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September 21, 2023

The Ally: Resources for Recovery Month
 

For the past two weeks, we've focused on September being Suicide Prevention Month. I hope our shared resources are helpful and practical for you and your family. Please remember that anyone can call 988 24/7, 365 days a year, for help in a crisis. These are some tips on talking to someone who might be thinking about suicide, and this is some guidance on reaching out for help if you are having thoughts about suicide.

September is also Recovery Month, and the theme each year is "Every Person. Every Family. Every Community." Faces and Voices of Recovery explains on its website, "Each September, Recovery Month works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.

We have lost too many young people in Mississippi to opioid overdoses. Make Mississippi OD Free describes "strategies for avoiding drug abuse, fentanyl poisoning, and other causes of overdoses, plus strategies and resources for prevention & treatment." You can also order a free Naloxone kit on the site. Naloxone can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and keep someone from dying.

We thank Mississippi State Representative Chris Bell for introducing legislation this past session to legalize fentanyl test strips in Mississippi, and we appreciate the whole legislature for overwhelmingly passing this legislation. These strips help detect drugs laced with fentanyl, which can be deadly. Partnership to End Addiction has more information about fentanyl test strips, including how to order them. Amazon sells fentanyl test strips as well. We do not have any information about how to assess the quality/characteristics of the different testing strips on Amazon. 

Don't forget to check out our events section. I especially encourage families to join us on September 21 at noon CDT for our Virtual: Bring Your IEP and Other School Questions. 

Let's work together to keep all of our children safe and healthy!

Joy Hogge signature

RESOURCES
 
Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Understand the principles of harm reduction.
 
Click on the images below to view PDFs on those topics, courtesy of SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. 
Helping a Loved One Dealing with Mental or Substance Use Disorders - Link to PDF
Why you should talk to your child about alcohol and other drugs - link to PDF
Supporting a Love One Dealing with Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders - Link to PDF

EVENTS
 
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.
 
Join Relias and the National Council to learn more on how to protect your clients with suicidality, during care transitions.
 
The Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee will meet on Sept. 26th in person at the Department of Mental Health.
 
Join the CoE-IHS webinar on September 26 at 10:00 am, Partnering with Schools to Improve Youth Mental Health.
 
Discover exciting new programs and services at the Fourth Annual Virtual Resource Fair for Early Childhood Professionals.
 
Join us to learn what you can do as we discuss ways other family members are helping to stop school bullying.
 
Please join the Mississippi Department of Education in a meeting for families of kindergarten through grade 3 students.
 
Gain an understanding of current policy issues and opportunities for leadership training graduates to serve on decision-making committees.
 
There is an immediate need for youth mental health support due to the ongoing pandemic and experienced traumatic events.
 
This event will have a host of vendors, agencies, and some good food vendors. Yes, we are walking, rolling and strolling!
 
MSPTI's upcoming Special Education Boot Camp will cover topics on advocacy, communication, conflict resolution, IEPs and more.
 
The 23rd annual 4-man scramble, 18-hole golf tournament complete with food, drinks, prizes, and gifts will benefit MFFK.
 
Family members may drop in to share any concerns or get feedback from others about handling different situations.
 
Treasure Your Health (3 John 1:2) Community-wide Wellness Fair will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
 
Join other parents for a monthly meeting and online gathering to coach and support other parents in any system.
 
The Council on Developmental Disabilities will meet on Oct. 12th at Reservoir Pointe in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
 
Peter's Rock Family Worship Center, COGIC, Health, Wellness and Job Fair will be October 14th from 10:00 am - 2:30 pm.