This edition of The Ally arrives in the middle of Mental Illness Awareness Week, and next Sunday is World Mental Health Day. I am thankful for this national and international attention to mental health and hope that you find the resources and information we share helpful. Please also join us on Friday at 10 for our webinar, Mental Illness Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day: Making Things Better for Our Children and Our System. We want to have a thoughtful conversation about supporting our children's mental health as well as working toward a system that is responsive to all of our children.

As parents and caregivers raising children, we know that things going well at school is essential to our children's mental health. The United States Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs recently published a Return to School Roadmap for Students with IEPs. It reviews families' and children's rights related to COVID and school return. It's a helpful document and the good news is - nothing has changed about your child's rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

I'm happy to share with you that Families as Allies very own Henry Moore was recognized as Map Team Coordinator of the quarter by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. Please take a few minutes to read about his work and what MAP teams do, and families - remember - you can refer yourself to a MAP team. They are there for you and your children!

The Parents of Children with Disabilities: Building Partnerships ... Working Together Mississippi Parent Conference is this Thursday, October 7. You can attend virtually or in person. I will be presenting on Supporting Your Child's Mental Health in the afternoon. It's always a delight to see all of you there too. Families as Allies will also have our virtual Drop in Family Support Time on Thursday, October 7 at noon (the conference breaks during this time). Any parent or caregiver raising children is welcome to drop in and share questions, frustrations or victories.

Don't forget the Federation of Families conference is just around the corner! Please register and consider a sponsorship. There has traditionally been a big Mississippi showing at this conference and we don't want this year to be any different. 

 

We are still looking for people to share their stories about how relationships and listening helped them to decide to get the COVID vaccine. Please contact us at [email protected] or call us at 601-355-0915 if you have a story to tell. 

There's lots of good things going on - I look forward to doing them together!

- Joy