May 2019

Check out a new resource guide: Meeting the Needs of All Families, which was compiled by theFamily-Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA) to highlight the rich diversity and unique needs of today’s families. The resource was developed in recognition of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month and is intended to serve as a resource for families and providers. Meeting the Needs of ALL Families is designed to remind all of us that each family is unique, leaving its members to be the only ones to define it – in their way, from their culture and through their truth.

April 2019

Check out the Spring 2019 “Family Stories” edition of the Michigan Family Connections Newsletter.

March 2019 

Check out the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health new Legislation & Advocacy Page!

The Federation is involved at the national level in monitoring legislation, funding opportunities, advocacy opportunities and resources that could aid your work as the voice for families in your community, state and nationwide. Visit their page today to learn about current topics that impact youth and families, see updates, sign up to receive alerts, share news from our state and explore the advocacy toolkit – designed to assist individuals and organizations in their role as the voice for families.

Michigan News: (Excerpt from ARC Michigan’s March Governmental Update to read in it’s entirety click here.)

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun has been named Chief Deputy Director for Health and Chief Medical Executive for the MI Department of Health & Human Services. She will oversee population health, medical services (including Medicaid), behavioral health and developmental disabilities, and aging and adult services. She joins the department following service as Director and Health Officer of the Detroit Health Department and is an emergency physician at Henry Ford Hospital. Dr. Khaldun joins Elizabeth Hertel, Chief Deputy for Administration (external affairs, communication, finance, administration and legislative services) and Erin Frisch, Chief Deputy for Opportunity (field operations and children’s services) as the executive leadership under MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. Appointment of a permanent Medicaid director is expected soon.

MDHHS has issued a Request for Information for the federal Care for Kids Model, which would fund development and implementation of a payment and local services model integrating child health services, including behavioral health services. The model’s objectives are 1) improve performance measures of child health, 2) reduce avoidable inpatient and out-of-home placements and 3) create a sustainable alternative payment model to assure provider accountability and quality outcomes. The project would be funded for 7 years. Applicants may not include Section 298 pilot counties.

New Family Resources March 2019 

Child Mind Institute’s Parents Guide to Getting Good Care

When your child is struggling, or their behavior worries you, it can be hard to know whether you need to reach out to a professional. And if you do seek help, what kind of professional is right for your child? Child Mind Institute believes that the more parents know about what each kind of mental health specialist has to offer, the more likely they will be able to find appropriate and effective care for their children. This guide will walk you through the steps to find the best professional (or team) to treat your child, and things to look for and questions to ask along the way.

The Youth Mental Health Project

The Youth Mental Health Project is a grassroots organization whose primary purpose is to educate, empower, and support families and communities so they will have knowledge, skills, and resources they need to support the social, emotional, mental, and behavioral health of youth. Visit their website to learn more by clicking here.

Youth Mental Health Project Resources:

Feelings & Emotions Mental Health 101: Talking With Kids

Understanding Youth Mental Health: Questions Parents Frequently Ask

ACMH is dedicated to sharing resources of interest for families and community partners across Michigan. We will be utilizing this blog space to share a variety of new resources we have found. Check back often for new information and be sure to let us know if you cannot find what you are looking for!

New Family Resources –  February 2019

Child Mind Institute’s  Parents Guide to Co-Occurring Disorders. 

Are you concerned that your teen with mental health challenges may also have a substance use issue? This guide can help- check it our today!

Mental Health Policy Conversation Updates – January 2019

The ARC Michigan’s latest Governmental Update shares information about the  Governor-Elect Gretchen Whitmer’s Cabinet appointees and executive leadership staff. Click it out below or click  here to read the newsletter in it’s entirety.

• Robert Gordon as director of the Department of Health & Human Services.  Mr. Gordon currently serves as an executive at The College Board, which administers the SAT college entrance exam.  He previously served under former President Obama in the Department of Education and in the Office of Management and Budget.
• Paul Ajegba as director of the Department of Transportation. Mr. Ajegba was previously a 28-year employee of MDOT.
• Liesl Eichler Clark as director of the Department of Environmental Quality. Ms. Clark is co-founder and was partner in 5 Lakes Energy, a firm devoted to advancing a clean energy economy.
• Daniel Eichinger as director of the Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Eichinger previously served as executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs and a former DNR employee.
• Gary McDowell as director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Mr. McDowell is a former state representative who served in the House from 2005-10 who owns and operates the McDowell Brothers Farm and McDowell Hay, Incorporated, with his brothers.
• Captain Joe Gasper as director of the Department of State Police. Mr. Gasper has been with the State Police since 1998.
• Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington, who has headed the department for 4 years under Governor Snyder, will stay on as director.
• Brigadier General Paul Rogers as director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
• Orlene Hawks as director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Ms. Hawks previously served as the state’s children’s ombudsman and in the Department of Community Health.
• Anita Fox as director of the Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Ms. Fox is an attorney in the business and insurance fields.
• Chris Kolb, former state representative and current president of the Michigan Environmental Council, as State Budget Director
• Rachael Eubanks as State Treasurer
• Liza Estlund Olson as director of the Office of the State Employer

