Families as Allies

NAMI Mississippi Holiday Hello 2022
2022-12-08 11:30 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | NAMI Mississippi, 298 Commerce Park Dr. Suite C, Ridgeland, 39157, United States
NAMI Mississippi
NAMI Mississippi is inviting everyone to stop by and grab light snacks, or simply say “hello” and hear more about NAMI programs, and meet the staff, board members and volunteers.
Learn more here >>

Champions for Children Gala Raffle
2022-12-08 17:00
Mississippi Families for Kids
Are you feeling lucky?
Help Mississippi Families for Kids fundraise for 2023 services by purchasing Gala raffle tickets for a chance to win one of three amazing prizes!
Raffle tickets must be purchased online by 5 p.m. December 8th. If you are attending our Gala event, you can purchase raffle tickets in person until the drawing takes place at the end of the event.
Raffle tickets enter you into a drawing for:

House cleaning services from Home and Business Services and Property Management valued at $250
A Regions Cruiser Bike valued at $250
An Alaska cruise voucher for two on the Sapphire Princess departing from Anchorage on 7/5/23 provided by Pam Anderson- Cruise Planners valued at $2,750.

Once a winner is drawn for one item, they cannot win another item: no repeat winners.
Proceeds from the Champions For Children Gala benefit Mississippi Families for Kids a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible.
Purchase raffle tickets here >>
Thank you for your support.

Champions for Children Gala
2022-12-08 18:30 | Duling Hall, 622 Duling Ave., Jackson, MS, United States
Mississippi Families for Kids
Join Mississippi Families for Kids on December 8th at 6:30 for a gala to fundraise for permanency services for 2023!
Enjoy a night at Duling Hall in Jackson, MS filled with music, dinner, drinks, drawdown, and an online raffle. It will be a night of celebration!
Black tie attire encouraged.
Proceeds from the Champions For Children Gala benefit Mississippi Families for Kids a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible.
Purchase tickets here >>

The Power of Words
2022-12-10 13:00 - 15:00
Junior Auxiliary of Byram & Terry
Join the Junior Auxiliary of Byram & Terry’s family-friendly event for FREE developmental, behavioral, and autistic screenings on-site.
This informative event will have developmental, behavioral and autism screenings, sessions on childhood suicide awareness and other engaging and fun activities for all ages!

Parents who attend will have the opportunity to enter for the chance to win a $150 visa gift card!

Register today at https://bit.ly/PowerofWords2022.

Section 504, ADAA and Children with Disabilities or Special Health Care Needs: What Parents Need to Know
2022-12-13 11:00 - 12:00
Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center
When people think about educating students with disabilities, the first thing that may come to mind is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Although students can receive accommodations, related services, and special education under both Section 504 and IDEA, the two laws vary in a number of important ways. This presentation will provide parents with information to help them understand the law and what it means to their child.
Register here >>

Supportive Coaching for Parents Supporting Other Parents
2022-12-14 12:00, 2023-01-11 12:00, 2023-02-08 12:00
For any parents supporting other parents in any system. Parent peer support specialists, parent consultants, parent educators and parents who have completed parent peer support training are strongly encouraged to attend. We will discuss current trends in parent peer support, national standards for parent peer support, continuing education opportunities, local and state issues affecting parent peer support. The group also provides support and coaching for any specific issues participants share. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 12 noon. We ask that anyone attending respect the confidentiality of the group.
Register here >>

Board of Mental Health Meeting
2022-12-15 09:00
State Agency: Department of Mental Health

Board Committee meetings will be held prior to the Board meeting. The full Board will begin at 9 a.m.
Click here for notice information:
https://www.ms.gov/dfa/pmn/Home/NoticeDetails/15dde7f2-4ef3-4245-b4df-22f13f07e783

Meeting Location-in person
Department of Mental Health
239 N. Lamar Street 1101 Robert E. Lee Building
Jackson, MS. 39201
Contact Information
Grenaye Sullivan 601-359-6260
grenaye.sullivan@dmh.ms.gov

Virtual: Bring Your IEP and Other School Questions
2022-12-15 12:00, 2023-01-19 12:00
This hour is open for any family member to drop in for all or some of the time to ask questions or get feedback about IEP issues and other school situations. We ask anyone who stops by to respect the confidentiality of the group and not share anything discussed in the group outside of the group.
Does your school ever call and ask you to come pick up your child who has an IEP because your child is upset?
Has the school told you to take your child for an evaluation and not bring them back to school until you get an evaluation?
Do you ever wonder if your child needs an IEP? Does your child have an IEP and you wonder whether or not it is working?
If you said yes to any of these questions, or you have other questions about things going on in your child’s school, then come join us.
Register here >>

I Don't Know How to Have a Happy Holiday: Grieving During the Holidays
2022-12-15 12:00
Center for Resilient Families at Arizona State University & The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

In this “I Don’t Know How” Series presented by the Center for Resilient Families at Arizona State University & The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, we explore difficult topics to equip parents with the tools to navigate and provide support for various mental health conditions.

