Read our April 2023 newsletter here
Read our March 2023 newsletter here
Read our February 2023 newsletter here
Back by popular demand, the Collaborative’s Parent Catalyst Leadership Group is offering a WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) workshop in January 2023. This two-day training for parents and caregivers of young people with mental health challenges includes peer support in a safe environment.
The PCLG is hosting their final 2022 “Let’s Talk About It” learning series this month. This series is focused on Transition Resources for Young Adults. Tuesday, Nov. 15th at 7pm.
Register Here!
APPLY TODAY for the Family Coordinator position! The Family Coordinator will support increased access and connection to children’s mental health services in Hennepin County. The Family Coordinator will act as a liaison between community-based organizations, the children, youth, and families they serve and decision-making organizations such as local government and county agencies
October 2022
In this Issue
1. Parent News, Opportunities and Trainings
2. Collaborative Meetings & Training Announcements
3. Youth Programs are Critical Link for Parents in Children’s Mental Health Services
4. 988 Suicide and Crisis Line
5. Partner News
Parent New, Opportunities and Trainings
Contact Margaret at [email protected] to learn more or join other parents!
PCLG Parent Support Group ONLINE
The PCLG SUPPORT GROUP offers a safe place where you can connect with other parents & caregivers who are raising a child or youth with mental health challenges. Learn about resources and advocating for your child as you navigate through the system. Join us on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm to share your challenges and celebrate successes.
Our Next two Live ZOOM Meetings are November 10 and December 8 and 7:00pm
Questions? Contact Margaret at [email protected]
Let’s Talk About It Family Response and Stabilization Services
The PCLG hosted a “Let’s Talk About Family Response
and Stabilization Services”. Family Response and Stabilization Services is a new service which offers immediate in-person and culturally-specific support and stabilization services for youth (ages 5-18) and their par- ents in Hennepin County. Kayla Renney of Nexus/FACTS and Asad Dahir of Hennepin County Behavioral Health provided information to families on how to access help
before a situation with their child becomes a crisis. Review the event slides on page 5 and flier on page 17
Collaborative Meetings, Trainings & Funding Announcements
The Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative Governance Committee has been changed to October 26, 2022, from 3:30-5:00 pm. The Executive Committee will meet on November 4, 2022, from 9:00-11:00 am. If you would like to attend or access meeting materials, please contact Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn.
Join the Collaborative October 26th for a Parent Engagement Training!
Paulette Mader, Senior Training & Consultation Specialist, with New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care Training and Technical Assistance program through Rutger’s University will join us October 26th from 3:30-5:00 pm to provide an overview of family engagement in system of care and discuss strategies to engage families and in the Collaborative’s work.
The 2022 meeting schedule is available online here.
Funding Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for Youth Workers and Staff in Out-of-School Time Organizations
Parents in Hennepin County rely on youth serving organizations, programs and services to support their child’s mental health and wellness. According to the Collaborative’s journey mapping project, parents seek support to address their child’s social emotional health, e.g. support their activity needs through sports and outdoor activities or practice socializing in groups.
Youth workers have expressed concerns about increased needs mental health among children and youth in Hennepin County. Training youth workers and youth serving program staff and volunteers in youth mental health first aid can help move the children’s mental health care system upstream; and increase knowledge and awareness among adults working with children and youth.
The Collaborative approved funding $15,000 for Youth Mental Health First Aid [insert Youth-MHFA-1 flier] during their September Governance Meeting with the goal of training over 500 youth workers and volunteers in 2022 and 2023. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing offers Mental Health First Aid Training for both youth workers and teens.
Funding for School-Linked Mental Health Conference Awarded
The Collaborative approved $10,000 in funding to increase access to and attendance at Minnesota’s School Behavioral Health Conference in 2022. School-linked mental health providers, through the Hennepin County School-based Mental Health Work Group, will have access to these resources.
