The Massachusetts Family Voice for
Children's Mental Health
May
 2015

Dear PPAL Friends and Supporters, 
 
 

May is our most important month and this year has been no exception!  The Zakim Bridge has been lit with green lights in Boston, events to raise awareness for children's mental health happened all over the state and our annual conference is bigger and better than ever.   We hope you were at many of the events, wore a green ribbon often and will send us your pictures.   

One of the most exciting and unexpected things to happen was a result of the advocacy of a young adult, Josh Powers.  Josh was inspired by seeing the iconic Zakim Bridge lit up in blue for autism awareness last year.  He wrote the MA Department of Transportation and pitched his idea -- light the bridge in green lights and take another step to combat stigma.  A few glitches did not deter Josh and the bridge is green for May 26, 28 and 29.  Check it out and be inspired.

Honoring the Mental Health month of May, we posted a new blog every week.  The first was written by me and entitled "Don't call me an adult ally, I'm a parent.  Always was, always will be"  and challenges the idea that parents become something other than parents when their child transtions to adulthood.  The second blog, "My parent network - a web of resources"   was written by Meri Viano about her most valuable resource -- a network of parents.  The third weekly post, " Where have all the experts gone?" wonders when we increase the workforce, does it make expertise harder to find ?  Last, a wonderful blog by a youth on his personal experience with residential concludes that " Residential: It will never be home" but has advice on what can make it work better. 

Haven't read them all?  Click on a title to catch up.

We are looking forward to June, to summer and to reflect on what an impact we made together in May.

 

 

Warm Regards,

 

Lisa Lambert, Executive Director

PPAL'S 5TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE & CELEBRATION-May 29, 2015

We're at our conference on Friday, May 29 in Marlboro and we hope we're seeing you there!   The Justice Resource Institute is our title sponsor again this year.  JRI has partnered with PPAL to assist families and is a great resource for families. 

Victoria Costello is our keynote speaker.  She's the science writer behind the Mental Health Mom blog and she is the author of "A Lethal Inheritance:A Mother Uncovers the Science Behind Three Generations of Mental Illness."   She has written extensively about parenting and mental illness.

A full day of workshops is offered for parents, professionals and there's a youth track.  Spanish translators and headsets and ASL interpreters will be available for part of the day including the keynote speaker and part of the workshops in both the morning and afternoon.   For a listing of those workshops click  here .

YOUTH BECOMES ADVOCATE,
LIGHTS ZAKIM BRIDGE IN CMH GREEN

Josh with the Mayor of Malden.
When a youth fights stigma and sees their vision through, they can become a beacon of hope for others.  Josh Powers and his family work with PPAL and he wanted to spread awareness about mental health. So he wrote a letter and persisted in getting it read.

Lisa Lambert was asked to write about what an impact his commitment has made.  Her piece, "Zakim Goes Green For Mental Health" was published on the Mass Health and Human Services Blog an you can read it here.   The City of Malden, Josh's hometown, honored him with a citation and recognition on their Facebook page.

#ItsNotEasyBeingGreen

UNIVERSITY OF PPAL TAKES APPLICATIONS

Our first University of PPAL (UP) training was held at the Cardinal Cushing Center in Braintree on April 30.  It offered an overview of a comprehensive curriculum for navigating the transition from young adult to legal adulthood.  The training is designed primarily for parents and caregivers of transition age youth and young adults.  Attendees learned about transitioning to post-secondary education, the workforce or other employment training, and making informed legal decisions and long-term financial planning.

Similar training sessions have been planned for June 16 at Shriner's Auditorium in Holyoke, MA and on June 23 at Children's Services of Roxbury.  Flyers are being distributed; please email training@ppal.net to register for these upcoming training sessions:
  1. June 16 - Crisis Planning:  Preparing for a Mental Health Crisis
  2. June 16 - Family Engagement Training
  3. June 23 - Empowering Families:  Transition Planning
Youth can also participate in valuable skill-building courses led by other youth through the University of PPAL.  More courses will be added as UP expands in the coming months.

MEET CAROLE BISGROVE - PPAL's FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST FOR TRANSITION AGE 



Lawrence/Merrimack Valley is home to a new support group for parents of transition aged youth led by Carole Bisgrove that offers support and guidance to parents whose children are transitioning to adulthood.

