The economic forecast is glum. Budget cuts seem to be a regular occurrence from the Governor. More cuts were announced last week and it is possible that additional cuts will be announced in the fall. Our children with mental health needs are among the most vulnerable populations. A lack of services can result in dire consequences and more expensive services in the long run.
As a family member, caregiver, provider or advocate, you can make your voice heard by the governor. Tell your story! Fax it to The Honorable Martin O'Malley at 410.974.3275. As he considers future budget cuts, urge him to preserve funding for critical mental health services provided through the Department of Mental Hygiene and the Interagency Fund administered through the Governor's Office for Children. You also can weigh in at the governor's website www.governor.maryland.gov/budgetcuts.asp to offer your suggestions.
May your child's school year get off to a good start, in spite of the economy!
- Jane A. Walker
Executive Director
Homework is on the Horizon: Back to School Tips
The first day of school can be hard to negotiate for any child, but those with mental health challenges may face particularly acute stress over a new class, new school, new friends, new teachers and perhaps entirely new ways of doing things. Here are some tips from the group Pathfinders for Autism on how to make that first day back to school go as smoothly as possible:
Treat the first day of school like a holiday
Build up excitement for the first day of school like you do for Christmas or your child's birthday. Circle it on the calendar, count down the days, pick out a special outfit (or item the child can take to school) and plan a celebration for that afternoon or evening. Encourage your child to participate in buying school supplies and let her help pick her materials.
Visit the school
Show your child his classroom and even his locker and desk if possible. If you go before the classroom is set up, go back nearer to the first day so your child will have a chance to see how the class will look when he gets there that first day. Take a walk through the halls, practicing the routes he will travel to the various classes, including lunch. While you're there, take pictures your child can refer to back at home if that's something that helps him make adjustments. If this is a new school for your child, you also may want to consider visiting the child's previous school and reinforcing the message that he's not changing schools because people at the old school didn't want him. Sometimes kids have anxieties over these feelings but they aren't able to articulate those fears.
Meet with the teacher and any staff that will be closely involved with your child
Ask for a copy of a typical day's schedule so you can prepare your child with visual schedules and discussions. Let the teacher meet your child and go over your child's reactions, learning styles, favorite things and what challenges and frustrates your child. Make sure you share with the teacher systems that work for you at home. If you have charts or tools you use at home, offer a duplicate set for the classroom for consistency for your child.
Play school
Go through typical school activities, practice walking up to school, unpacking, taking jackets on and off, walking quietly through a hallway. Keep them used to the feeling of "school" even if it's at home.
Reset the clocks
If you've allowed your child to stay up later during the summer, start rolling back bedtime now. When school starts, your child will have an easier time falling into the new schedule.
Use an alarm clock to wake the child
There aren't too many kids who want to get up for school! Let the alarm clock be the "bad guy" waking your child, not you. Consider using a CD player/clock combo so your child can wake to his favorite song rather than a buzzing noise.
Make sure your child's IEP is up to date
If you haven't looked at your child's IEP since your last annual meeting, go through it and make sure the goals and accommodations listed still are relevant. Have your child's needs changed since your last meeting? Has she met some of the goals listed and is now ready to take on new challenges? Remember, you don't have to wait for an annual meeting—you can request an IEP meeting at ANY time.
Get your paperwork organized
While you're thinking about organizing new binders, paper and pencils, take a moment to evaluate if your own paperwork is in order. If not, get yourself organized and ready for "back to school" as well!
Cereal or Oatmeal: Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day
Research has shown that young children enter school ready to learn and school-age children focus on their work when they have a good breakfast and lunch. Go to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) website to learn about several federal food and nutrition programs that provide low-cost or no-cost breakfast, lunch and in some instances afterschool meals for kids: www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/schoolnutrition.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) are federally funded nutrition programs administered by MSDE. These programs provide nutritionally balanced meals to children each school day. Some children can receive free or very low-cost meals.
The Special Milk Program provides funding for milk served to children in schools and child care institutions who do not participate in other federal meal service programs. The program reimburses schools for the milk they serve.
Financial Assistance is available to children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level; they are eligible for free meals. Children from families with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals. These students pay no more than 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast.
Contact your school nutrition department to fill out a school meal application.
At-Risk Afterschool Supper Program reimburses afterschool programs for nutritious meals served to children ages 18 and younger during the school year (including weekends and school breaks). Maryland is one of 10 states in the country with the At-Risk, Afterschool Supper Program! Schools and child care centers are eligible to participate if they are located in an attendance area of a school in which at least 50 percent of enrolled children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Afterschool providers and schools interested in the opportunity to participate in the afterschool meals program should contact MSDE.
For information on any of these programs, contact the Maryland State Department of Education School & Community Nutrition Programs Branch at 410.767.0214 or go to www.eatsmartmaryland.org.
Understanding Evidence-Based Practice
The Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health and the Maryland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Institute have just published a handbook for families caring for a child with mental health needs detailing the term "evidence-based practice."
Parents can add this new tool to their arsenal of aids to bolster their ability to make informed decisions concerning their child with mental health or behavioral needs. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) are treatments that, when implemented correctly and appropriately, can make a real difference in a child's life.
EBP generally refers to a program or treatment that has been proven through scientific studies to be effective in improving outcomes for a specific population. It is based on careful research over time, not on informal reports or common practices.
