Families as Allies

Ninth Annual Special Education Law Conference & CLE
2023-07-13 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
The Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities

The conference will include legal & policy updates in special education, an overview of conflict resolution and attorney fee options, lay advocates’ essential and lawful role, and a panel presentation on resolving conflicts with views from multiple perspectives.
VIEW AGENDA HERE

6.25 CLE hours for attorneys (includes 1 hour of ethics)
.6 CEU hours for Teachers

Registration Fee

Attorneys (6.25 CLE hours including 1 ethics hour) – $150
Non-Attorneys – $150
Students (student ID required) – $75

A limited number of stipends/scholarships are available for parents of students with disabilities. Please indicate when you register if you are requesting a parent stipend.
Refund policy: No refunds will be given. A substitute participant may be designated instead of a registrant who cannot attend.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (601) 969-0601.

Register here >>

Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities
2023-07-13 10:00
Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities
MSCDD is a federally mandated body of advocates appointed by the Governor to promote a better quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, and their communities. Improvement in quality of life is accomplished through initiatives that promote advocacy, capacity building, and systems change. The current 25-member Council includes people with disabilities, parents, family member advocates, and required governmental representatives from public and private organizations. Membership reflects the diversity of the state.
MSCDD is funded by the U.S. Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health serves as the Designated State Agency for administrative and fiscal support.
Click here for notice information.

Meeting Location-in person
Hampton Inn
103 Ed Perry Blvd.
Oxford, MS. 38655
Contact Information
Toya Bolden
601-359-6238
toya.bolden@dmh.ms.gov

Peer Support Training
2023-07-17 - 2023-07-21
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.
Upcoming training:

July 17-21, 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: June 19, 2023)
September 11-15, 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: August 14, 2023)
November 13-17, 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: October 16, 2023)
January 8-14, 2024 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: December 4, 2023)
March 18-22, 2024 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: February 16, 2024)
May 13-17, 2024 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: April 12, 2024)

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.

Camp with a Mission
2023-07-17 09:00 - 2023-07-20 14:30
Frank P. Phillips Memorial YMCA
Camp With A Mission is an annual event at the YMCA in Columbus, MS. It is designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their non-disabled buddies ages 13 and up. Usually held in July, there are various activities like swimming, arts & crafts, community visitors, aerobics, and more!
Register here >>

Education & Culture Conference
2023-07-20 - 2023-07-22
MS Coalition to End Corporal Punishment
Dismantling the Pre-School to Prison Pipeline Through Black Literacy and Education for Transformation. The Mississippi Coalition To End Corporal Punishment (MSCECP) and Wayfinder Foundation will host their first education convening Thursday, July 20 through Saturday, July 22, 2023, in Jackson, MS. The conference theme is “Cultural Identity Restoration and the Role of Culture in Education”. The chosen Theme reflects the mission and values of the Coalition in its work to end the harsh discipline practice of Corporal Punishment which is proven to be both physically and psychologically harmful. It also reflects our aim to uplift a narrative of discipline as a building tool for growth and as a model for creating culturally responsive and nurturing school climates.
During this three-day conference, we are inviting parents, students, educators, organizational leaders’ funders, elected officials, social workers, and other child-serving practitioners to explore effective alternatives to reducing violence in schools and communities by uplifting restorative justice practices, peer mediation, SEL and participatory action research as culturally relevant & responsive teaching tools in the public education.
Register here >>

Virtual: Bring Your IEP and Other School Questions
2023-07-20 12:00, 2023-08-17 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 >>

(Re)Defining Person-Centered Planning in Mental Health Systems
2023-07-20 13:30
NCAPPS
Person-centered” is a buzzword in mental health service systems, and it is common for service plans to be called “person-centered.” However, it is unclear whether people are truly directing their planning process and choosing services and supports that really matter to them – and the supports they don’t want. While person-centered planning is intended to support people to live self-determined lives, it can also be used inappropriately to compel and coerce people into services they don’t want. When done well, person-centered planning has the potential to advance equity by opening multiple pathways to wellbeing. Poorly implemented person-centered planning can deepen existing inequities.
Hosted by the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS), this webinar will convene members of the Massachusetts-based Council Against Institutional and Psychiatric Abuse (CAIPA) to explore what person-centered planning should – and shouldn’t – look like.
NCAPPS webinars include ASL interpretation, live English captions, and live Spanish interpretation. If you require any additional accommodations, please contact Saska Rajcevic (srajcevic@hsri.org).
Register here >>
***Please Note: If you would like to receive a confirmation of attendance, we recommend you connect to this webinar using the Zoom desktop app. NCAPPS webinars are not officially approved for Continuing Education Units, however, we do provide confirmation of attendance in case an organization wishes to use participation in our webinars to grant credit for internal requirements. Connecting via the desktop app will ensure that Zoom recognizes your attendance.***