Join us Thursday, December 15th at 1:00 pm ET/10:00 am PT, for “I Don’t Know How to Have a Happy Holidays.” We’ll hear from providers who are working with bereaved parents and caregivers as well as a parent advocate to explore personal experiences faced by parents whose families are struggling with grief and loss this holiday season and talk with providers who help youth and families cope with those feelings.

You can register for the webinar here: https://bit.ly/3Hm0Mnj

BIDD Advisory Council
2022-12-16 10:00
Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The Department of Mental Health and the Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (BIDD) Advisory Council, comprised of service providers and advocacy organizations, are launching an awareness campaign in recognition of March as Intellectual and Developmental Disability Awareness Month. The campaign, titled “Celebrating Mississippians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,” is the first of its kind for Mississippi, and highlights the connection between people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their communities.
Notice details:
https://www.ms.gov/dfa/pmn/Home/NoticeDetails/37343190-691b-4588-8bfd-2fbd936155d7

Leadership Coaching and Policy Discussion
2022-12-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-01-25 12:00 - 13:00
This group focuses on understanding current policy issues and also opportunities for leadership training graduates to serve on decision-making committees. Leadership training graduates are strongly encouraged to attend, but the meetings are open to anyone who is interested in learning more about policy.
Register here >>

Drop In Family Support Time
2023-01-05 12:00, 2023-02-02 12:00
This hour is open for any family member to drop in for all or some of the time to share any concerns or get feedback from others about handling different situations. We ask anyone who stops by to respect the confidentiality of the group and not share anything discussed in the group outside of the group.
Does your school ever call and ask you to come pick up your child who has an IEP because your child is upset?
Has the school told you to take your child for an evaluation and not bring them back to school until you get an evaluation?
Do you ever wonder if your child needs an IEP? Does your child have an IEP and you wonder whether or not it is working?
If you said yes to any of these questions, or you have other questions about things going on in your child’s school, then come join us.
Register here >>

Peer Support Training
2023-01-09 08:30 - 2023-01-13 16:30
Are you a parent or caregiver raising or raising a child aged 0-21 who has mental health or behavioral health challenges? Would you like to use your lived experience to help another parent who is on the same journey?
Then being a parent peer supporter may be for you!
What is Parent Peer Support? Parent peer support is a parent/caregiver or using their lived experience to support another parent/caregiver who is going through similar experiences.
Who Can Be a Parent Peer Supporter? A parent peer supporter is a biological parent, adoptive parent, or caregiver with legal custody who is currently raising or has raised a child with these characteristics:

The child is currently between the ages of 0-21, or was when they first began having challenges.
The child has an emotional, social, behavioral or substance use disability.
The child received services in or navigated the mental health or a related system (for example, a child with an IEP related to behavior issues at school).

How Do I Become a Parent Peer Supporter? The Department of Mental Health certifies parent peer supporters in the mental health system. Families as Allies conducts virtual training for the certification. These are the dates of upcoming trainings:

January 9-13. 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: December 5, 2022)
March 20-24, 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: February 17, 2023)
May 15-19, 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: April 14, 2023)

Click here for the application packet.
Who Should Take the Training?
Any parent or caregiver who is raising a child who has challenges and:

Is interested in working for a community mental health center or another agency certified by the Department of Mental Health. Completing the training does not guarantee you a job, but it helps ensure you’ll be ready for one.
Is interested in doing part-time contractual work for Families as Allies. We are building our pool of contractual employees.
Supports parents in any system. This training will strengthen your skills and help you network with other parent peer supporters.
Would like to learn how to support other parents in the same shoes in any child-serving system. We currently have funds to pay training stipends to parents who are—or have been—involved in the youth court system and would like to learn how to support other parents going through the same thing. Contact us at 601-355-0915 or info@faams.org to learn more.

Families LEAD Virtual Advocacy Academy (Part 1)
2023-01-11 10:00 - 14:00
Families LEAD
Families LEAD is a collaborative project of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, MS Parent Training & Information (MSPTI) Center, Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine (MCAM) with Dr. Victoria Kivlan, Pediatric Audiologist as the Director of this initiative, and Toni Hollingsworth, Project Director of the Mississippi Hearing-Vision Project (MH-VP).
The project is funded by a subgrant from the Mississippi State Department of Health. The purpose of the project is to recruit and train family members of children/youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs to become family leaders, positive advocates, peer-to-peer supporters and family trainers across the state.
Curriculum will include:

What is Advocacy?
Parenting a Child with a Disability
Skills for Effective Advocacy
Communication and Collaboration
Dispute Resolution

Families LEAD has three goals:

Recruit and train family members of children/youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs as Positive Advocates, Peer-to-Peer Mentors, Family Trainers, and/or Family Leaders across the state.
Provide technical assistance to ten trained Peer-to-Peer Mentors who provide support to matched families across the state.
Support Family Leaders, Family Trainers, and Peer-to-Peer Mentors to engage in leadership positions locally, regionally, and/or at the state level.