ACMH wants to be sure you have access to timely information about current policy issues and advocacy efforts that may be of interest to you, your family or the families you serve.

So we plan to dedicate our current blog space to share ongoing information about a variety of  policy and advocacy issues that may affect children and youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges and their families.

The information posted here will come from a variety of sources including national, state and local community partners and advocacy organizations. ACMH has not extensively reviewed all of the information nor do we advocate for you to take a certain position on any issue. We simply want you to have access to information of interest to you and those that may affect your child or family.

Please feel free to contact us if you have questions, have an issue you would like to share or if you would like to know how to get involved and share your voice of experience to help shape policy issues and improve supports and services for children and youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges and their families.

 

New Family Resources – January 2019

Understood.org shares information about Accommodations At School including what they are and how they can help. Click here to check out this new resources and others offered at Understood.org.

 

Family Acceptance Project Family-Support ServicesBrochure Foster Care Michigan

To learn more about the Ruth Ellis Center or the Family Acceptance Project check out the links below:

Ruth Ellis Center – www.ruthelliscenter.org/

 

This week  childmind.org shares expert advice about how to make sure your child is getting effective medication treatment. To learn more click here

SAMHSA releasesAfter an Attempt– A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member after Treatment in the Emergency Department This pamphlet is not specifically targeted at parents but has a lot of useful information for families. You can download the guide here: After An Attempt- A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member after Treatment in the Emergency Department

The Michigan Department of Education recently released a series of Family Matters Fact Sheets which provides parents and families with information about special education and other resources.

Fact Sheets are available in English, Arabic and Spanish and topics include: Procedural Safeguards; The Special Education Process; Educational Placement and the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE); Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and Seclusion and Restraint.

You can link to MDE’s Family Matters Page by clicking here and download the fact sheets today!

Featured Resource: Understood.org  was created by 15 nonprofit organizations who joined forces to support parents of the one in five children with learning and attention issues throughout their journey. Understood believes that with the right support, parents can help children unlock their strengths and reach their full potential. With state-of-the-art technology, personalized resources, free daily access to experts, a secure online community, practical tips and more, Understood aims to be that support.

Understood.org’s  goal is to help the millions of parents whose children, ages 3–20, are struggling with learning and attention issues, by helping to empower them to understand their children’s issues and relate to their experiences. They have many great resources on their site including a Parent Toolkit that includes a Decision Guide to help you make educational decisions, information about learning and attention issues, a School and Learning section with information about partnering with your school, a You and Your Family section with information about self-care, managing everyday challenges and support for siblings and much more. Be sure to check them out today!

Michigan Alliance for Families February Newsletter has information about Accommodations and Modifications at school and upcoming free training opportunities across Michigan click here to view it now.

SAMHSA Family Educational Materials The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration created the following materials to help caregivers and youth learn about symptoms of various mental health disorders, treatment options, and support services. The materials were developed  in collaboration with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Association. Youth and family leaders from around the country provided crucial input and feedback in the development process. The educational materials provide the latest scientific information about symptoms and a range of treatment options, as well as peer support groups and services. Download the Caregiver Educational Materials Today by clicking the links below:

Anxiety Disorder SMA16-5009 Anxiety

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) SMA16-5011 ADHD

Bipolar Disorder SMA16-5007 Bipolar

Depression SMA16-5003 Depression

First-Episode Psychosis SMA16-5005 First Episode Psychosis

The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health Recently shared the following resource in their January 2018 newsletter Federation on the Move:

