September
2019
30th Annual Conference News
Join Us for a Pre-Conference Session
We invite conference attendees to join us from 9:00 to 11:30 am on Thursday, November 14th for an update on the National CPSP Competencies Revision Project. During this pre-conference session, we will share final recommendations made to revise the core competencies of the parent peer support workforce, reflecting their work supporting families in the field today.
For the past two years the Federation has been researching and evaluating Parent Peer Support Competencies across the nation. As the field of peer support has matured, it is incumbent upon us to revise the examination questions and protocol to incorporate what we have learned and to reflect the evolution of the field.

The recommendations for changes to the National Core Competencies will be discussed at the pre-conference as well as the process for the roll out. Learn more
about the project prior to attending the session here.
30th Annual Award Nominations
Our 30th Annual Conference Awards Dinner will be a very special event as we recognize individuals and organizations who have made substantial contributions to the field of children's mental health and to children and youth who experience behavioral health challenges and their families. Please take the opportunity to learn about our award categories and to submit your nominations by September 30th.
Keynote Speakers
We are excited to share that Sue Badeau and Mia St. John will join us
 as keynote speakers at the 30th Annual NFFCMH Conference in Phoenix, AZ
on November 14th-16th. Learn more about Sue and Mia below.
Watch the clip of Sue above to hear about her family's adventures which inspired the toolkit she developed to support other parents and families.
Watch the interview above to learn more about Mia and her family's story which led her to become a mental health advocate for all families.
Film Screening
Join Randi Silverman for a screening of "No Letting Go" followed by a Q and A session on the evening of Friday, November 15th. The film is based on Randi's family's journey t o understand and seek help for her son’s mental illness.

Randi is the Founder of the Youth Mental Health Project - a national NFFCMH partner organization.
New Chapter Announcement
We are excited to welcome our newest chapter - Missouri Families 4 Families! MOF4F represents families from across the state by being a voice for families on state and local committees and advocating for all families who have children/youth with mental health needs. They provide education and build awareness with families and communities across the state. We encourage you to contact them to learn more about their services and to welcome them to the NFFCMH family.
Legislation and Advocacy
Get ready for Legislative sessions to begin!
If you haven't already, sign up to receive legislation and advocacy updates, alerts and calls to action beginning next month. In the meantime, find our most recent updates as well as news, tools and resources that can assist in your efforts to represent the voice of children, youth and families on our Legislative and Advocacy web pages .
Submit your state's advocacy and legislative news and updates to our
Legislative Liaison, Michelle Covington, at mcovington@ffcmh.org.
Webinars and Events
Advancing Practice for Permanency and Well-Being
Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2019 Time: 1:00 pm EDT
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 Time: 2:00 - 2:45 pm EDT
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2019 Time: 11:00 - 11:45 am EDT

Come explore the interactive web-based training that helps equip child welfare and mental health professionals with knowledge and skills needed to strengthen families and support child well-being while achieving permanency through adoption or guardianship. We are excited to launch the training nationally on September 30, 2019
and invite you to this informational webinar!
The Best Kind of Discipline: How Behavioral Parent Training
Can Transform Your Home Life
Date: Thursday, September 5, 2019 Time: 1:00 pm EDT

You are at your wit’s end - exhausted by your child’s disruptive, inappropriate and wholly frustrating daily behaviors. Tried-and-true parenting advice doesn’t work, and neither do strangers’ disapproving looks. What actually works for families living with ADHD-related challenges? Behavioral Parent Training (BPT), a well-studied and well-established first-line treatment plan for children with ADHD
with results to match its expert pedigree.
Making the Most Out of Your Baby’s Early Intervention Services
Date: Monday, September 9, 2019 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm EDT

Parents who have concerns about their child's development often feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. Early intervention services can help your infant or toddler with a disability learn, grow, and meet milestones. This workshop is for families of children under the age of three who want to learn more about the free services that are available to enhance their baby’s development.
Scaling Up Crisis Call Center Services and State-Center Partnerships in the Context of National Crisis Service Growth
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2019 Time: 2:00 - 2:30 pm EDT

This webinar will overview recommendations to congress from the FCC, the North American Numbering Council and SAMHSA about the potential of a national three-digit number for suicide crisis response. The webinar will focus on lessons from the field which crisis centers may use to elevate their state-level partnerships as they work to ramp up public awareness, potential funding, and state engagement in their organization's success. In partnership between the National Council and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Trauma and Brain Science: Why Can't I Think My Way Out of This?
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019 Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm EDT

This webinar will address how trauma responses, protective during traumatic experience change our brain function and physiology in ways that are not subject to our voluntary control. It will explain how those changes can negatively impact our functioning, thinking, relationships and work if they are not addressed. Learn why we can’t just decide to make the effects of trauma recede. The workshop will address why we need to learn skills that actually address the changes in brain function during trauma to prevent negative effects. Skills for addressing trauma responses during traumatic experiences that are not dangerous and immediately post-trauma exposure will be presented.
Recognizing and Managing Teen Anxiety
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 Time: 7:00 - 8:15 pm EDT

In this webinar, Lisa M. Schab, MSW, LCSW, a practicing psychotherapist and international best-selling author, will discuss the symptoms of an anxiety disorder, anxiety management skills adults can practice with youth, and ways adults can encourage teens to be a part of choosing treatment options. This program is designed for parents, guardians, caregivers, youth workers, and any adults interested in teen mental health.
The TA Network operates multiple Learning Communities (LC’s) that are available to any and all participants on various topics. The LC’s were assembled with the most pressing needs of the children's behavioral health field in mind, and are facilitated by a diverse group of content experts. Opportunities for peer examples and interactions
are also provided in addition to robust resources and tools.

Their September Webinar Line Up includes:

  1. Engaging Family Voices: ZERO TO THREE’s Think BabiesTM Campaign
  2. Adapting Oregon’s CSC program, the Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) to Rural and Frontier Settings
  3. Prescribing Psychotropic Medication for Patients at Clinical High Risk
  4. Cultural and Structural Considerations for Addressing Psychosis in Young Adults
Resources and Opportunities
Articles for Caregivers from One in Five Minds

One in Five Minds offers a library of articles for parents and caregivers of children who have mental health needs. They cover a wide variety of topics to answer questions and offer support and education. Access their complete list of articles here .
New Report from the National Council for Behavioral Health
The National Council's Medical Director Institute authored a new report titled " Mass Violence in America: Causes, Impacts and Solutions ." The report reveals important insights into the link between mental illness and mass violence. According to the report, “people with serious mental illness are responsible for less than 4 percent of all violence and less than one-third of mass violence.” Read it here .
Education Advocacy Tools from Parent Center Hub
The Parent Center Hub shares resources for parents and families that may help in navigating the education system for their children. The first is a letter from the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the potential to use the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to attend I.E.P. meetings. The second covers formal and informal ways to address conflict, non-compliance or other school issues using IDEA's dispute resolution options.
Autism Resource Guide from Verywell Health
Verywell Health has compiled a rich resource guide that covers signs, diagnosis, therapies, education and other supports for children who have Autism and their families. Find it here .
Back to School Checklist from Wrightslaw
This checklist from Wrightslaw includes action items organized by things to do, SMART I.E.P.s, your child's evaluation, and more. It includes columns where parents can mark their progress and keep notes for each step.  Find it here .