Families as Allies Board Quarterly Board Meeting
2023-07-20 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 >>

Parent/Caregiver Peer Support Graduation
2023-07-21 12:30
Please join us in congratulating our newest class of parent peer support graduates. In addition to celebrating their accomplishments, this is a great opportunity to build the parent peer support community. We encourage friends and families of the graduates, as well as anyone who supports parent peer supporters or is interested in learning more about being a parent peer supporter, to attend.
Register here >>

Leadership Coaching and Policy Discussion
2023-07-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-08-23 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 >>

NAMI Mississippi's 2023 Minority Mental Health Conference
2023-07-27
NAMI Mississippi
Theme: “Young Minds Matter”

This is an in-person event: Hattiesburg Train Depot, 308 Newman St. Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Register here >>
***Space is limited***
Details at namims.org/mmh2023.
Includes CEs (being applied for).
*NAMI MS in Partnership with Combined Human Support Services, Inc. provides Social Work CEs.

Drop In Family Support Time
2023-08-03 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 >>

Supportive Coaching for Parents Supporting Other Parents
2023-08-09 12:00 - 13:00
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 >>

Mississippi Planning and Advisory Council
2023-08-10 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.

Click here for notice information.

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

National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) National Conference
2023-08-14 - 2023-08-16
Join Top Leaders & Thinkers at NBDPN!
The National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) will hold its National Conference from August 14-16, 2023 in Atlanta, GA with a pre-conference training to be held on August 13.
As the only national conference for population-based birth defects surveillance programs in the United States, participants are given an opportunity to learn about current advances and opportunities for birth defects surveillance, research, intervention, and prevention through sharing of best practices at state, local and national levels.
Register here >>

Board of Mental Health Meeting
2023-08-15 09:00
Department of Mental Health

The Department of Mental Health Regular Board meeting will be held Virtually on August 15, 2024, at 9:00 am.
Click here for notice information:
https://www.ms.gov/dfa/pmn/Home/NoticeDetails/991db1c4-6b2f-4279-be01-e239b53d8c90

Meeting Location

239 North Lamar Street Robert E. Lee Building
Jackson MS 39201
Contact Information
Suzanne Marler
6013596260
Suzanne.marler@dmh.ms.gov

Board of Mental Health Meeting
2023-08-15 09:00
Department of Mental Health

The Department of Mental Health Regular Board meeting will be held Virtually on December 19, 2024, at 9:00 am.
Click here for notice information:
https://www.ms.gov/dfa/pmn/Home/NoticeDetails/991db1c4-6b2f-4279-be01-e239b53d8c90

Meeting Location

239 North Lamar Street Robert E. Lee Building
Jackson MS 39201
Contact Information
Suzanne Marler
6013596260
Suzanne.marler@dmh.ms.gov

The Special Education Advisory Panel Meeting
2023-08-16 10:00 - 11:00
The Special Education Advisory Panel
The Special Education Advisory Panel will meet online via Zoom on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
You may access the meeting either online or by phone.
Join Zoom Meeting Online:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83452343575?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 834 5234 3575
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Zoom Meeting by Phone:
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
One tap Mobile
+13092053325,,83452343575#,,,,*[REDACTED]#
Meeting ID: 834 5234 3575
Passcode: [REDACTED]
The panel will hear public comments at 10:15 a.m.
Written comments may be submitted to Sharon Coon, Mississippi Department of Education, P.O. Box 771, Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0771; email: scoon@mdek12.org; or call the Parent Hotline Number: 1-877-544-0408.
For more information, or if you need accommodations due to a disability, contact Sharon Strong Coon or Mona Spells Adou at 601-359-3498.

Board of Mental Health Meeting
2023-08-17 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/991db1c4-6b2f-4279-be01-e239b53d8c90

Meeting Location-in person
Department of Mental Health
239 N. Lamar St. 10th Floor Robert E. Lee Bldg.
Jackson, MS. 39201
Contact Information
Grenaye Sullivan 601-359-6260
grenaye.sullivan@dmh.ms.gov

First Steps to Next Steps: Transition from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education and/or Community Supports
2023-08-18 10:00 - 11:00
What is transition? What are the next steps? Families are often overwhelmed with all the changes when their child turns three. This session will provide an overview of the process, resources and information on preparing for the future.