2018 Goals Calendar- Students with executive functioning issues often have a hard time starting tasks and completing them. That can make achieving personal goals difficult. Your child might get the idea of the goal, but not clearly see or keep in mind what steps are needed to accomplish it. These printable 2018 calendar sheets may help him stay on track with common goals like getting to school on time or cleaning up his room. In addition to the calendar sheets, there are 14 goals you can download, print and cut out. Each one comes with a list of steps your child can follow to get the job done. (You and your child can also create your own goals and steps.) Together, decide which goal your child might tackle each month. Attach the goals and steps to the space on the right side of the calendar page, and have them hang it wherever it will help the most—in their room, in the kitchen or by the door. They can check off the days or weeks that they have hit the goal so you all can see the progress. Download the 2018 Goals Calendar here: 2018 Goals Calendar A Printable Planner for Tweens With Executive Functioning Issues

To learn more about the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health or to sign up for their newsletter you can visit their website at www.ffcmh.org.

Free Resources & an Online Learning Opportunity shared by the National Institute of Mental Health:

Bipolar Disorder in Children & Teens a Parent’s Guide 

5/15/18 MDHHS Weekly Update for the Section 298 Initiative

3/9/2018 MDHHS identifies the pilot sites for the Section 298 Initiative

The selected pilot sites include:

· Muskegon County Community Mental Health (HealthWest) and West MI Community Mental Health
· Genesee Health System
· Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority

To read the press release regarding the pilots click here or visit MDHHS’s  Section 298 Initiative Page to learn more.

2/1/18 National Policy News- The Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health shared national policy news including highlights of their advocacy work over the past year in their February edition of Federation on The Move – you can visit the FFCMH online to view their newsletter in it’s entirety by clicking here or see their legislative updates below:

FFCMH Legislation and Advocacy:

The Federation actively represents you as part of the Mental Health Liaison Group. The Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) is a coalition of almost 70 national organizations representing consumers, parents and family members, advocates, providers, and mental health experts dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness

The Federation through the MHLG expressed support for the Medicaid CARE Act (H.R. 2687). MHLG Letter of Support

The Federation supported the Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2017

Sen Warren’s Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act

Rep Kennedy’s Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act

The Federation kept affiliates up to date on the latest with Mental Health Parity.

MHLG Parity Memo Parity report memo 11 30 17 MHLG

Disparity Analysis click here

Congressional Mental Health Caucus

The mission of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus is to work in a bipartisan manner to raise the visibility for mental health reforms and find solutions to improve mental health care and the delivery of services to those in need. Their latest news section contains the latest stories and links to mental health issues in the news. Click here to learn more.

CHIP Funding

The spending bill that the Senate and House adopted January 22nd, provides six years of federal money for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a bipartisan creation that furnishes coverage to nearly 9 million children and 375,000 pregnant women.

$124 billion in funding through 2023 was part of the approved spending bill. Federal money will pay for 88% of the programs’s expenses in every sate for the first two years.

SAMHSA’s New Approach

On January 11th, Elinore F. McCance-Katz, MD, PhD, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use held a call where she read a statement and answered questions about a new approach to EBPs and the Federation was part of that call. The call focused on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices and SAMHSA’s new approach to implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs)

Read the Statement here.

Report on the State of America’s Children

The Children’s Defense Fund’s new report, The State of America’s Children® 2017, provides a comprehensive look at the status of America’s children in 11 areas: child population, child poverty, income and wealth inequality, housing and homelessness, child hunger and nutrition, child health, early childhood, education, child welfare, juvenile justice and gun violence. The report’s corresponding state factsheets provide one-page summaries of how children are doing in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and nationwide.
State Fact Sheets

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1/25/18 MDHHS Shares Update About Section 298 Initiative:

The Section 298 Initiative is a statewide effort to improve the coordination of physical health services and behavioral health services in Michigan. This initiative is based upon Section 298 in the Public Act 268 of 2016. The Michigan legislature approved a revised version of Section 298 as part of Public Act 107 of 2017.

Under the revised Section 298, the Michigan Legislature directed MDHHS to implement up to three pilot projects to test the integration of publicly-funded physical and behavioral health services. The department posted a Request for Information (RFI) to select the pilot sites on December 20th, 2017.

As part of the RFI process, MDHHS collected questions from interested applicants and other stakeholders on the content within the RFI. MDHHS has developed responses to each of these questions, and these responses have been posted on the State of Michigan’s procurement website. The department also posted a PDF version of the responses on the project website, which can be accessed through the following link:

www.michigan.gov/stakeholder298

Interested applicants must submit their applications through the website by February 13, 2018. MDHHS will evaluate each informational response that meets all of the minimum mandatory requirements utilizing an evaluation process. MDHHS will use the results of the evaluation process to select up to three pilot projects in compliance with Section 298 of Public Act 107 of 2017. The anticipated notice of the pilot decision is February 28, 2018. The department is aiming to implement the pilots and demonstration model by July 1, 2018.