The Collaborative approved funding $15,000 for Youth Mental Health First Aid during their September Governance Meeting with the goal of training over 500 youth workers and volunteers in 2022 and 2023. More information on Youth Mental Health First Aid training can be found on page 18.
Evaluate the Collaborative
The Collaborative needs your feedback! We are asking all of our partners and stakeholders to please complete this survey. Your feedback will help us identify our successes, prioritize ways to improve, and shape our work for the coming year. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.
Please complete the survey by OCTOBER 31.
Youth Programs are Critical Link for Parents Supporting Children with Mental Health Needs
Families often turned to other types of community programs, such as sports, art classes, or mentoring to support their children with mental health concerns in Hennepin County. While these programs may benefit all children in a number of ways, there are a number of reasons why parents may seek these services as part of their plan for supporting their children’s mental health.
Parents may look for services to help children release energy, express emotions, receive guidance, or gain socialization. Parents may also value these services as an opportunity for some respite from the challenges of parenting.
Most commonly, parents sought support through sports and mentoring programming. Youth Programs are Critical Link for Parents Supporting Children with Mental Health Needs
To learn more about these findings see page 19.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call, text, or chat using 988 for anyone you know in need of mental health crisis support. Trained crisis specials can help de-escalate situations, support safety planning and offering coping skills. Phone services are currently available in English and Spanish.
The United States began the transition to the new three-digit dialing code 988 to reach crisis support. Calls, texts, and online chat from 988 will be routed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the Lifeline). The change is part of a nationwide effort to transition the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to a phone number people can more easily remember and access in times of crisis.
Partner News
People Incorporated Gives Insight Into School-Based Mental Health
People Incorporated in New Hope acts as a home base for mental health programs for kids, both day treatment and school based treatment. Bruce Cross supervises school-based therapists out of the New Hope location. Listen as he shares his vision of integrating more mental health into the school day. Or, read more about this important service on page 29.
Or, read more about this important service on page 29.
September 2022
In this Issue
1. Parent News, Opportunities and Trainings
2. Collaborative Meetings & Training Announcements
3. Workgroup Announcements
4. 988 Suicide and Crisis Line
5. Maternal and Infant Mental Health Resources
Parent New, Opportunities and Trainings
The Parent Catalyst Leadership Group (PCLG Parents) is a program of the Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative.
PCLG Parents work to improve the children’s mental health system AND provide support and guidance to parents and caregivers.
Contact Margaret at [email protected] to learn more or join other parents!
PCLG Parent Support Group ONLINE
The PCLG SUPPORT GROUP offers a safe place where you can connect with other parents & caregivers who are raising a child or youth with mental health challenges. Learn about resources and advocating for your child as you navigate through the system. Join us on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm to share your challenges and celebrate successes.
Our Next two Live ZOOM Meetings are September 8th and October 13th and 7:00pm
Questions? Contact Margaret at [email protected]
Let’s Talk About It
Family Response and Stabilization Services with Kayla Renney, Nexus/FACTS and Asad Dahir, Hennepin County
PCLG is hosting a Let’s Talk About It event focusing on a new service which offers immediate in-person and culturally-specific support and stabilization
services for youth (ages 5-18) and their parents in Hennepin County. Come learn how to access these important family stabilization services for your family!
This event is being held on September 20th from 7:00-8:00pm. If you are interested in attending, you can register here Questions? Contact Margaret at [email protected]
Register Here!
Classes for Parents and Caregivers
NAMI Minnesota is hosting training series for parents and caregivers. There are two different options found below, each option has two different meeting dates to minimize schedule complications and maximize attendance.
Understanding the Children’s Mental Health System This class offers parents and guardians an overview of the children’s mental health system: including assessment, diagnosis, treatment options, insurance options, supportive services & advocacy. They also review parent/guardian rights in the mental health and school system. These sessions take place Monday, September 12th 6:30-8:00 PM and Monday, September 26th 6:30-8:00 PM.