Families LEAD will achieve its goals by using a three-tier process that trains families to become effective advocates, serve on groups, and become leaders.
The first tier of training will be the Families LEAD Advocacy Academy held in January. The second tier will be Serving on Groups held in March. And the third tier will be Leading by Convening held in April.
For more information about Families LEAD or how to register for upcoming Advocacy Academies, call (601) 969-0601 or email Brittany Greer, MSCCD Project Support Coordinator, at brittany@mspti.org.
Lunch will be provided
Register here >>

NTTAC Event: Dismantling the Foster Care-to-Prison Pipeline
2023-01-11 12:00
National Training & TA Center for Child, Youth, & Family Mental Health
The term “foster care-to-prison pipeline” refers to the pathways that position children and youth in the foster care system to be far more likely than their peers to experience incarceration and justice system involvement. According to the Juvenile Law Center, 90% of youth with five or more foster placements will enter the justice system. In a separate study from the University of Chicago, over half of foster youth reported being arrested, spending the night in a correctional facility, or being convicted of a crime. Youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth, who are overrepresented in the foster care system, are disproportionately impacted by these outcomes.
By engaging in courageous conversations, participants will learn how the foster care-to-prison pipeline impacts youth and families within systems of care. Further, participants will be inspired by the lived experience of presenters Yusef Preseley and Marquen Teetz. They will be called to action as the webinar asks them to imagine ways of dismantling the foster care-to-prison pipeline in their local communities.
Session Duration: 90 minutes

Register here >>

Research Connections with Louisiana and Mississippi Chapters - The Social Roots of Adolescent Suicide
2023-01-13 11:30 - 12:30
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Join AFSP’s Research Connection: The Social Roots of Suicide presented by Anna Mueller, PhD
Learn more about Dr. Mueller’s work on the social roots of suicide and the social-contextual and upstream risk (and protective) factors for suicide. Dr. Mueller will also explain why youth and individuals with lived experience must be included as partners in suicide prevention and how to identify social-contextual issues that schools, communities, parents, and mental health workers must consider when managing a context with a disproportionate number of youth suicides or suicide attempts.
Community members, mental health professionals, school administrators, educators, youth leaders, and parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
About Dr. Mueller: Anna S. Mueller, Ph.D., is the Luther Dana Waterman Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Indiana University. She is the Principal Investigator of the Social Worlds & Youth Well-being Study which is a project that aims to identify effective, equitable, and sustainable strategies to prevent suicide in schools and their communities. In 2020, she was named one of Science News’s Top 10 Early Career Scientists to Watch. Her research on youth suicide has received numerous awards for its contribution to knowledge, including the Edwin Shneidman Early Career Award from the American Association of Suicidology. Her work is supported by grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Western Colorado Community Foundation. She is passionate about helping schools, families, and communities find better ways to prevent suicide and heal after suicide losses.
About AFSP’s Research Connection Program: The more we understand about suicide, the more we can prevent it. AFSP-funded research is essential to our mission of saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. Our research funding goes toward studies from neurobiological, psychosocial, and genetic perspectives, as well as topics including clinical treatment, community intervention, and survivors of suicide loss. Our grants help sponsor young investigators, engage senior researchers in suicide prevention, and foster new ideas from suicide researchers at all levels to build a scientific community. We believe it is important to share our findings to increase public knowledge and awareness. Learn more at afsp.org/research. Watch video interviews of experts from around the world as they discuss their work and the future of suicide prevention research here.
*For virtual events, a Zoom link will be sent 1-2 days before the presentation.

Register here >>

Families LEAD Advocacy Academy
2023-01-14 10:00 - 14:00 | Ability Works, 613 Pegram Drive, Tupelo, MS, MS, 38801, United States

You’re Getting Warmer: How Using a System of Care Self-Assessment Can Improve Mental Health Outcomes for Your State or Community
2023-01-17 11:00
The National Training and Technical Assistance Center
This three-part webinar series will provide an overview of the System of Care Self-Assessment Tool and demonstrate how it can be used to improve outcomes for children and families. Developed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services over the past five years, this tool is now publicly available and can be adapted for use by any state, county, or tribe. Attendees will learn how the tool can be used to engage cross-sector partners, youth, parents, and caregivers in System of Care planning efforts. Key elements of successful implementation, state-level considerations, and anticipated outcomes will also be explored.
Register here >>

SESSION TOPICS
Session 1: Jan. 17, 2023 – This session will provide an overview of the assessment and state-level implementation considerations.
Session 2: Feb. 21, 2023 – This session will focus on local implementation considerations and strategies for engaging community members in the assessment and action-planning process at the city, county, or community level.
Session 3: Mar. 21, 2023 – This session will focus on implementing the SOC Self-Assessment in Tribal communities. Topics covered will include best practices for engaging tribal members in the assessment and action planning process and state- and local-level considerations for supporting Tribal communities.
This webinar series will provide participants with the knowledge, resources, and strategies for successful implementation of an innovative System of Care self-assessment process in their state or community. Handouts and resources will be provided.