Since 2003, Maryland agencies serving children have focused on bringing seven EBPs into communities throughout the state, focusing on youth with intense and complicated mental health and behavioral needs. These programs include:
- multidimensional treatment foster care;
- multisystemic treatment;
- functional family therapy;
- brief strategic family therapy;
- aggression replacement training;
- supported employment; and
- trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
Other evidence-based practices include interpersonal behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, behavior skills training and medications. An example of a school-based EBP is the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program, used in schools throughout Maryland.
For a copy of the complete handbook, please contact the Maryland Coalition at 410.730.8267 or 1.888.607.3637.
Recognizing Learning Disabilities in Children
Children with mental health issues and learning difficulties can encounter great problems in the educational environment. Too often, educators—and sometimes parents/caregivers and medical personnel as well—focus on one and not the other. The child can even be caught in the middle between one set of adults dealing with one side of the coin and a second set of adults dealing with the other side!
Such a dual diagnosis means a greater chance for problems in school and perhaps even outright failure. Children with learning disabilities usually have a normal range of intelligence and try very hard to follow instructions and focus—yet despite this effort, he or she may not master school tasks and fall behind. Learning disabilities affect at least 10 percent of all schoolchildren.
It is believed that learning disabilities are caused by a difficulty with the nervous system that affects receiving, processing or communicating information—which may coincide with areas of difficulty for some children with mental health issues as well. Some children with learning disabilities are also hyperactive; they are unable to sit still, are easily distracted and have a short attention span.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, learning disabilities are treatable, but may have profound consequences if not detected and treated as early as possible. A child who is giving it her all in school, only to find repeated failure, may develop low self-esteem and bad behaviors because she would rather be seen as bad than stupid. Such effects can snowball in a child already dealing with mental health challenges.
Some signals of learning disabilities are when a child:
- has difficulty understanding and following instructions;
- has trouble remembering what someone just told him or her;
- fails to master reading, spelling, writing and/or math skills, and thus fails schoolwork;
- has difficulty distinguishing right from left and difficulty identifying words or a tendency to reverse letters, words or numbers;
- lacks coordination in walking, sports or small activities, such as holding a pencil or tying a shoelace;
- easily loses or misplaces homework, schoolbooks or other items; and
- cannot understand the concept of time, such as being confused by "yesterday," "today" and "tomorrow."
A comprehensive evaluation by mental health and educational professionals, possibly including educational testing, can help sort out various issues a child is facing. Parents who suspect their child may have a learning disability can raise the subject with their child's teacher or school-based team.
Maryland Access to Justice Commission Events Continue
The Maryland judiciary's new Maryland Access to Justice Commission continues to hold listening events to fulfill its mission to make and implement recommendations to expand access to the state's civil justice system, including juvenile court.
One of the commission's goals is to enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters for persons who encounter barriers when dealing with the courts or trying to solve a legal problem.
The Critical Barriers Committee of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission has been meeting with Maryland citizens and organizations that serve persons from a range of groups in regional events to hear about their experiences with the civil justice system. The events are designed to focus on how courts handle cases and how individuals can get help in accessing the courts and the civil justice system.
Listening events will be held at the following date and locations:
- Sept. 22, Western Maryland Area— Allegany College, Cumberland
- Oct. 27, Upper Eastern Shore Area— Chesapeake College, Wye Mills
- Nov. 24, Lower Eastern Shore Area— Wicomico County Library, Salisbury
- Dec. 15, Southern Maryland Area—Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, California
- Jan. 19, 2010, Central Maryland Area—Judiciary Education and Conference Center, Annapolis
You may register online at www.mdcourts.gov/mdatjc, and find directions to the events as well. All of the events will be held from 6–8 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Registration is required.
Practical Life Skills for Young Adults with Autism or Asperger's
The next 10-week session of Practical Life Skills for Young Adults with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome will begin in mid-September.
Each of the 10 class members will be provided with an individualized outline for navigating the daily experiences of life. Class sessions will include such topics as casual conversation for social situations, job skills, time and money management and dating, and will use videos, role playing and other visual imagery to help class members understand the presented concepts.
Sessions will be held at Villa Maria in Lutherville on Mondays from 6:30–8 p.m. for youth ages 15–18, and on Wednesdays from 6:30–8 p.m. for those ages 19 through their late 20s. An interview is required before the first session; call Janet Palmer at 410.343.2153 for an appointment.
Upcoming Events
Family Leadership Institute for Latino Families in Montgomery County —Sept. 11–12, 25–26. Parents and caregivers of children with behavioral difficulties can learn about leadership, collaboration and advocacy. For more information, contact Joan Charquero at 301.312.7771 or jcharquero@mcfof.org.
Instituto de Liderazgo de Familia para las Familias Latinas del Condado de Montgomery—11 y 12 de septiembre y 25 y 26 de septiembre. Los padres y cuidadores de los ninos con problemas de comportamiento aprender sobre el liderazgo, la colaboración y la promoción. Para mas información, contacte a Joan Charquero a 301.312.7771 o jcharquero@mcfof.org.
Autism Expo 2009—Oct. 10. More than 10 speakers and 40 vendors are planned for this expo focusing on services. Topics to be covered include the autism waiver and assistance in finding resources to pay for therapies. Jim Rouse Theater, Columbia, MD. Free, but online registration is required at www.autismexpo.com.
HOLD THE DATE! 10th Anniversary Luncheon for the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health—Oct. 30. Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center, Ellicott City. For more information, contact the Coalition at 410.730.8267 or 1.888.607.3637.
