​    Share   ​​    Tweet   ​​    Share   ​

March 29, 2023

The Ally: Empathy in the Face of Heartbreak
 

This week began with heartache as we witnessed the devastating effects of the tornado that cut through Mississippi. More heartbreak followed with the news of the school shooting in Nashville. Words seem inadequate in the face of such horrific losses and pain. Still, please know the words I am writing are my attempt to convey gut-wrenching empathy for the pain of every person and family affected—my empathy and that of every employee and board member of Families as Allies.

Here are some practical resources:

Please join us on Wednesday, March 29, at noon for our quarterly virtual Families as Allies Live. We'll discuss changes in determining Medicaid eligibility, public comments on the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities waiver, and the survey to give your feedback on mental health and substance use services in the state, legislation about children and families and anything else you want to talk about. We are also very open to your feedback and ideas about Families as Allies. You can join the conversation on Facebook or YouTube.

If you work with, employ or supervise parent-peer supporters, join us on March 30 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central time for our Parent Peer Support Conversation for Anyone working with Parent Peer Supporters. (Please note we initially scheduled this to begin at 1:30 p.m., but now it begins at 2:30 p.m.)

Joy Hogge signature

NEWS
 
Every time there is a fifth Wednesday in a month, we go live at noon to hear your feedback and questions, share what's been going on at Families as Allies and update you on current issues. So we will be Live at noon on March 29 and hope you will join us on Facebook or YouTube.
 
Families often play a significant role in caring for children with medically complex needs and disabilities. This necessity became even more true during the Covid-19 pandemic due to workforce shortages and families spending more time at home.
 
Our list of legislation to watch is current as of the afternoon of March 28. Inclusion on this list means that the bill is related to the work of Families as Allies. It does not imply that we agree with the bill. We want you to have as much information as possible to make the best decisions for your children and family.

EVENTS
 
Please join us for this quarterly update about our recent events and future plans. Families as Allies is about ALL of us, and we want to hear your ideas and feedback on how we can all move forward together on behalf of our children.
 
This conversation is for anyone working with parents providing peer support to other parents in any system, such as Children's Services Directors, MAP Team Coordinators, Care Coordinators and Center Directors.
 
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.
 
" 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
 
An insufficient mental health care system pushes some families to give up custody of their children for care. States look for better solutions.
 
(If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 9-8-8, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.)
Frequently Asked Questions about Rights of Children in Homeless Situations
 
I'm a special-needs sibling raising a special-needs sibling, which helps me remember to say the words to him that I wanted to hear myself.
 
A proposal in Congress would do away with Medicaid's institutional bias and guarantee people with developmental disabilities access to services in the community.