Treating Kids’ Mental Health Can Be a Challenge. Checkout USA Today’s article:

Getting Kids Help in Time – Rising rates of mental health and behavioral issues are prompting worry – and action

to learn more about what can help today!

Bipartisan bill packages to “Raise the Age” when people can be automatically tried as adults were reintroduced into the new legislative sessions of Michigan’s House and Senate last week.

This is the third time “Raise The Age” legislation, which moves the presumptive age to be tried as an adult from 17 to 18-years-old, has been introduced. A large coalition of impacted people, criminal justice reform organizations, activists, and legislators statewide are hoping that the third time will be the charm.

Why do so many people in Michigan remain committed to Raising the Age? Here is how Alicia Guevara Warren of the Michigan League for Public Policy put it:

“Every day we delay this change, there are 17-year-old kids who are being forced into a system that wasn’t designed for them.

Every day we hold off, these kids experience trauma. They lose crucial hours of education. They miss out on opportunities to grow and discover their potential.

But today could be the day we start to change their lives. With the start of a new legislative session and the bipartisan support this issue has, we’re so well-poised to raise the age and give kids a chance to learn from their mistakes and move forward. It’s time to do the right thing.”

The sponsors of this package represent the full diversity of Michigan, both politically and geographically, and directly address many of the objections that stymied previous versions of the package.

Jason Smith, Director of Youth Justice Policy at the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency (MCCD) believes this combination of stakeholders and advocates will make this year that Michigan finally joins the overwhelming majority of states who already Raised the Age:

“I am very optimistic about the passage of legislation this session. There is a diverse and growing coalition of stakeholders that are committed to its success. Legislative leadership on both sides of the aisle are supportive of the bills. And polling shows that the majority of Michiganders are in favor as well. Simply put, Raise the Age is sound public policy, broadly supported and long overdue.”

Not only are there reasons to be optimistic, but Tom Hickson, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy at the Michigan Catholic Conference, also thinks that the benefits of passage could have real and meaningful societal safety benefits:

“Thirty-four percent of youth exposed to the adult system are more likely to reoffend and escalate to more violent offenses than their counterparts in the juvenile justice system. Passing Raise the Age will help reduce victimization in this state and help youthful offenders get on a path to a more productive future”

The list of sponsors of the Raise the Age package in the House includes:

Rep.Roger Hauck (R), Rep. Doug Wozniak (R), Rep. Julie Calley (R), Rep. Ryan Berman (R), Rep. Michael Webber (R), Rep. Daire Rendon (R) Rep. David LaGrand (D), Rep. Vanessa Guerra (D), Rep. Sheldon Neeley (D), Rep. Brian Elder (D), Rep.Leslie Love (D), Rep. Graham Filler (R), Rep. Tommy Brann (R), Rep. Mary Whiteford (R)

The bills in the House are numbered HB 4133 through HB 4146 and include two bills (HB 4144 and HB 4146) that are designed to provide funding solutions for the implementation of Raise the Age legislation.

The list of sponsors of the Raise the Age package in the Senate includes:

Sen. Peter Lucido (R), Sen. Jeff Irwin (D), Sen. Sylvia Santana (D), Sen. Curt VanderWall (R), Sen. Marshall Bullock (D), Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. (D), Sen. Stephanie Chang (D), Sen. Ruth Johnson (R), Mike McDonald (R), Sen. Adam Hollier (D), and Sen. Jim Runestad (R)

And the Senate Bill numbers are SBs 84, and SBs 90 through 102.

November 28, 2018

See the post shared by Michigan Council on Crime & Delinquency below to learn more about today’s action on this issue:

This morning, Raise the Age Legislation was reported out of the MI House Law and Justice Committee to the full House for approval! Committee members showed strong support for the bills, most of which passed by a 9-2 margin.

The successful vote is a major step forward in the legislative process. Passage of the full House and Senate, culminated by the Governor’s signature, is necessary for these bills become law prior to Sine Die (the expiration of the 2017-18 Legislative Session).

