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April 5, 2023

The Ally: Awareness vs. Acceptance
 

Every month brings new opportunities and new things to think about. This month, the Mississippi Community of Practice on Whole Child Equity and Adolescence is inviting young people and adults to share their feedback on practical ways of enabling greater access, opportunity, and thriving in the education system for every student in Mississippi. (Please fill out the survey: this is the youth version and this is the adult version.) Please also share the Community Feedback Survey about Mental Health and Substance Use Services in Mississippi.

April is Autism Acceptance Month, formerly observed as Autism Awareness Month. This week we share some thoughts about moving from awareness to acceptance. I hope you join us on this journey and share what we all learn. April is also National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Please check out our blog entry on how family-driven practice can support child abuse prevention. It is National Minority Health Month as well. We've included resources about the month in our Resource Section.

All families are welcome to join us this week on April 6 at noon Central Time for our virtual Drop-In Family Support Time. We list more training and support activities in our events section. 

Joy Hogge signature
 

NEWS
 
In 1970, the Autism Society established April as Autism Awareness Month to help people recognize the signs of autism and learn more about what it is like to live with autism. The United Nations General Assembly designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day in 2008.
 
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. In recognition of the month, the Child Welfare Information Gateway shares several publications focused on supporting families and preventing child abuse.
 
On March 29, Families as Allies staff gathered on Facebook and Youtube for a live discussion of our current priorities and reminders for families in Mississippi. After everyone introduced themselves, Executive Director Joy Hogge led off with a discussion of the end of the COVID emergency with...

EVENTS
 
This hour is open for any family member to drop in for all or some of the time to share any concerns or get feedback from others about handling different situations. 
 
For any parents supporting other parents in any system. Parent peer support specialists, parent consultants, parent educators and parents who have completed parent peer support training are strongly encouraged to attend. 
 
MSCDD is a federally mandated body of advocates appointed by the Governor to promote a better quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, and their communities.
 
The Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee (MAAC) was created by House Bill 11252 (2011 Regular Session) as the Legislature recognized an urgent need for strategies on how to best identify, treat, educate, accommodate and employ people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and assist their families.
 
Meeting Location-in person Department of Mental Health 239 N. Lamar Street 1101 Robert E. Lee Building Jackson, MS. 39201 Contact Information Grenaye Sullivan 601-359-6260 grenaye.sullivan@dmh.ms.gov
 
This hour is open for any family member to drop in for all or some of the time to ask questions or get feedback about IEP issues and other school situations. We ask anyone who stops by to respect the confidentiality of the group and not share anything discussed in the group outside of the group.
 
Therapeutic residential care can be a lifesaving resource for children and youth with complex needs and their families. However, research has shown that youth and family engagement is lacking in these programs, and residential care centers are challenged in implementing youth and family-driven care.
 
" All Events - 7:30 pm CDT Quarterly board meeting of the board of Families as Allies. All meetings are open to the public and include time for public comments. Public comments can also be emailed to info@faams.org or faxed to 601-355-0919. Register here >>
 
This group focuses on understanding current policy issues and also opportunities for leadership training graduates to serve on decision-making committees. Leadership training graduates are strongly encouraged to attend, but the meetings are open to anyone who is interested in learning more about...

RESOURCES
 
Please share these surveys broadly with Youth, Adults, and Education Stakeholders. Thank you in advance for participating in our data collection process. 
Frequently Asked Questions about Rights of Children in Homeless Situations
 
Please share these surveys broadly with Youth, Adults, and Education Stakeholders. Thank you in advance for participating in our data collection process. 
 
MINNEAPOLIS - Tram Nguyen has used restroom floors, the grass at city parks and the back of her van to change her 7-year-old daughter's diapers. Her daughter, Sadie, who was born with a chromosomal abnormality that limits her mobility, has outgrown the infant changing tables in most public restrooms.
 
Every April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) observes National Minority Health Month to highlight the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.