Families as Allies

Providing Peer Support in Crisis Services
2021-08-18 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
C4 Innovations

Join Cheryl Gagne on Wednesday, August 18 from 2-3 pm ET for a free webinar on peer support for people experiencing crisis. Learn about the value of peer support in crisis settings and strategies for integrating peers and addressing challenges. Ask questions and get a preview of C4’s upcoming “Peer Support in Crisis Services Learning Community.”

Register here>>
Learn More:
Peer Support in Crisis Services Learning Community—starting September 22, 2021
https://c4innovates.com/training-technical-assistance/integrating-peer-workers/peer-support-in-crisis-services-learning-community/
Integrating and Supervising Peer Workers: video with Cheryl Gagne (4:02 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0wCySc5bDc&t=144s
Integrating Peer Workers at C4 Innovations
https://c4innovates.com/training-technical-assistance/integrating-peer-workers/
Supervising Peer Workers at C4 Innovations
https://c4innovates.com/training-technical-assistance/supervising-peer-workers/
Contact us with any questions at training@c4innovates.com.

Time

Board of Mental Health Meeting
2021-08-19 09:00 - 12:00
Board of Mental Health
Subject: Department of Mental Health
Description:
Board Committee meetings will be held prior to the Board meeting.
The full Board will begin at 9 a.m.
MEETING LOCATION
Department of Mental Health 239 North Lamar Street
Jackson MS 39201
CONTACT INFORMATION: Grenaye Sullivan 601-359-6260
grenaye.sullivan@dmh.ms.gov

Mississippi State Board of Education
2021-08-19 10:00
Mississippi State Board of Education
Date: 10 a.m., August 19, 2021
Location: Central High School Building, 359 N. West St., Jackson, MS, 4th floor Board Room

Watch the live stream:

Virtual: Bring Your IEP and Other School Questions
2021-08-19 12:00, 2021-09-16 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.
Join here >>

Transforming Child Health Care Through Anti-Racist, Family-Driven Approaches
2021-08-25 12:30 - 14:00
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS)
The child health care field is embracing a shift from the traditional child-focused model of well and sick visits to a more upstream preventive, holistic, and anti-racist focus on children, their families, and the systems and communities they interact with regularly. Despite a growing desire to improve care delivery, many practices face barriers, such as time and funding resources, which prevent the scale and spread of practice transformation.
This webinar, hosted by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will explore the need to transform child health care from three unique perspectives — pediatricians, a family advocate, and a children’s health clinic director. The featured speakers — Renée Boynton-Jarrett MD and Ben Danielson MD, pediatrician; Hala Durrah, MTA, patient and family engagement consultant and advocate; and Carey Howard, MPH, program director at a pediatric clinic — serve as advisors for CHCS’ Accelerating Child Health Transformation initiative, which seeks to accelerate the adoption of key strategies necessary to advance anti-racist and family-centered pediatric practice. They will highlight key strategies for child health care transformation: (1) adopting anti-racist practices and policies to advance health equity; (2) co-creating equitable partnerships with patients, families, and medical care teams; and (3) identifying family strengths and health-related social needs to promote resilience.
Health care policymakers, medical professionals, state officials, family advocates, community-based organization staff and other interested stakeholders are invited to join this 75-minute event.

Register here>>

Health and Safety: It's a Family Affair
2021-08-26 11:00
F.A.C.E.S. of Memphis, the Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis, the Emotional Fitness Centers of Tennessee and National Federation of Families will host this important session.
Join us this Thursday for a virtual lunch and learn!
The old adage, ‘prevention is better than cure’, could not be more appropriate for us than it is today. The renewed COVID-19 wave that has gripped the nation has changed the very way we live. Conversations that started with ‘How are you?’ have now gone to ‘Are you keeping safe and are you vaccinated?’ In fact, vaccinations have become A FAMILY AFFAIR, not just for children, but for whole families to stay healthy and safe. Though there has been confusion and misinformation about vaccines; vaccinations are an important part of family and public health. They prevent the spread of contagious, dangerous, and deadly diseases including measles, polio, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough, diphtheria, and HPV.
With this in mind and considering the times in which we live, our next Lunch and Learn will include a diverse panel of experts to discuss how vaccinations impact the health and safety of the family unit. We will discuss the risks and benefits, how to discuss vaccinations with family members, dispel myths and hear testimonials. Our family organization, F.A.C.E.S. of Memphis, the Wellness and Stress Clinic of Memphis, the Emotional Fitness Centers of Tennessee and National Federation of Families will host this important session.
Join us for this important webinar!
Register here>>

Live at the Virtual Barbershop: Supporting Black Students in the Classroom
2021-08-27 13:00
In his 1933 book, The Mis-Education of the Negro, Carter G. Woodson postulated that Black people of his day were culturally indoctrinated rather than taught in American schools, creating people who would be dependent on and seek out inferior places in the dominant white society. One of the significant points Woodson repeated in his discourse was that the entire educational system was structurally unrelated to the future needs of Black children to develop and thrive with lives rooted in self and race knowledge as well as self-respect.

As we think about our education system today, we face the same questions Woodson posed almost a century ago: Do Black children and youth fare better in their lives by going through the established educational system? How can educational values and curriculum overcome the inherent biases against Black history and culture?

Join African–American male leaders from the sector as they explore the relevance of the U.S. education system to the needs of the Black community. Discuss the challenges and opportunities to creating an inclusive system that builds on all students’ capabilities, resilience, and dreams.