For more background on the Section 298 Initiative and the RFI for the pilots, visit www.michigan.gov/stakeholder298.

1/23/18 Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency shared the following in their January Raise the Age Newsletter: Ingham County Commissioners Adopt Raise the Age Resolution

Visit MiCCD to learn more about what’s new in the Raise the Age Initiative and Juvenile Justice reform in Michigan by clicking here.

The Ingham County Commission adopted a resolution during their final 2017 meeting in December, urging the Michigan Legislature to pass the “Youth in Prison” package. The resolution, which was reported out of the Law & Courts Committee with a unanimous recommendation, included a call for an appropriate state funding mechanism. This resolution, and its successful adoption, was driven by local raise the age partners, Michigan Power To Thrive (MPTT) and the Lansing ACLU. The full resolution can be found here.

The Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee Report to Congress
The Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee released its 2017 Report to Congress on December 15th. This report, The Way Forward: Federal Action for a System That Works for All People Living With SMI and SED and Their Families and Caregivers, shines the spotlight on critical issues and services for Americans with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and serious emotional disturbances (SED), and the importance of concerted efforts by the federal government to address their needs. Visit The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) website to view the announcement and download the report by clicking here.

The ARC Michigan December 2017 Governmental Affairs Update This months’s ARC update contains information about current house and senate bills regarding the definitions regarding the use of seclusion and restraint;  pilot programs to integrate Medicaid behavioral health with managed health care plans; Information about Michigan Department of Health & Human Services revised plan for implementing the Section 298 pilots; and information regarding Lt. Governor Brian Calley’s has announcement about a new report from the Special Education Reform Task Force; Michigan’s Medicaid office’s proposed policy bulletin on provider fitness criteria which would have had a serious impact on consumers’ ability to receive peer counselor and support services; and The Medical Services Administration’s proposed policy creating a new Medicaid Provider Manual chapter for Home and Community Based Services and the final bulletin making updates and revisions to the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment program.

MDHHS Releases Update on the Section 298 Initiative & White Paper on Section 298 Pilots.  Learn more by visiting MDHHS’s project page by clicking here or by downloading the recently released white paper today: MDHHS_White_Paper_on_the_Section_298_Pilots_

Juvenile Justice Policy Issues & Advocacy Efforts:

Michigan Juvenile Justice Collaborative October/November 2017 Newsletter

YJAM Events Promote Awareness Statewide
During October and November, nearly 400 people attended events in Holland, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Detroit, Ann Arbor and Flint to learn about Michigan’s dangerous practice of prosecuting youth as adults. Now, the Raise the Age campaign is calling on its participants to take action.
Read more here

It’s More Than Time to Raise the Age in Michigan
In a new op-ed by Public Policy Associates, Inc. president, Paul Elam and Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency’s executive director, Mary King, presents the question, why hasn’t Michigan raised the age yet? Read more here

Washtenaw County Commissioners Adopt Raise the Age Resolution
Teens from The Michigan Juvenile Justice Youth Advisory Board (YAB) appeared before the Washtenaw County Commissioners on November 15, 2017 to promote a resolution urging the Michigan Legislature to pass the Youth in Prison package. The resolution was adopted unanimously (two commissioners were absent), and included a call for an appropriate state funding mechanism.
Read the full resolution here.

R-Street Institute Covers Raise the Age
In a new policy short, Christina Delgado, the Justice Policy Manager from R-Street, a Washington D.C. think tank, and Sara Wycoff McCauley, President of Strategic Policy Consultants, look at Michigan’s ongoing debate over efforts to “raise the age” for adult criminal prosecution, weighing the proposed policy against the impact current practices have on parental rights, public safety goals and the employability of youth. Read more here

Ypsilanti Teen to Speak at Federal Hearing on ‘School-to-Prison’ Pipeline
An Ypsilanti teen will speak at a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hearing regarding federal laws protecting students of color with disabilities from discriminatory school discipline policies. DaQuann Harrison, 18, a 2017 graduate of Ypsilanti Community Schools, was invited to join the Dignity in Schools campaign to speak during public comment at the Civil Rights Commission hearing on Dec. 8 in Washington, D.C.
Read more here

