MAFF Newsletter Winter 2013

 

In this issue: Mobile Crisis Intervention Guide, MAFF Book Corner, Tips on Playful Parenting, MAFF at Work on Beacon Hill View this email in your browser   Mobile Crisis Intervention: Everything Foster Parents Need to Know About the Emergency Home Visiting Service   Lynn didn’t know who to call when her teenage daughter was in the middle of a behavioral health crisis. She couldn’t call 911, because the girl was not violent. But Lynn couldn’t get her daughter into the car to get the help she needed. Then she remembered something her social worker had told her about: Mobile Crisis Intervention. “I called them and about an hour later they arrived,” Lynn said. “They were great. They talked to my daughter and calmed her down; they talked to me and my husband. When they did her assessment they decided she didn’t need to go anywhere immediately. They gave her a lot of information and resources and places to go for counseling. They followed up two days later.”   Since then Lynn has called four times for help with her 17-year-old son who was using drugs. She said the clinicians found a place for him to get treatment and helped her manage the confusion of insurance paperwork.   “It’s so huge for me that they can come to my house, so the kids can stay where they are comfortable,” Lynn said.   Mobile Crisis Intervention has helped Lynn and her family through many difficult situations. It can help you and your family too.  Here is everything you need to know about the service:   What is Mobile Crisis Intervention? Mobile Crisis Intervention is a service that works with MSPCC’s Kid’s Net to help children experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Trained clinicians will come to the child to identify, assess, treat, and stabilize the situation and reduce immediate risk of danger to the child or others. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.   Who is eligible for the service? Anyone under the age of 21 who is enrolled in MassHealth can receive help from the Mobile Crisis Intervention service.   Who should I call if I need help? Call MSPCC’s Kid’s Net Helpline at 1-800-486-3730. Trained clinicians will be able to evaluate your child’s needs and determine the best response to address those needs.  They may suggest Mobile Crisis Intervention and connect you with the Mobile Crisis Intervention team in your area or they may suggest another option.   What will happen when they arrive? One or two trained clinicians will come to your child, wherever he or she may be in the midst of a behavioral health crisis.  If the child is not with a guardian at the time, a guardian will have to give permission for any treatment. Clinicians will assess the crisis, provide a face-to-face therapeutic response, psychiatric consultation and, if needed, they will provide urgent psychopharmacology intervention. The team will also point you toward resources that can help and provide referrals. The service includes up to 7 days of follow-up.   Who should I call to discuss my experience with the service? The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership welcomes calls with feedback about the Mobile Crisis Intervention service.  Please call: (800) 495-0086.     From the Desk of the President   Dear MAFF members, In the last few months, we have witnessed horrific tragedies that have traumatized us all. Tragedies such as hurricane Sandy and the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut spawn many questions on improving our safety. In the case of the Newtown tragedy, for example, some feel that gun control would reduce the severity of these incidents. There are others who think mental health services need to be enhanced. Situations like these magnify the importance of advocating for children and families. As a parent of persons with mental health diagnoses I know how terrifying it can be to stabilize them and continue with proper supports. While it is hard to witness the heartache and trauma suffered by the victim’s families, it is reassuring to realize how fortunate we are here in Massachusetts. We have a great team of advocates who have worked tirelessly to obtain mental health reform with funds to provide services. Our board voted earlier this year to work on ensuring that families continue to receive mental health services when they are needed. At our board meeting, we were honored to have Karen Snyder, Rosie D. Court Monitor, outline the most recent updates to the program and discuss present kinks in the system. I feel quite honored to have such a great rapport with her and the other family partners who support, obtain and provide such great services. Even though great strides have been made, more needs to be done. One of our goals this year is to maintain a high quality support system by eliminating the waiting lists and delays in access to Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative services. The board additionally voted to promote academic achievement for foster children and foster youth. The objectives identified were to recommend foster parent training for educational advocacy for foster children, to modify MAPP curriculum to include education, to explore the creation of an education passport for foster children and foster youth, and to continue to advocate for full funding of the college Tuition/Fee Waiver Program for our teens. As the New Year unfolds, I ponder the great strides we made in 2012 and look forward to our newly established goals for the 2013. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Casey Family Services for all of their funding and tremendous support for foster parenting initiatives throughout the years. Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye. They announced that they are closing their doors at the beginning of this year. I would also like to thank everyone else who supported our initiatives in the past year. Please stay safe and have a prosperous and healthy New Year!   Sincerely,   Cheryl Tellier-Haddad President, Massachusetts Alliance for Families     The Latest Word From the Kid's Net Program   Dear MAFF members, As we begin the New Year and reflect on the joys and sorrows that have occurred during the past year, I know all of us hold a special place in our hearts for the 20 children and 6 adults who lost their lives at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Knowing your love of children, as you have chosen to care for the children of the Commonwealth – this tragedy must have hit your family hard. The victims will remain in our hearts forever. This past fall the MSPCC Kid’s Net Program and MAFF sponsored a conference titled “Playful Parenting: An Exciting New Approach to Raising Children.” The feedback from those who attended was very positive: 82 percent reported an overall rating of ‘excellent’ or ‘very good.’ “It gave me concrete ideas for problem solving,” one parent said of the presentation. “To play is a great approach to children and a good language to use to communicate,” another wrote. During the coming year the Kid’s Net program continues to offer training twice a month in each DCF area. This training, like all Kid’s Net services, is free. The trainings cover a variety of topics ranging from how to handle a behaviorally challenged child to how to take care of yourself! You should be receiving a schedule shortly in the mail. You can also check the schedule at www.MSPCC.org/kidsnet. If you would like to take part in a training that is not listed, please call your regional Kid’s Net Director and request it. Thank you for all that you do for children. Sincerely, Michele Benkis Director, Kid’s Net Program   The MAFF Book Corner   Oral Language Development Through Picture Books Picture books are a great way to improve kids’ listening skills, vocabulary and concept development, auditory memories, and story-telling skills. Here are some suggestions from speech-language therapist and children’s book author Lynn Plourde.   Add Words to Wordless Books Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day The Snowman by Raymond Briggs The Winter Visitors by Karel Hayes   Interactive/Pattern Books Thomas’ Snowsuit by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko The Blizzard Wizard by Lynn Plourde and John Aardema   “Describing” Books The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen Look-Alikes  by Joan Steiner   Riddle/Guessing Books Guess Whose Shadow? by Stephen R. Swinburne What in the World?  by Eve Merriam and Barbara J. Phillips-Duke Little Maine by Jeannie Brett     Playful Parenting Tips from Lawrence Cohen, Ph.D   Play therapy specialist Dr. Lawrence Cohen believes parents can use play to build trust and strong bonds with their children. He spoke to foster parents at the annual MAFF and Kid’s Net Conference in October, encouraging parents to join their kids in the world of play.   Dr. Cohen says children use play to explore the world, express themselves, and understand their emotions.   A licensed psychologist, Cohen believes his methods of playful parenting can help families use positive interactions to work through behavior problems and build self-confidence in children. He says play can be especially important for foster families because it breaks down boundaries and helps children dealing with trauma connect with their foster parents.   “Play is the universal language of bonding,” Cohen said. “This is how children will tell us what’s on their minds.” Dr. Cohen's Principles of Playful Parenting   • Join children in their world of play. • Focus on making a connection and encouraging confidence. • Learn to roughhouse playfully: Provide basic safety, look for every opportunity for connection and for increasing the child’s confidence, provide just the right level of resistance so the child can use all of his or her strength and no one gets hurt, in most instances let the child win and keep your own competitive feelings from getting in the way. • Reverse the roles: Let the child be the strong one, the capable one, the monster, or the doctor giving the vaccination. • Follow your child’s lead during playtime: Set aside one-on-one playtime where the child is in charge of choosing what to do and the parent is extra enthusiastic. • Encourage emotional expression: Children show their deepest feelings through tears and tantrums. • Rethink discipline: Cool off and make a connection before trying to “make your point” or shift a behavior. Choose a “time-in” like a family meeting or cuddle instead of a “time-out.” Instill good judgment and cooperation instead of enforcing obedience. Look beneath the surface of behavior to a child’s feelings and needs. Effective discipline always means an improved relationship with the child. Saying “no” does not have to include harshness. • Bring problems into the “play zone” in order to reduce tensions: During playtime a parent can gently introduce themes that are related to tension. For example, with tension about separation, a parent could playfully introduce goodbyes and reunions. To learn more about Dr. Cohen’s strategies, check out his book, “Playful Parenting: An Exciting New Approach to Raising Children.”     Did You Miss the NEFCA Conference? Foster Parent Deb Watts Has a Wrap-Up   The New England Foster Care Association (NEFCA) Conference was held in Portland, Maine from October 12 - 14, 2012 The NEFCA Conference presents an awesome opportunity to network with foster parents from all of the New England states, and to hear about how things are done in different areas. Friday’s keynote speaker was Derek Clark, a motivational speaker and author of the award-winning book series, “I will Never Give Up.” He has been featured on Headline News/CNN as an expert on foster care. Derek spent 13 years of his life in the foster system and has presented as the keynote speaker at the World Foster Care Conference. Saturday’s keynote address came from Dr. Joseph Crumbley, an expert on kinship care and transracial adoptions. He has provided training and consultation nationally and internationally, and his words were both educational and inspiring. Parents could then choose from a long list of workshops, including behavior management, working with trauma-involved children, adoption subsidy, the Life is Good Kids Foundation, creative writing with foster children, faith and fostering, and computer safety. I would encourage all foster parents to attend the next NEFCA Conference in spring of 2014 in Vermont.                                                  National Youth in Transition Survey The Department of Children and Families is asking foster parents to encourage and help their children fill out a survey about youth in transition. The Department is looking for feedback on its Independent Living Services from 19-year-olds who have been in DCF custody. Your social worker or area office will notify your child if he or she qualifies for the survey. The new survey follows a 2010/2011 survey of 17-year-olds in DCF custody. The survey can be completed online or on paper. DCF area offices will be available to help with the survey. If you have any questions please contact your child’s social worker.     State Budget Update What Foster and Adoptive Parents Should Keep Their Eyes on for Fiscal Year 2014   The process for developing the fiscal year 2014 budget gets underway this month, beginning with the Governor’s budget proposal. MAFF budget priorities for this year are: Full funding of the State College Tuition and Fee Waiver Program. The program provides crucial financial assistance for DCF-involved youth who enroll in a state university. Funding for the daily rate of support for foster children. MAFF is fighting to get foster parents a daily rate equivalent to the USDA reported rate for raising a child. SPEAK OUT!  CLICK HERE to receive action alerts and advocacy initiatives that affect your kids.   Copyright © *|2013|* *|MSPCC|*, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

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