While the month of May is officially designated, “Mental
Health Month,” the month of April should be called “Children’s
Mental Health Month.” April is chocked full of great conferences
for families and professionals to learn about children’s
mental health services. So that we do not inundate you
with multiple e-mails, we have put together a calendar
of events for April.
We hope that families will take advantage
of all or some of these learning opportunities. Be sure
to ask if scholarships or reduced registration fees are
available for family members.
-Jane A. Walker
Executive Director
April 6
Treatment Foster Care Research Symposium
Sponsored By: Mental
Hygiene Administration, University of Maryland, Baltimore,
and Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental
Health
Treatment foster care is a critically important community-based
service for children with serious mental health and behavioral
needs. The keynote speaker is Betsy Farmer, an Assistant
Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine and Principal
Investigator of the Therapeutic Foster Care in a System
of Care Study, an NIMH-funded study of enhanced therapeutic
foster care for youth in long-term placement.
Location: Best Western Hotel & Conference Center, Baltimore
Registration: $20
Contact: Wendy Baysmore 410.646.7758
April 7th
2nd Annual Children’s Mental Health Conference
Sponsored By: Mental Hygiene Administration, Office of
Child & Adolescent Services
Children and youth now comprise more
than 50% of the individuals served by Maryland’s public
mental health system. In 2003, the Mental Hygiene Administration
developed Maryland’s Blueprint for Children’s Mental Health
to articulate a vision and priorities for children with
mental health needs. The conference will highlight the
vision and strategies contained in the Blueprint and provide
an update on the numerous initiatives taking place around
the state for children.
Location: Holiday Inn Select, Timonium
Registration: $35
Contact: Wendy Baysmore 410.646.7758
April 8th
Supporting Academic Success for Children with Mental
Illness
Sponsored by: NAMI Montgomery
County
Educational Consultant, Sue Mikolic, from Cleveland, Ohio,
will focus on fundamental issues that are central to building
a supportive academic program including barriers inherent
to mental illness that limit children’s availability for
education.
Location: Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church
801 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring
Registration: $10
Contact: NAMI Montgomery County 301.949.5852
April 6-9th
Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
is the largest international professional organization
dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals
with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or
the gifted.
Location: Baltimore Convention Center
Registration and information: www.cec.sped.org
April 12th
Mental Health Workforce Summit
Sponsored by: Division
of Special Education/Early Intervention Services, Maryland
State Department of Education and the Mental Hygiene Administration
of the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
The Summit is part of Maryland’s Phase Two collaborative
effort addressing the recruitment, training and retention
of qualified professionals and paraprofessionals to work
with children and youth with mental health needs and their
families.
Location: Columbia Hilton, Columbia
Deadline: April 4, 2005
Contact: Karen Brown, Maryland State Dept of Education
410.333.0298
April 28-29
Overcoming Mental Health Disparities for Children
Sponsored by: University
of Maryland School of Nursing
Increasing attention is being directed toward understanding
the magnitude and causes of disparities in health care.
Researchers have studied racism and care for ethnic minorities
associated with children and adolescents but more visibility
is needed. This conference will focus on solutions for
disparities in mental health care for these very vulnerable
groups.
Location: University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore
Registration: $190 Full conference / $110 One day
Deadline: April 15, 2005
Contact: 410.706.3767 or http://nursing.umaryland.edu/ncca
April 27th
Special Topics Training: Issues in Adoption
Sponsored by: Maryland
Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health
Adopted children, as they grow and mature, sometimes need
help resolving the sadness they feel about not growing
up with birth parents. The Center for Adoption Support
and Education (CASE) will present developmental and psycho-
social issues that adoptees may experience and affective
approaches for children and families.
Location: Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s
Mental Health
106312 Little Patuxent Parkway #119, Columbia
Contact: Lynne Humphries-Russ 410.730.8267