Register here for September 12th and Register here for September 26th
You’re the Expert: How to Successfully Advocate for your Child
This class stresses the value of parent engagement and advocacy to ensure the best care and treatment for your child in the doctor’s office, the mental health system, and in public education settings. This class will focus on self care so parents and guardians can effectively advocate for their loved one in all settings.
These sessions take place Thursday, September 15 6:30-8:00 PM and Wednesday, September 28 6:30-8:00 PM
Register here for September 15th and Register here for September 28th
Collaborative Meetings & Training Announcements
The Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative Governance Committee will meet on September 21, 2022, from 3:30-5:00 pm. The Executive will meet on October 7th, 2022, from 9:00-11:00 am. If you would like to attend
or access meeting materials, please contact
Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn.
The 2022 meeting schedule is available online here.
Collaborative Parent Engagement Training is Postponed to October 26th! Paulette Mader, Senior Training &
Consultation Specialist, with New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care Training and Technical Assistance program through Rutger’s University will join us October 26th from 3:30-5:00 pm to provide an overview of family engagement in system of care and discuss strategies to engage families and in the Collaborative’s work.
Workgroup Meeting Announcements
Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative and partners have created ad-hoc workgroups to respond the recommendations from children’s mental health journey mapping report, In their own voices: Parent experiences entering the Hennepin County children’s mental health system. The ad-hoc workgroups address the key themes from the report. Contact staff if you are
interested in participating in one of the workgroups to create a plan on how best to address the recommendations in the report.
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Awareness of children’s mental health and available services (Staff support: Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn) Parents express great concern finding and accessing services for their children that were appropriate.
Please reach out to staff support if you would like to attend future meetings.
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Access to peer support (Staff Support: Margaret Sullivan with support from Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn) Parents stated peer support was extremely helpful when searching for appropriate services for their child(ren). Please reach out to staff support if you would like to attend future meet-
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Offer navigators to help facilitate access to services (Combined with ad-hoc group #2) Most parents were challenged finding the right supports for their child(ren). Parents expressed gratitude for navigational support when provided by a professional, e.g. navigator and/or case manager. Please reach out to staff support if you would like to attend future meetings.
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Family-driven Care (Staff Support: Cheryl Holm-Hansen)
Parents expressed challenges working to secure appropriate services for their children, and feeling like they had to continually advocate even when finding services.
Please reach out to staff support if you would like to attend future meetings.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call, text, or chat using 988 for anyone you know in need of mental health crisis support. Trained crisis specials can help de-escalate situations, support safety planning and offering coping skills. Phone services are currently available in English and Spanish.
The United States began the transition to the new three-digit dialing code 988 to reach crisis support. Calls, texts, and online chat from 988 will be routed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the Lifeline). The change is part of a nationwide effort to transition the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to a phone number people can more easily remember and access in times of crisis.
Maternal & Infant Mental Health Resources
1-888-9-HELP4MOMS – National
Maternal Mental Health Hotline
Pregnancy and a new baby can bring a range of emotions. Many women feel
overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or exhausted at different times during their pregnancy or after having a baby.
These feelings can make it hard to care for yourself, care for your baby, or even do basic daily tasks. Sometimes these feelings
go away on their own. But for some women, these emotions, if they last more than two weeks, are more serious and need treatment.
About the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. The Hotline offers callers:
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Phone or text access to professional counselors
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Real-time support and information
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Response within a few minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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Resources
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Referrals to local and telehealth providers and support groups
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Culturally sensitive support
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Counselors who speak English and Spanish
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Interpreter services in 60 languages
Frequently Asked Questions about the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.
REFUGE Conference will be a two-day gathering of families and professionals committed to taking a grassroots approach in supporting the needs of the community and reducing the amount of African- American children in the child protection system.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. The Hotline offers callers: Phone or text access to professional counselors, Real-time support and information, Response within a few minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Resources and more