Carole Bisgrove and her husband Mark are the adoptive parents of three children, (two boys and a girl), all of whom are now young adults. She shared, "Through the years, all three children experienced extra challenges; and as parents, we had to learn to navigate and collaborate with the child and adult-serving agencies, services, and support systems." Read entire article here.

PPAL's FAMILY VOICE
HEARD IN JUVENILE JUSTICE

PPAL continues to actualize a professional and personal commitment to bringing the family voice to Juvenile Justice and children's mental health. The Coalition for Juvenile Justice invited PPAL to write a blog about its work promoting family voice. Our own experience and the families we help informed the blog co-written by Executive Director Lisa Lambert and Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships, Meri Viano, which you can read here.
 
PPAL continues to work closely with Police Departments to allow for partnership and education regarding mental health needs.  PPAL will deliver over 100 police pocket guides to Chief of Police and Command Staff through a JDAI connection. Meri Viano thanks  Lyndsey Heffernan, the JDAI detention Reform Specialist, for such a strong partnership.  Copies of t he Police Pocket guide are available through PPAL.  An abbreviated version can be downloaded at PPAL.net.

NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH

 

PPAL's commitment to reach new communities and form alliances is being strengthened by the dynamic energies of Outreach Coordinator Norma P. Mora and Multicultural Outreach Specialist, Hannah Martinez.  They both attended the 4th Annual Conference on Haitian Mental Health at James College, and later in the week, The Intersection of Faith and Addiction Recovery Conference.

Faith-based organizations and a range of public health and addiction prevention, treatment and recovery groups strategized read more...

 
MAY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS ACTIVITIES

 

The Northern Worcester County May Mental Health Awareness Month Kickoff event was called "Breaking the Silence" and was hosted by Senator Jennifer Flanagan at Monty Technical School in Westminster on April 28th.  PPAL Family Integration Specialist Beth Pond attended with Ann Berube.  Beth was also part of the Y.O.U Inc Family Center in Gardner and Harrington Hospital in Southbridge mental health community conversations which answered questions and shared resources, services and supports.  She was joined by Rich Breault, Central MA Area Director for DMH Child and Adolescent Services.

 

PPAL's Anne Sullivan delivered CMH-month materials and other brochures in Spanish to Framingham's Board of Health.  Framingham is the largest town in Massachusetts and its residents reflect a diverse population. Kitty Mahoney, RN, BSN, MS Chief Public Health Nurse appreciated the effort and expressed interest in obtaining materials in other languages, notably Portuguese.

 
ADDICTION + MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS = CO-OCCURING

 

Co-occurring disorders refers to substance use and mental health needs occurring at the same time.  It is estimated that 71% of youth aged 12-25 with substance use disorders also experience mental health disorders.  May is designated as Children's Mental Health Awareness Month and it is important to remember that many youth and young adults also struggle with substance abuse issues.

 

It can be very difficult to navigate the many services available in Massachusetts.  Substance use services are funded by the Department of Public Health, whereas mental health resides under the Department of Mental Health. This can make it difficult to find services for youth, young adults and their families with co-occurring disorders.  PPAL and MOAR (Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery) are currently analyzing the data collected in statewide listening sessions with the objective of creating a strategic plan for Massachusetts. Contact Jessica Childs at jchilds@ppal.net with any questions about co-occurring disorders.

 
YOUTH M.O.V.E. HOSTS ART SHOW, RECEIVES PROCLAMATIONS AND DMH RECOGNITION! 
WORCESTER MAYOR PROCLAIMS CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 2015 and PPAL's Youth M.O.V.E. members rally in support and to thank Mayor Petty and the Worcester City Council for the proclamation. Youth Program Manager Lydia Proulx hopes they hear, "Your support of family and youth voice in mental health is appreciated!"

Pictured at rear: Amber, Britt, Nico, Bella. Pictured in front: Pawel, Chandra, Ryan.

"THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS ART SHOW" 

Volunteers: Jack, Britt, Chandra, Lydia, Ryan, Nico, Pawel; front: Amber, Bella.

Youth MOVE Massachusetts hosted their first ever Art Show in honor of Children's Mental Health Awareness Day on May 7 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Worcester! With over thirty submissions from young artists across the state, it was a wonderful opportunity to come together and continue the conversation around young people's mental health.