Families LEAD Virtual Advocacy Academy (Part 2)
2023-01-18 10:00 - 14:00

Reframing Language in Behavioral Health Care
2023-01-18 13:00 - 14:30
National Federation of Families
Language is a powerful tool that shapes how we see the world and other people. The words we use matter, as they have the potential to be both empowering and harmful. This is especially true for words used to describe the experiences of people living with mental illness and substance use challenges. During this webinar, presenters will introduce four new language tools that outline outdated language, updated language, and why these changes matter.
The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion on how behavioral health care providers can use language to create a more inclusive and respectful environment for families, older adults, African Americans, and LGBTQ+ populations.
This webinar is hosted in partnership with the National Family Support Technical Assistance Center, the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging, and the Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity.
Register here >>

Families as Allies Board Quarterly Board Meeting
2023-01-19 18:30 - 19:30
Quarterly board meeting of the board of Families as Allies. All meetings are open to the public and include time for public comments. Public comments can also be emailed to info@faams.org or faxed to 601-355-0919.

Register here >>

Families LEAD Advocacy Academy
2023-01-21 10:00 - 14:00 | CMDSS Buddy Center, 667 US-51 Suite C, Ridgeland, MS, MS, 39157, United States

Ninth Annual Families as Allies Community Partnership Celebration
2023-01-23 17:00 - 19:30 | Bravo! Italian Restaurant and Bar, 4500 Interstate 55 Frontage Rd, Highland Village Suite 244, Jackson, 39211, United States
We’ve rescheduled the Community Partnership Celebration—and we thank you for your patience and understanding of our need to reschedule our Ninth Annual CPC. If you already purchased tickets for the November 7 event, those tickets will be automatically transferred to this event.
Please join us at Bravo Italian Restaurant and Bar on Monday, January 2023, from 5:00 to 7:30 for our Ninth Annual Community Partnership Celebration to celebrate the work we do together and ensure that it continues. We hope you can join us, but if you cannot, please consider donating.
Monday, January 23, 2023
5:00 to 7:30 PM
Bravo! Italian Restaurant
Tickets are $50.00 each and sponsorships are available.
Register here >>

A Whole Person Approach to Youth and Young Adult Employment Services
2023-01-24 11:00 - 13:00
National Training & TA Center
Assisting a young person in securing employment extends far beyond resume writing, job searches, and interview preparation, especially when the young person is navigating mental health challenges. As providers, it’s often easy to develop priorities for young people based on what we think is best for their lives. However, disengagement (physically and emotionally) occurs when the young person does not share our priorities, which can be highly frustrating for the young person, their support system, the supporting staff members, and the employer.
Where do we go from here? A successful employment process requires authentic long-term professional relationships. It also requires an in-depth understanding of a young person’s past and how it impacts their present, in addition to understanding their triggers, fears, dreams, and goals. Effective communication and culturally engaging, age-specific youth and young adult-led processes, procedures, and tools are critical to sustainable success. Join us to learn more and create your plan of action!
Participants will:

Increase their understanding of how mental health and traumas impact employment readiness and employment sustainability.
Identify practices that may be promoting YYA employment disengagement outcomes within their organizations and programs.
Learn about the employment readiness tools and programs implemented by the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council for young people who are justice-involved and navigating mental health challenges.
Identify strategies and a plan of action to enhance YYA employment success in their local communities through interactive peer conversations and role-play activities.

Register here >>

Mississippi Planning and Advisory Council
2023-02-09 10:00
State Agency: Department of Mental Health

Federal law specifies the duties of the Joint Mental Health Planning Councils.
>Duties include:

To review the Mental Health Block Grant Plan and to make recommendations;
To serve as an advocate for adults with serious mental illness, children with a serious emotional disturbance, and other individuals with mental illnesses; and
To monitor, review, and evaluate, not less than once each year, the allocation and adequacy of mental health services within the State.

For notice information click here >>
To join the meeting virtually click here >>

Meeting Location-in person
Mississippi State Hospital 3550 Hwy. 468 W.
Whitfield, MS. 39208
Contact Information
August Irving
601-359-6204
august.irving@dmh.ms.gov
