To date, we have received more than 1,000 responses to our survey on changing the special education term, "emotional disturbance." To be sure, we struck a chord with this survey and will be sending out a full report at a later date.
Some of the comments we received touched our hearts. One mother wrote, "I cringe whenever I review my son's IEP. He had a bout of 'major clinical depression' last fall and was hospitalized and missed two weeks of school. He was 9 at the time. He was never psychotic or a behavior problem. Because he needed a little 'slack' on his academic workload while he recovered, an IEP (Service Plan) was initiated and he's been 'labeled' emotionally disturbed. What kind of picture do you think that paints for a teacher who's never met my son?"
About 50 percent of the responses have come from educators; 23 percent from family members and 24 percent from mental health clinicians, with advocates and youth accounting for a very small percent. We would like to increase the number of responses from youth and ask teachers to encourage their students in special education to complete the survey and parents whose children may be coded 06 to encourage your children to complete the survey.
We hope the school year has gotten off to a good start for all!
- Jane A. Walker
Executive Director
Students with Emotional Disturbance Survey
The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health, the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration are seeking input from parents, caregivers, educators, student service professionals, clinicians, advocates and others to determine what term Maryland should use in place of "emotional disturbance" (ED) for students coded 06 in special education. Please complete the two-question survey by clicking on the link below. Your opinion counts!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=XybhVO6yJKJ6Jqr1mkHZUA_3d_3d
Families of Transitioning Youth
The Coalition is offering a six-week course, "Navigating the Transition Years: Help for families of young adults with mental health needs," developed in response to family feedback concerning the need for coordinated information on services and supports. Topics will include education and employment options, services available through the Division of Rehabilitative Services (DORS), health care coverage, housing and community life, benefits programs and changing roles and legal rights. The course is for caregivers of youth who will be graduating or completing their GED in 2009 or 2010, and who have an IEP disability code of 06, currently "emotional disturbance." The course will be held on Monday evenings from Oct. 20–Nov. 24 from 7–9 p.m. at the Howard County Mental Health Authority in Columbia . For more information, contact Ann Geddes at ageddes@mdcoalition.org or 410.730.8267.
Looking for Board Members
We need your time and talents! Our Nominating Committee is looking for family members interested in serving on the Coalition's Board of Directors. Meetings are held on Wednesday mornings at the Coalition's central office in Columbia. The board meets from 9:30–11:30 a.m. six times a year. Responsibilities of board members include guiding the Coalition's program and policy decisions, approving budgets, ensuring financial stability of the organization and planning for the future. Expertise in law, finance, public relations and resource development are particularly appreciated. The two-year term begins in November. Please contact Coalition Executive Director Jane Walker if you would like more information at 410.730.8267 or jwalker@mdcoalition.org.
Designate the Coalition in the Maryland Charity Campaign
Each year, the Coalition provides one-to-one support to hundreds of families across Maryland, helping them navigate complex systems in order to access appropriate services for their child and family—that's the heart of our work. We also tackle such tough issues as transition-age youth, custody relinquishment, youth with mental health needs in the juvenile justice system and more. Working to change the term "emotionally disturbed" in special education is just one example of how we bring the voices of families into policy-making and decision-making roles.
If you are a state employee, you can support the Coalition through the Maryland Charity Campaign. Eligible employees can designate the Coalition as a recipient of their charitable contributions by selecting designation code 1105. The campaign has just begun and continues through Dec. 19.
You also can support the Coalition through the United Way by designating your contribution to the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health. If you have questions about donating to the Coalition, contact us at 410.730.8267 or info@mdcoalition.org.
We thank you in advance for your support!
P.S.— SAVE THE DATE –The Coalition's annual luncheon will be held on Dec. 5, 2008, at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City. Details to follow.
Maryland Disability Law Center : A Resource for Families
Located in Baltimore, MDLC is Maryland's designated protection and advocacy agency for the rights of persons with disabilities. MDLC is a nonprofit organization whose staff includes approximately 20 attorneys and paralegals with the expertise to provide legal assistance to persons with all types of disabilities living anywhere in Maryland.
MDLC's services include a daily telephone intake line for callers to seek information, referral, advice or legal representation; outreach and training on such subjects as special education, Medical Assistance and voting; technical assistance and advice on individual matters; direct legal representation in individual cases or in larger-impact litigation in priority areas set by the organization; and advocacy to address systemic problems impacting persons with disabilities, including legislative advocacy. All of MDLC's services are free.
People seeking legal assistance or advice should contact MDLC's general intake line Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (or for education-related matters, Monday, Tuesday or Thursday) by calling 410.727.6352 or 1.800.233.7201, pressing 0 and asking for intake or education intake. While MDLC cannot represent persons without disabilities, MDLC can provide information and advice about many situations faced by parents of children with mental health diagnoses and, in priority areas, can be retained by parents to provide legal representation to the child, provided both the child and the parent want this assistance.