Michigan Court Debates Over Teen Prison Civil Rights
The question of whether the state can be held liable for teens raped in Michigan prisons may turn on a constitutional question: Do prisoners forfeit their civil rights in Michigan when they enter prison?
Read more here

Human Impact Partners Reveal Health Impacts of Raising the Age in Michigan
Human Impact Partners, a national public health agency out of California, just released a new report “Raise the Age: Protecting Kids and Enhancing Public Safety in Michigan” to help support juvenile justice reformers in Michigan! This report is bringing a public health perspective into Michigan’s campaign to pass Raise the Age legislation in Michigan. Read more here

Kids Count Report Shows Number of Kids Affected by Parental Incarceration
Close to 6 million kids in America have experienced losing a parent to prison or jail at some point in their lives – and this number is growing. Nationwide, this population has increased by 636,000 children since 2011-2012. Read more here

 

 

Parenting a child with mental health challenges can be challenging as well as rewarding! Having practical tools and strategies to help you and your child be successful along the way can be very helpful.

ACMH wants to help ensure that you have access to all the tools, tips and strategies you may need so we created this page to share resources that you may find useful.

As Michigan’s Statewide Family Organization we receive a lot of information about online training and resources from community partners and others and would like to use this page to share them with you. You can access the resource page by clicking here.

Resources that are helpful for one child and family may not work for another so we will share any we think may be useful and you can decide what might be helpful to you.

We hope you find something that meets your needs! Be sure to check back often as we will be adding resources and information about training opportunities as we receive them.

ACMH would like to take a moment today to thank all of you for your involvement, support & partnership throughout the year and wish you and your families a bountiful harvest of love, laughter and happiness that make this time of year so special!

We couldn’t spread the word about the importance of children’s mental health and move toward our goal that all children and youth with mental health challenges and their families live in welcoming communities with access to needed support and services without you!

We are truly grateful to have you as a part of the ACMH family ~ Happy Thanksgiving

This year’s event highlighted the importance home, community and especially youth and family voice and choice in reaching successful outcomes for children and youth with mental health needs and their families.

This year’s conference had almost 100 participants from 20 counties across Michigan including parents, youth, community partners, young adults and Parent and Youth Peer Support Specialists.

The information packed day included a morning plenary, outstanding youth and parent keynotes and nine break-out sessions with topics such as: The Future of Family & Youth Driven Care & the Peer Movement; Youth Peer Support Services – One-On-One & In Groups; Families as Leaders in Children’s Mental Health…Following Families Down the Yellow Brick Road; Community Exposure Initiative; You’re Worth More than Gold: Strategies to Build Self Esteem for Youth at Home; MI Parent Support Partner Project- Family Driven from Inception to Evaluation; Intro to Youth Leadership: Using Your Voice and Experience to Create Change; and Finding Parent & Caregiver Voice Within the Juvenile Justice System.

Participants shared that they felt they were leaving the conference with a better understanding of the importance of family and youth voice and choice and that they gathered relevant information felt that they could use in their life and communities. A few comments from our participants include:

• Outstanding, relevant, useful sessions!
• Overall feeling of hope because of profound youth and family voices!
• I loved all of it! I can’t wait to take these things I learned into my community.
• This conference is very informational and I recommend it to other organizations, non-profits, schools and other agencies.
• Great conference I am glad that youth were able to be a part of panel and discussion!
• Very informational- enjoyed every session!
• Thank you for providing a scholarship for a youth from our community. They had a wonderful time and are excited to share what they have learned!

ACMH would like to send a special thank you to both of our plenary session speakers including our parent keynote speaker and the young people who shared their wisdom and experience with our audience at the lunch session. Participants were especially moved and inspired by these two sessions as you can see from the comments we received:

• Very hopeful! Speakers had so much courage to share their stories. Inspiring!!
• Highlighted importance of youth voice & supporting families. Gave hope!
• Some of the most inspiring speakers I’ve seen in a long time!
• Speakers very inspirational and offered tremendous hope!
• Awesome job! Thank you for sharing the story of your family’s journey & achievements.
• Great to hear youth voice and perspectives!
• Thank you to the youth for sharing their experiences! Children and youth voice counts and they want and need to be heard!
• How important it is to youth to have a voice! I learned how youth voice can advance the treatment process in positive ways.
• Helpful to hear how and what the youth did and figured out what was helpful and how to move forward seeking the help they needed.
• Excellent! I better understand the important role of youth voice; They gave me hope and inspiration!