- - - - -

DMH held the Young Adult Summit and eighteen Youth MOVE Massachusetts members attended.  The Department of Mental Health Young Adult Summit was held on May 13th in Marlboro, MA. PPAL's Lead Peer Support Specialist, Chandra Watts and Lydia Proulx facilitated a workshop on Leadership and Advocacy Skills 101.  They are very proud to say "At least fifteen of our members were recognized publicly and received Certificates of Appreciation from DMH! We would like to thank DMH Comissioner Joan Mikula and the entire STAY Together team for a wonderful afternoon of connection and education!"

 

Britt, Chandra, Bella and Ryan are just four of the many young adults and Youth MOVE Massachusetts members recognized by DMH on May 13th!

 

Please keep your eye on our Online Google Calendar for upcoming events and group meetings. For automatic HOPE, TEAMA, and YAYA reminders sent directly to you via text or email, please go to www.remind.com/join. Use code ymmHOPE for HOPE Youth Group, ymmTEAMA for TEAMA Speakers Bureau, and ymmYAYA for YAYA Young Adults Group! Your information stays confidential and you can unsubscribe at any time. Your regular messaging fees apply. 

Upcoming YAYA events
HOPE youth group resumes regular meetings Tuesday, 5-6:30pm in June. Ages 13-19. On June 30th, we are welcoming Christine Roa from Work Without Limits to talk about Social Security Benefits, how to apply, what changes when you turn 18, and to answer any questions you might have!
YAYA meets June 4th and 18th, 5-6:30pm! Ages 17+. 
For more info or questions about YAYA, please contact Britt at  BBell@pal.net.
 
FIND TRAINING AND SUPPORT IN JUNE!
DATE
TIME
LOCATION
TOPIC
Friday
May 29
All Day
Best Western - Marlborough, MA
PPAL's 5th Annual Conference/Celebration
Tuesdays, June 2,16 6pm-8pm Lawrence Family Resource Ctr. Lower Lev.
60 Island St. Lawrence 
Transitional Age Youth Parent Support Group
Every Friday 
6pm-8pm
Lynn YMCA
20 Neptune Blvd.
Lynn, MA 
Parent support
Wednesdays, June 3, 17 
6pm-8pm
In Sync Communication Ctr. 1 Beverly Drive, Sterling Transitin Age Youth Parent Support Group
Thursdays, June 4, 18 6pm-8pm
PPAL - Worcester
51 Union Street, Suite 308 
Moving Forward:
Transition Planning 
Thursdays, June 11, 25 5:30p-7:30p
PPAL - Worcester
51 Union Street, Suite 308 
Parent/Caregiver Support Group
Tuesdays, June 2, 16
5:30p-7pm
PPAL/Bellingham Public Library - Children's Program Room 100 Blackstone St.
Parent/Caregiver Support Group
For more information or to register, please email info@ppal.net.
 
In This Issue
Monthly Poll
Click here to participate in our June 2015 poll:
 
What health info do you look for online?
  
Results from last month's poll:
Who is your first call for an assessment?

54.55%
Mobile Crisis
18.18%
Parents like you
9.09%
 Friends/Family
9.09%
Police
 9.09% Clinician

Statewide Meeting
Coming Soon    
Karen Snyder 2

Karen Snyder 

The weather is cooperating and everything has aligned to finally present Court Monitor, Karen Snyder.  from the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI). Many statewide attendees have voiced interest in her presentation so register today and make sure you've got a spot. 

  

Join Us! 

Tuesday, June 9th,
10 a.m. - noon
Networking lunch 
and business meeting 
to follow 
Tatnuck Bookstore
Westboro, MA


 

Special drawing for a $15 gift certificate for Tatnuck  
RSVP: 
 

 

          May Meeting

May 12, 2015 
Representatives from MOAR - Massachusets Organization for Addiction Recovery - spoke at our  May statewide meeting.  MOAR's mission is to organize recovering individuals, families and friends into a collective voice to educate the public about the value of recovery from alcohol and other addictions.
 

Please note: Trainings are limited to family members, family partners, family support specialists, parent coordinators and others in family support roles.   

Contact Us

Parent/Professional Advocacy League 

 

Statewide Office (Boston) 

 

45 Bromfield Street,  

10th Floor 

Boston, MA 02108
 

Toll Free: (866) 815-8122

 

Fax: (617) 542-7832

 

Email: info@ppal.net 

 

Central MA Office

(Worcester) 

 

51 Union Street
Suite 308

Worcester, MA 01608

 

Tel: (508)767-9725

 

Fax: (508)767-9727 

 

Email: info@ppal.net