14 state lawmakers introduced a 21-bill package on October 7, 2015. With bipartisan, bicameral support, this package aims to reform Michigan’s juvenile justice system, focusing on raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 17 to 18 and permitting youth access to age-appropriate rehabilitative services. Other bills in the package would also prohibit youth under 18 from being placed in adult jails or prisons. Click here to read more on the National Juvenile Justice Network Webpage.

Research shows that parents and caregivers who spend at least 15 minutes a day talking with their child can build the foundation for a strong relationship and help prevent bullying.

SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, developed the free KnowBullying mobile app to help facilitate meaningful conversations about bullying anytime, anywhere.

The free App’s features include:

• Conversation starters
• Tips and strategies to prevent bullying for children ages 3–6, 7–13, and teens
• Warning signs to recognize if your child is engaging in bullying, being bullied, or witnessing bullying
• Reminders to talk with your child when the time feels right
• Section for educators: Prevent bullying in the classroom and support children who are being bullied.

Click here to learn more and download the free app today!

In response to growing concern on the treatment of youth in Michigan’s adult prison system, Representatives Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Peter Lucido (R- Shelby), Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth), Klint Kesto (R- Commerce), and Robert Kosowski (D-Westland) announced legislation today to reduce the number of young people exposed to the dangers of adult jails and prisons and improve public safety. Over the past ten years, more than 20,000 young people under 18 have been convicted as adults in Michigan, mostly for non-violent offenses with no prior juvenile record.

To learn more about this bill package click here to link to the Raise the Age MI’s New Release.

Project Homeless Connect (PHC) events are designed as  “one-stop, one-day” community events for individuals who are at risk of becoming homeless or are already homeless. The events are collaborations of local Continuum of Care bodies, community partners and volunteers working to bring together community resources that can support individuals and families in times of economic hardship. Events are tailored to the needs of local individuals and resources available range from direct connections to  social service providers to free goods and services, health screenings, assistance with employment or foreclosures, drug and alcohol counseling, haircuts and massages. Project Connect events vary in size and resources in each community, but share a common goal  to help remedy homelessness and economic hardships of their neighbors.

To learn more about the project and view the schedule for upcoming events click here to visit the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness Website.

September’s events include:

Chippewa Project Homeless Connect on September 24th in Sault Saint Marie

and

Isabella Project Homeless Connect on September 26th in Sanilac

ACMH’s website will post flyers about individual event as we receive them.

Project Homeless Connect is part of a national initiative that supports events coordinated through local homeless coalitions. In Michigan Project Homeless Connect is supported by the Michigan Supportive Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) who will be hosting local events across Michigan in partnership with local agencies designed to connect homeless and at-risk individuals with necessary services in one convenient location.

 

 

To access to the Mental Health Association of Michigan’s survey about your mental health insurance experience click on the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mhamparity .

For more information about the survey e-mail your questions to: [email protected] or contact the Mental Health Association of Michigan 1-248-473-3143 for more information.

Are you a parent or guardian of a student with a disability who has been restrained or secluded in school?

Are you a teacher or school administrator who has witnessed restraint and seclusion of students with
disabilities?

If so, Michigan Protection and Advocacy wants to hear from you.

There is currently a nationwide push to better regulate the unsafe use of restraint and/or seclusion in
our schools.

If you would like to share your story, please contact Mark McWilliams at [email protected] or call

1-800-288-5923.

All information shared with MPAS will be kept confidential.

Click here to read the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency’s (MCCD) September Newsletter.

**The Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency (MCCD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness of policies and systems that address the prevention and reduction of youth and adult crime.

Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), sponsors National Recovery Month to increase awareness of behavioral health conditions. This observance promotes the belief that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and/or substance use disorders.

The 2015 Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Visible, Vocal, Valuable!” highlights opportunities for recovery education, support, and celebration and focuses on how the community can: be visible by knowing the prevalence of mental and/or substance use disorders; be vocal by noticing warning signs and symptoms; and, be valuable by raising awareness of the resources available to help.

This year’s event and resources focus on four specific communities: High School Students, College Students, Family Supports and Recovery Peers.

Click here to link to information and toolkit resources for these groups and to learn more. To download the toolkit directly click 2015-rm-toolkit-section-targeted-outreach.

WASHINGTON–The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) released the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court’s ruling in King v. Burwell, the case challenging the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits and subsidies in the federal Marketplace. Click Affordable Care Act Media Release to download the National Law Program’s Media Release to learn more.

Currently Michigan is one of only 9 states who automatically prosecutes all 17 year-olds as adults. Join the over 150 organizations and individuals who have already pledged their support to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction in Michigan. Click here to learn more or pledge your support today.