ACMH would also like to send another special thank you to all of our our speakers and participants! Our conference could not be a success without each and everyone one of you and we appreciate you spending the day with us. A quote from the Wizard of Oz says it all “It’s not there you go, it’s who you meet along the way!” and we are so fortunate to have met all of you.  Hope to see you all next year!

ACMH is thrilled to announce that Lorrin Gehring, a national expert in youth & family engagement, will be helping us to kick off our plenary session at this year’s conference! Lorrin is a passionate leader and advocate with over 15 years of experience working within youth & family serving systems. At 14 she began advocating for youth voice and choice within the systems that serve them. Lorrin has served in a variety of roles as a national consultant on issues of youth engagement and has provided support to system of care communities throughout the country helping them build and support youth engagement & leadership for the young people they serve. Lorrin has also worked for the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health where she planned the Federation’s first ever youth advocacy track at their annual conference. We are so pleased to have Lorrin join our program and know you won’t want to miss this opportunity so register today by visiting http://www.acmh-mi.org/events/acmh-annual-conference/.

ACMH is pleased to welcome our friends from DHHS at this year’s conference for their presentation “Families as Leaders in Children’s Mental Health~ Following Parents & Youth Down the Yellow Brick Road.” Register today to take part in this and other great learning opportunities! http://www.acmh-mi.org/events/acmh-annual-conference/.

Guest Blogger- Sara Reynolds, Youth Peer Support Lead Trainer

I’m very pleased to announce that the first Youth Peer Support pilot training has been completed, and there are now five brave and compassionate individuals providing the service for the first time in Michigan. What a momentous event! I feel so overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the development of this new service that will positively affect outcomes for youth involved in the Pre-Paid Inpatient Health Plan/Community Mental Health Service Provider system.

My journey into peer support began when I became a Certified Peer Support Specialist. It was a very gratifying work, but I’m in my early twenties, and there was a large age gap between myself and the peers I supported that oftentimes couldn’t be ignored. I was able to forge supportive relationships with those peers that were older, but I couldn’t help but think how being a peer could be beneficial to younger individuals.

After all, I was a youth when my mental health symptoms first presented themselves, which began my foray into the mental health system. Being diagnosed with a gamut of mental health disorders including Bipolar and Generalize Anxiety Disorder, I felt that no one could possibly understand the pain that I went through on a daily basis. I didn’t have anyone to talk to – not even my few friends in school could understand why everyday life was difficult for me. If I just had one person who could listen and really hear me… it could have made all the difference in my journey to building tools of resilience.

Around the very same time that I began considering how peer support could be great for youth, I noticed a job posting for a Youth Peer Support lead trainer through Association for Children’s Mental Health. I couldn’t believe it! Youth Peer Support! It was exactly what I wanted to do. I had to apply. Thankfully, I got the job, and while it has been hard work, it really has been a dream. I can actually help implement a service that will support youth that are where I was back then!

There is such a great need for Youth Peer Support. The service can provide better outcomes for youth, increased engagement in services, more interest in building resiliency skills, including system navigation, self-care, and self-advocacy tools, all of which are preventative of worsening symptoms. I think that if I had a Youth Peer Support Specialist, I’d have been able to start getting better, quicker. Not only can Youth Peer Support be supportive of youth, but also families, communities, and systems in so many ways. It is likely the Youth Peer Support Specialists will see some benefits from providing the services too!

Youth Peer Support is state plan service defined in the Michigan Medicaid Manual and is provided through the Pre-Paid Inpatient Health Plan/Community Mental Health Service Provider system by individuals that are between the ages of 18 and 26, and have experience receiving mental health services. Youth Peer Support Specialists have an integral place among the treatment team. I look forward to growing the number of Youth Peer Support Specialists throughout the state, and watching Michigan youth flourish.

Along with Youth Peer Support, we wanted to include a place for youth to go when they are looking for a peer experience online – thus we have created the Youth Page, right here on ACMH’s website. We’ve included some great features to this page: the graffiti wall: a place where youth from throughout their space can submit their artistic expression through any medium they prefer, an “ask the expert” section for youth with questions about resilience, and a plethora of links and videos from people that inspire us to keep going. Please take a moment to check out our youth page and share it with those you think might be interested!

– Sara Reynolds, Youth Peer Support Lead Trainer