The statewide family voice for families caring for children with mental health needs Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health

The Coalition provides…  One-to-one information, support and advocacy  Family Leadership Institute  Public policy  Research  Publications  Training Services, Supports and Advocacy

 Building a network of information and support for families across Maryland caring for a child with mental health needs in all systems of care  Improving services for children and youth in all systems of care The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health is a family organization dedicated to:

The Statewide Family Voice

MD CARES/Baltimore City Voice for Families MD CARES/Baltimore City Voice for Families MD CARES One-to-one support Focus and support groups Educational programs/training for families School mental health FITT – Family Informed Trauma Treatment Therapeutic Foster Care – Kennedy Krieger

The heart of the Coalition’s work is one-to-one support to families!  Family Advocates  Family Support Partners  Family Navigators

Family Support Partners...  Work with a specific population of families with children referred to the Wraparound Initiative and RTC Waiver in all jurisdictions.

Role of the Family Support Partner  Provide emotional support to the family  Help the family to identify people on the Child and Family Team (CFT)  Support the family in getting their needs met  Work with the family to organize and prepare for meetings so that their voice is heard  Go with the family to meetings, such as at school  Connect the family to information and resources  Offer support groups, educational programs, and family activities

The Family Navigator...  Is a parent or primary caregiver of a child or youth who is or has been involved in multiple child-serving agencies.  Empowers other families caring for children with special needs.  Provides family-to-family support, education, advocacy, coaching, information and referral and follow-up.

Role of the Family Navigator Facilitate families accessing resources by...  Making phone calls to connect families with resources.  Providing guidance in completing forms and applications.  Reviewing documents such as IEP’s or reports.  Empowering families to effectively articulate their concerns and needs.  May include accompanying families to meetings.  Educating families on laws, policies and procedures.

Coalition Staff Members  All 30 Coalition staff are legacy family members.  Staff receive training from U of MD Innovations and are working toward Wrap Certification.  CANS Certification  HIPAA Certification  We emphasize to families that Coalition Staff Members are not therapists or lawyers.  We are FAMILY!

Focus Group with Families Who Have Children in Tx Foster Care Strained relationship with foster family Strength of this relationship was often identified as a major factor in the child’s and family’s progress toward reunification More communication with foster families Stay involved in their child’s life – child will be returning home

Focus Group with Families Who Have Children in Tx Foster Care Concern about how foster families talk about biological families to the child Planning for reunification should begin when the child enters foster care More training should be available for foster families and biological families

The Coalition can help you! For more information about our Baltimore City office, contact the office at: 2701 N. Charles St. 4 th Floor Baltimore MD