings will include the opportunity for families to:
- Meet legislators, state and local officials;
- Network with other families;
- Share your story and ask questions;
- Learn about the End the Wait campaign and ways to help;
- Tell your legislators you expect them to act immediately; and
- Find out more about opportunities to advocate in the community.
For more information, please visit www.endthewaitnow.com.
Remember the Coalition in Your 2010 Pledge
Please help us to continue to serve Maryland families touched by a child's mental health needs. Please designate the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health when you make your 2010 pledge to the United Way , the Maryland Charity Campaign or the Combined Charity Campaign:
- Maryland Charity Campaign: #11970
- United Way Campaign: #12345
Thank you.
National Federation Poster Contest
Children and youth up to age 16 are invited to help raise awareness for children's mental health and reduce stigma by participating in the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health 2009 Poster Contest.
The theme is "Children's mental health matters to us. What matters to you"? Artists are encouraged to create artwork that expresses what matters to them in life.
Artwork must be original work and be submitted with completed release forms by Nov. 16. Winners will be announced during the federation's 20th Anniversary Conference in Washington , D.C. , on Dec. 6. Cash prizes and federation memberships will be awarded.
All details of the contest, including submission guidelines and release forms, may be found at http://ffcmh.org/events/annual-conference/poster-contest/.
Upcoming Events
NAMI 27th Annual Statewide Conference, "Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds"—Oct. 27, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Sheppard Pratt Conference Center, Baltimore. Workshops include co-occurring disorders, bipolar disorder and youth and effective advocacy. For registration and other information, visit http://md.nami.org.
Maryland Access to Justice Commission Listening Event—Oct. 27, 6–8 p.m. Upper Eastern Shore Area, Chesapeake College, Wye Mills. The commission is seeking opinions and feedback from citizens to help it make and implement recommendations to expand access to the state's civil justice system, including juvenile court. Register online at www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc, and find directions as well. There is no cost to attend. Registration is required.
Webinar Wednesday Learning at Lunch Series—Ongoing. Innovations Institute hosts webinar seminars every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, covering such topics as early childhood mental health, trauma and the 1915 waiver. To join a webinar, click here. E nter your name and e-mail address, click "join now" and follow the instructions that appear on your screen. Note: You will need to install the webinar program if you have not already. Please leave 15 minutes to do so before the training. The next webinar, An Introduction to the RTC Waiver, will be held Oct. 28 from 12 noon–1 p.m. It will look at Maryland 's 1915(c) Residential Treatment Center (RTC) Waiver, which provides home- and community-based services to Maryland children and youth, ages 6–21, who require an RTC level of
care. To join the teleconference, call 1.866.850.6679 and use Conference Code: 4107064732. For assistance, contact Mackenzie Oppenheim at moppenhe@psych.umaryland.edu.
What Will Happen to My Child When I'm Gone? Workshop—Oct. 28, 7–9 p.m. Baltimore County Partners for Success workshop focuses on planning for your child's lifelong financial security. ESS Building , Room 114, Greenwood Campus, 6901 Charles St., Baltimore. For information or to register, call 410.887.5443.
Howard County Public Schools Transition Fair—Oct. 29, 6–8 p.m. Information about options for young adults receiving special education services as they attend or graduate/exit school. Families with children 14 and older are encouraged to attend. Wilde Lake High School , 5460 Trumpeter Road , Columbia . For more information, call Dawson Robertson, 410.313.5640.
10th Anniversary Luncheon for the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health—Oct. 30, 11:30–2 p.m. Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center, Ellicott City. For more information, contact the coalition at 410.730.8267 or 1.888.607.3637.
Interactive Parent Workshop: Must Haves for an Effective IEP—Nov. 3, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Presented by The Special Kids Company and a special education attorney. Norbel School, 6135 Old Washington Road, Elkridge. For more information, contact lfrank@specialkidscompany.com.
DDA New Directions Waiver Workshop—Nov. 4, 7–9 p.m. Baltimore County Partners for Success workshop helps families whose children are eligible for DDA funding and who turn 21 in the next two years or who already are receiving supports from a DDA-funded agency explore the New Directions waiver for self-direction of program and supports. ESS Building, Room 114, Greenwood Campus, 6901 Charles St., Baltimore. For information or to register, call 410.887.5443.
Exploring Guardianship Issues Workshop—Nov. 18, 7–9 p.m. Baltimore County Partners for Success workshop answers questions regarding obtaining guardianship for children older than 18 with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities. ESS Building, Room 114, Greenwood Campus, 6901 Charles St., Baltimore. For information or to register, call 410.887.5443.
Maryland Access to Justice Commission Listening Event—Nov. 24, 6–8 p.m. Lower Eastern Shore Area, Wicomico County Library, Salisbury. The commission is seeking opinions and feedback from citizens to help it make and implement recommendations to expand access to the state's civil justice system, including juvenile court. Register online at www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc, and find directions as well. There is no cost to attend. Registration is required.
Maryland Access to Justice Commission Listening Event—Dec. 15, 6–8 p.m. Southern Maryland Area, Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, California. The commission is seeking opinions and feedback from citizens to help it make and implement recommendations to expand access to the state's civil justice system, including juvenile court. Register online at www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc, and find directions as well. There is no cost to attend. Registration is required.
Maryland Access to Justice Commission Listening Event—Jan. 19, 2010, 6–8 p.m. Central Maryland Area, Judiciary Education and Conference Center, Annapolis. The commission is seeking opinions and feedback from citizens to help it make and implement recommendations to expand access to the state's civil justice system, including juvenile court. Register online at www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc , and find directions as well. There is no cost to attend. Registration is required.