In the education area, MDLC engages in a number of projects that affect children with mental health issues. For example, MDLC represents children who have been placed in restraints or seclusion in school and works on restraint/seclusion policy issues. MDLC also has a discipline project, representing students who have been suspended or expelled, as well as advocating for reform of school discipline policies statewide. MDLC engages in policy advocacy to ensure that students with disabilities have as many opportunities as possible to graduate with a high school diploma.
In addition to education work, MDLC's current children's mental health work includes the rights of children in psychiatric residential treatment centers, Voluntary Placement Agreements, expansion of access to evidence-based practices for children involved with the Department of Juvenile Services, rights of children on Medical Assistance to access community-based mental health services, and the rights of children stuck in psychiatric hospitals or other facilities to access the services they need to be discharged. MDLC also handles cases related to the rights of children with intellectual disabilities, autism and other developmental disabilities on Medical Assistance to access health care and other support services.
MDLC's website at www.mdlclaw.org includes helpful information about its work and a number of free publications. For more information, contact Cathy Surace , managing attorney for children's mental health work, at cathys@mdlclaw.org, or Leslie Seid Margolis, the managing attorney for education work, at lesliem@mdlclaw.org.
A Helping Hand for Heading Back to School
As the commercial for an office supply chain proclaims, September can be the most wonderful time of the year. While it's exciting to make a fresh start, sometimes in a new school, it also can be difficult for kids of all ages and abilities. Peer pressure, bullying, anxieties and transitions all can be pitfalls in the classroom.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has information on Attention Deficit Disorder, beating the back-to-school blues and many other issues related to the annual return to the classroom. Check out the family guide by visiting www.family.samhsa.gov/set/septemberbacktoschool.aspx.
Suicide Prevention Week and Day
According to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 14 percent of youths ages 12–17—about 3.5 million youths—had experienced at least one major depressive episode in their lifetime. An estimated 712,000 of those youths had tried to kill themselves during their worst or most recent major depressive episode.
In Maryland and in the United States, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people ages 10–24.
Each year, the nation marks suicide prevention week in September. In 2008, National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 7–13, and National Suicide Prevention Day is Sept. 10.
If you or someone you know is in suicidal crisis, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service, at 1.800.273.TALK (8255).
Healthy Minds Across America
NARSAD, the world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research, is holding a day of public forums across the country to highlight the progress and promise of mental health research.
"Healthy Minds Across America" will be held on Sept. 14 in 48 locations nationwide. In Maryland , the free seminar will be held at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Maple and Locust Streets, Spring Grove Hospital Center, Catonsville, from 2–5 p.m.
Topics to be discussed include "New Directions in the Pharmacological Treatment of Schizophrenia," "Co-occurring Disorders: Vulnerability and Treatment" and "Seasonality of Depression and Suicide."
The forum is open to the public, but reservations are recommended. RSVP to healthyminds@narsad.org or call 800.829.8289 or 516.829.0091.
Youth Sought to Aid Computer Program Development
The Oregon Center for Applied Science (ORCAS) is a public health research company that makes computer programs to help people improve their lives. The company is developing a computer program designed to prevent depression in at-risk youth ages 11–15, and is looking for 300 adolescents in grades 6 through 9 to help evaluate the program during the 2008–2009 school year. Youth who participate will be compensated up to $120 for their time. They also will have the unique opportunity to learn new skills to help them feel better more of the time while helping develop a program to meet the needs of others their age. For further information about the project, please contact Kelly Whitehouse at 541.349.4837 or Nicole Holt at 541.349.4873, or e-mail bluesblaster@orcasinc.com.
Upcoming Events
Special Education Community Forums—Sept. 27, 7–8 p.m., Baltimore County elementary schools. Community input sought regarding the Baltimore County Public Schools Special Education Staffing Plan for 2008–2009, as well as other issues regarding special education in BCPS. Forums will be held at Charlesmont Elementary, 7800 W. Collingham Drive, Baltimore; Church Lane Elementary, 3820 Fernside Road , Randallstown; Dogwood Elementary, 7215 Dogwood Road, Baltimore; Joppa View Elementary, 8727 Honeygo Blvd., Perry Hall; and Padonia International Elementary, 9834 Greenside Drive , Cockeysville . Written comment also accepted through February 2008 by sending an e-mail to staffingplan@bcps.org or by sending to BCPS, Office of Special Education, 6901 Charles St., Towson , MD 21204. View the staffing plan at http://www.bcps.org/offices/special_ed/staffing-plan.html .
Suicide Prevention Conference—Oct. 8 , Martin's West, Baltimore. Theme is "Building a Culture of Hope." Cost is $90; registration deadline is Sept. 30 and may be done online by visiting www.regonline.com/mdsuicideconf. For additional information, contact Henry Westray Jr., the conference chair, at westrayh@dhmh.state.md.us.
11th Annual Respite Awareness Conference—Oct. 27, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Maritime Institute Conference Center, Linthicum Heights, MD. Theme is "Respite: Center Stage." Registration is required; financial assistance is available for family caregivers. For more information, contact Michelle Hart at 240.453.9585.
