The 2020 legislative session ended three weeks early on March 18, due to COVID 19. Due to the shortened session, legislators focused on priority legislation, and many bills did not receive a vote. MCF has delayed publishing a legislative summary as we were waiting to see if Governor Hogan would veto a key piece of legislation related to the provision of behavioral healt ..

When you have a child with behavioral health challenges, maintaining a productive and peaceful routine while the whole family is at home together can seem like an impossible goal. As we head into summer, DeVaki Leonard, MCF’s Family Leadership Assistant, shares her tips for making daily life less stressful and more joyful. Establish a positive morning routine. Start the  ..

Taking Flight is MCF's statewide program for youth ages 18-26, led by four young women who use their personal experience with behavioral health challenges to help others. They provide informal peer support and connection, work to break through stigma, and advocate for positive system changes. “I often say that I wish I had a group like Taking Flight to turn to when I wa ..

A Memoriam by Jane Plapinger The MCF family is deeply saddened at the tragic passing on May 23 of Ginger Rosela, our beloved and much-admired colleague. Ginger was a Family Peer Support Specialist, and one of five substance use family advocates who helped establish MCF’s Substance Use Family Navigation Program four years ago. Everyone who knew Ginger was touched by her  ..

On March 30th the Maryland State Department of Education issued guidance on the provision of special education services during school closure owing to COVID-19. The guidelines state: Schools should contact families with a child on an IEP to arrange a plan for services during school closure Schools still need to provide a Free, Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to stu ..

Families that struggle with substance use disorder are experiencing unique and increased challenges caused by the COVID-19 public health crisis. An additional concern is that the resources usually available to support these families are not accessible in the same way now. There are, however, many highly effective online and remote alternatives to receive support. Maryla ..

With parents and kids working and learning remotely, screen time is on the rise and many parents have relaxed the usual limits on activities like online gaming and using communication apps. But during this time of parental multitasking, how can we protect our children from dangerous or inappropriate content, or even from developing an online gambling problem? For starte ..

Frequent contact with others who are in recovery is a cornerstone of 12 step programs. Together people provide mutual support in order to maintain their recovery. Yet currently the CDC has recommended cancelling all gatherings of 10 or more people, and Governor Hogan announced that the state will prosecute gatherings of 10 or more people. In the midst of this guidance, most ..

The Maryland Health Connection starts a new Special Enrollment Period open to uninsured Marylanders who need health coverage during the State of Emergency for Coronavirus (COVID-19). Visit MarylandHealthConnection.gov (https://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/) or download the free “Enroll MHC” mobile app. Request or select “Coronavirus Emergency Special Enrollment Period.” ..

If you care about someone struggling with substance use disorder, it’s important to understand how professionals in the field consider various treatment options and how they make decisions about their recommendations. This article offers information on The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM) standardized criteria for assessing the treatment needs of individuals  ..