Community Health Fair
2023-08-19 10:00 - 14:00, 2023-08-26 10:00 - 14:00
Mississippi Achievement School District
“Wellness encompasses a healthy body, a sound mind, and a tranquil spirit. Enjoy the journey as you strive for wellness.” Laurette Gagnon Beaulieu
The Mississippi Delta Region is attributed to mortality rates that are ten times higher than non-Delta Counties and 20% higher than rates in the United States overall. 39.6% of the population is obese in MS, with Yazoo County ranking 54 out of 82 for overall health and Humphreys County 80 out of 82, attributing to 44% and 50% of adult obesity among the population, respectively. Mississippi has the second-largest national percentage of childhood obesity at 37.3%. The Mississippi Achievement School District has a vital role in assisting our population through education and demonstrative outlets to improve the health of our state. To that end, we will host Health and Wellness Fairs in our community to provide primary and preventive health measures to increase health awareness by providing health screenings and motivating our population to make positive health and behavior choices.

Lead Poisoning: What You Need to Know
2023-08-22 10:00 - 10:45
Mississippi Parent Training & Information Center Project
Please join us to learn about lead poisoning and how to prevent your children from being exposed. This session will cover what is lead poisoning, sources of lead, signs/symptoms of lead, and prevention strategies.
Register here>>

Transition: Making the Move to High School (Tips for Parents)
2023-08-22 11:30 - 12:00
Mississippi Parent Training & Information Center Project
It’s never too early to start learning and laying the groundwork for transition from middle school to high school. This webinar will give parents and professionals tips that will help to make this move a success.
Register here >>

Independent Living: Here We Come!
2023-08-22 12:30 - 13:30
Mississippi Parent Training & Information Center Project
Preparing for independent living is an exciting time in any youth’s journey toward adulthood. For youth with disabilities and their families, this is a time filled with questions and challenges. Join us as we explore a skills checklist to help parents and youth know where they are and what they need to work on in their journey to independent living. We will talk about the importance of self-advocacy, what families/parents can do to help youth and young adults with planning for the future
Register here>>

U-THRIVE Program: What You Need to Know
2023-08-23 12:00 - 12:30
Mississippi Parent Training & Information Center Project
Join the MSPTI to learn about Mississippi State University’s new U-THRIVE Program and how they are providing adults with developmental disabilities experiences that will increase their functional living skills and opportunities to engage with their community and peers, at no cost to families!
Register here >>

Building Partnerships.Working Together Mississippi Parent Conference
2023-08-25 - 2023-08-26
Mississippi Department of Education
You don’t want to miss the Mississippi Department of Education’s Annual Parent Conference Building Partnerships….Working Together on August 25-26 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi. The conference is FREE for parents and professionals and offers 1.2 CEUs.
The Annual Parent Conference is the public information symposium dedicated to fostering positive family-school relationships. The conference will bring together parents, educators, advocates, organizers, and other stakeholders in an effort to build and support strong relationships that contribute to students being successful and reaching higher academic goals. Conference sessions are designed to help all stakeholders understand the rights of parents and children with disabilities, the educations process, and provide resources to support home-school partnerships.
Register here >>
For more information about the conference, contact Sharon Coon or Mona Spells Adou at (601) 359-3498.

Social Justice Symposium
2023-08-25 - 2023-08-26
Mississippi State University chapter of Counselors for Social Justice

The members of the Mississippi State University chapter of Counselors for Social Justice would like to invite you to attend this virtual symposium on Friday, August 25, and Saturday, August 26, from 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. both days. The theme this year is Social Justice and Trauma. This virtual symposium is free to all attendees, and CEUs will be given.

August 25

9:15 A.M. Dr. Cirecie West-OlatunjiMelba Fortuné Martinez Endowed Professor
Director, Center for Equity, Justice, and the Human Spirit Xavier University of Louisiana
10:30 A.M. Rayfield Evins Jr., MS, CMHT
Executive Director, Community Counseling Services
11:30 A.M. Dr. Qiana Cutts
Associate Professor, Mississippi State University

August 26
9:15 A.M. Dr. Darius Green, NCC
Assistant Professor, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

10:30 A.M. Patricia Thornton, MS, CMHT, CAT
Co-Occurring Coordinator, Community Counseling Services
11:30 A.M. Chiquita Long Holmes, MS, CMHT
President-Elect, Counselors for Social Justice National Division

ONLINE EVENT
August 25th & 26th, 2023
9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. CST

WebEx Event registration is required for each day.
Click HERE to register for August 25, 2023
Click HERE to register for August 26, 2023