Today’s vote occurred one day after the Law and Justice Committee adopted substitute bill versions that push back the legislation’s effective date to 2021.

The package also includes a funding bill sponsored by Rep. Martin Howrylak (R-Troy). The Howrylak funding mechanism provides an essential, perhaps final, piece of the legislative puzzle.

“We are thrilled to see that committee members are prioritizing the safety and well-being of Michigan’s justice-involved youth!” said Mary King, executive director for the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency. “These bills represent an investment that will result in long term gains for our state.”

While the legislative process offers no guarantees, the establishment of the funding bill, along with the new implementation timeline, has created significant momentum for Raise the Age.

Read more coverage of today’s vote in the Detroit News by clicking here.

TAKE ACTION: Help Us Raise the Age in Michigan!

Michigan is one of only four states that has not yet raised the age. We are getting close, but need your help. It’s quick and simple: take action by sending your House member a letter urging him or her to Raise the Age in Michigan!

Please click here if you are interested in getting involved or taking action on this issue.

The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (Family Center) is excited to let you know about our Summer Camp Scholarship opportunity!

Effective immediately, we would like to invite families to apply to receive a Summer Camp Scholarship for up to $250.

The Summer Camp Scholarship is designed to assist families with sending their child with special health care needs to a summer camp of their choosing. Applications are being accepted now through the end of March 2019.

Families will be required to submit a completed application Summer Camp Scholarship Application 2019 along with an Attendance Registration Form, which will need to be filled out by the Camp Director. We are attaching the required forms as one PDF file.

If you have questions you can call the  Family Phone Line at 800-359-3722.

Funding is limited, so please  apply as soon as possible.

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.

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.

NEWEST RESOURCE: 8/1/2018 This week  childmind.org shares expert advice about how to make sure your child is getting effective medication treatment. To learn more click here

NEW RESOURCE – 7/2/18 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

NEW RESOURCE: 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!

March 2018 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 

January Online Learning Opportunity – Adolescent Suicide Prevention: Recognizing Teens at Risk & Responding Effectively  **This event has passed but you can still view the archived version of the webinar
Suicide is a major public health concern. Over 44,000 people die by suicide each year in the United States. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10-24 both in the United States and worldwide. Suicide is complicated and tragic but it is often preventable. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can save lives.

Join experts for a workshop about adolescent suicide prevention, which will include techniques for early detection and management of young people at risk.

The event will be live streamed on January 24, 2018 from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST. Please visit https://videocast.nih.gov/live.asp?live=26845&bhcp=1 to view the live event. The event will also be archived.

In December 2012, Michigan approved the first Autism State Plan. As part of a regular review of implementation progress, the Michigan Autism Council seeks broad stakeholder input to set new priorities.

MDHHS & the Michigan Autism Council is inviting you to complete a survey to inform Michigan’s Autism State Plan 2018 Priorities Update. Your input is critical, and confidential.

Please know that the responses received will be used to positively direct the Michigan Autism Council to set future priorities.

Select the survey link below that matches your specific role, either family member or professional.

After completing the survey, please forward this email to any other families or colleagues that may be willing to participate.

Family Survey for a Child with ASD Ages Birth – 18 (10-15 minutes)
Click here for the survey link

Family Survey for a Child with ASD Ages 18 and older (10-15 minutes)
Click here for the survey link

Medical Professional Survey (5-7 minutes)
Click here for the survey link

Provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Services in the Home, Center, or Community Survey (5-7 minutes)
Click here for the survey link

Public Mental Health Professional Survey (5-7 minutes)
Click here for the survey link

School-Based Professional Survey (8-10 minutes)
Click here for the survey link

Or click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to reach all survey links on the Michigan Autism Council Page.

If you have questions about the surveys, please contact Amy Matthews at matthewa@gvsu.edu or 616-331-3513.

Surveys will be available for completion through Sunday, April 15, 2018.

We appreciate your time and willingness to participate!

Sincerely,
Michigan Autism Council
MI Department of Health and Human Services