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February 8, 2023

The Ally: Congratulating Family Leaders and Contemplating Black History
 
Top Photo: The Families as Allies Leadership Training Team (from left to right): Nikki Flippins-Willis, Coreaner Price and Henry Moore
 

There are good things to share and wonderful ways we can help each other this week. First of all, congratulations to our newest class of leadership training graduates! Please take a few minutes to read about their training last Saturday and their thoughts about what they learned. We look forward to seeing all the places they will go!

The Joint Planning and Advisory Council that advises the Department of Mental Health on mental health and substance use services will meet virtually and in person this Thursday, February 9th, from 10 a.m. until noon at Mississippi State Hospital. I'm excited to be a part of this council and to see the direction it is taking. It is being led increasingly by people receiving services, their families, grassroots groups and people from systems besides mental health. So many good things could happen with this effort, but we need everyone's input and support. Please join us on Thursday.

Parent peer support is another terrific way for parents to help each other. The next training is March 20-24, 2023. The deadline to apply is February 17th. Check out our blog entry about parent peer support and all the places it is useful. We encourage any parent interested in helping other parents to consider the training. If you have questions, call us! We love sharing about parent peer support. 

Current parent peer supporters - please join us on February 8th at noon CST for Supportive Coaching for Parents Supporting Other Parents. It's virtual. 

February is Black History Month, and this week we share ways we at Families as Allies are challenging ourselves to pause and reflect as we consider the lessons of Black History. We hope you will join us in reflecting.

I am thankful for the good things we can share and how we can help each other. I am grateful for each of you.

Joy Hogge signature

NEWS
 
Two years ago, we at Families as Allies challenged ourselves to deliberately approach Black History Month as an opportunity to grow and be challenged throughout the year rather than to observe a fixed point in time. This year we are contemplating these questions to challenge ourselves to move beyond where we are now. We hope you will reflect on them with us.
 
We encourage anyone interested in services for mental illness and substance-use disorders to attend the Mississippi Joint Planning and Advisory Council virtually or in person on February 9th from 10 a.m. to noon. All fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S.
 
Parent peer support, where one parent who has challenges with their child supports another parent on the same journey, makes a tremendous difference in the lives of families. It gives families hope, helps them feel less alone and assists them in finding real-world solutions.
 
Congratulations to the 19 people-including parents, caregivers, MS Families For Kids staff and board, Help Me Grow staff, and MS Thrive ECDC members-who completed "Serving on Groups that Make Decisions Leadership Training" on Saturday, February 4th, at the Jackson Hilton. 

EVENTS
 
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. We will discuss current trends in parent peer support, national standards for...
 

Federal law specifies the duties of the Joint Mental Health Planning Councils. Click here for notice information:
https://www.ms.gov/dfa/pmn/Home/NoticeDetails/59f1221b-bb8a-40a0-ba04-e805a629504c

 
Meeting Location-in person Mississippi State Hospital 3550 Hwy 468 W Whitfield MS 39193 Contact Information Grenaye Sullivan 601-359-6260 [email protected]
 
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.
 
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.
 
This three-part webinar series will provide an overview of the System of Care Self-Assessment Tool and demonstrate how it can be used to improve outcomes for children and families. Developed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services over the past five years, this tool is now publicly available...
 
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...
 
Disability Awareness Day at the State Capitol gives people with disabilities and advocates a chance to talk with decision-makers who can preserve or expand services that make a critical difference in the lives of Mississippians with disabilities. Each year approximately 25 organizations participate...

RESOURCES
 
THE TODAY Statewide news delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday State Rep. Sam Creekmore speaks to Mississippi Today about legislation to address Mississippi's long-running mental health issues, including those with mental illness being held in jails instead of receiving treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rights of Children in Homeless Situations
 
February marks the celebration of Black History Month. This year's theme - according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History - is "Resistance." Yahoo Sports will feature a series of stories highlighting the achievements of pioneering African Americans whose very being...
 
Learning about the history of systemic racism during Black History Month - and all year - in the mental health system and movement and how it harms Black communities in the US and around the world is key for creating a mentally healthier world.