Register here >>

The Future of Healthy Schools: Supportive Funding, Systems Change, and Community Collaboration
2021-08-30 12:00 - 13:30
Institute For The Health Policy Forum
School systems have the power to improve the health of a whole community, and COVID-19 shed light on the critical intersection between health and education. This virtual event will explore how health and education professionals can collaboratively and sustainably build healthy schools. Attendees will learn about school funding, community engagement strategies, and developing a long-term plan to prioritize and embed health in schools.
Register here>>

Best Practices for Suicide Prevention to Postvention
2021-08-31 13:00
sponsor: National Council on Behavioral Health
Suicide prevention can seem like a daunting undertaking for any workforce, but as the number of deaths by suicide keeps increasing, it becomes a necessary public health issue to be addressed within health care. Currently the 10th leading cause of death, suicide claims more lives than traffic accidents and exceeds more than twice the number of homicides. Although most individuals, including children and adolescents, who eventually die by suicide, receive health care services in the month prior to death, providers at the point of care often do not detect suicidal thoughts. A comprehensive approach to suicide prevention includes strategies for prevention, identification and assessment of at-risk individuals, intervention, and postvention. Organizations must ensure staff members have the appropriate knowledge and skills at every level. Join Relias and the National Council for this important conversation.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Review suicide prevention best practices
• Explore a framework to provide support around building internal and external capacity for suicide prevention with practical interventions.
• Discuss postvention strategies when providing services to those directly affected by or bereaved by {someone else’s} suicide.
• Discuss training and skills application best practices for putting suicide prevention into action.

Register here>>

Parent Café
2021-08-31 13:00 - 14:30
According to Be Strong Families, “Parent Cafés are physically and emotionally safe spaces where parents and caregivers talk about the challenges and victories of raising a family. Through individual deep self-reflection and peer-to-peer learning, participants explore their strengths, learn about the Protective Factors, and create strategies from their own wisdom and experiences to help strengthen their families.
Cafés are structured discussions that use the principles of adult learning and family support. They are highly sustainable with training reinforcement, institutional support, and a commitment to an approach that engages and affirms parents as leaders. Participants leave Parent Cafés feeling inspired, energized, and excited to put into practice what they’ve learned.” This Cafe will last 90 minutes and be limited to 20 participants.

Section 504, ADAA and Children with Disabilities or Special Health Care Needs: What Parents Need to Know
2021-09-01 12:00 - 13:00
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>>

Mapping Dreams: Transition to Adulthood (1 hour training)
2021-09-02 10:00 - 11:00
Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center
This training provides strategies for what parents and youth can do to help plan for the student’s transition from high school to adult employment, postsecondary education or training, and independent living.

Register here>>

The United States vs. Mississippi lawsuit
2021-09-02 13:30
Judge Reeves will hold a hearing on the role of the monitor in the United States vs. Mississippi lawsuit. The monitor will oversee how the Department of Mental Health (DMH) implements the remedy to correct the problems identified in the 2019 trial.
This hearing will be held via Zoom and is open to the public. The public can access the hearing by dialing 877-336-1829 and entering passcode [REDACTED]#. Please remember to mute your phone after joining.

NTTAC Event: Managing Adversities as You Get Ready for Fall 2021
2021-09-08 10:30
National Training & Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, & Family Mental Health

This webinar will focus on skills to manage adversities that occur as one prepares to resume work, school, or other life activities. Sometimes those facing adversities are expected to adopt resilience skills or “grit” to manage persisting obstacles, rather than to address systemic or structural obstacles underlying these adversities. So both individual (micro) skills to manage ongoing obstacles, and also (macro) skills to address system and structural obstacles that impact the functioning within systems (such as the workplace) will be described. Participants will be encouraged to examine how these strategies may be applicable to their local system of care components.

Learning Objectives (if applicable):
1. Participants will be able to distinguish effective practices for managing ongoing adverse circumstances in physical, occupational, intellectual, social, and emotional life areas.
2. Participants will be able to describe 4 personal (micro) strategies to address persisting adversities in their lives
3. Participants will identify 4 system (macro) tactics to address ongoing adversities that may in the workplace, including equitable treatment, workload, role clarity, and managerial support.

Register here >>

2021 Creating Your Own Path: Successful Transitions for Persons with Autism
2021-09-09 07:30 - 16:00
The importance of transitions for those with autism cannot be stressed enough and doesn’t happen overnight. The objective of this conference is to provide parents, advocates, professionals, and people with autism the opportunity to learn about resources and evidence-based best practices regarding planning and executing successful transitions.
Keynote Address
The Impact of COVID-19 on Young Adults with ASD: Using Trauma Informed Care to Guide Practice
Carol M. Schall, PhD, Associate Professor, Rehabilitation, Research & Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the economy and health of citizens in the U.S. In this presentation, Dr. Schall will discuss her research regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of employed individuals with ASD. She will also discuss the importance of using trauma informed care to ensure that individuals with ASD are able to return to work and school safely.
The conference will also include:
Breakout sessions on Behavioral Health, Communication, Ethical Treatment, Safety, Assistive Technology, Medicaid ID/DD Waiver and Community Support Program
Opportunities to network with speakers, providers, professionals and family members
$100.00 Early Bird Registration fee – July 1 – August 10
$125.00 Registration fee – August 11 – August 31
$150.00 Registration fee – September 1 – September 9
(includes morning and afternoon snacks and lunch)
Note: attendance scholarships are available for parents/guardians of and/or persons with autism. You may request a scholarship when registering online. Check “pay at door” as your form of payment. You will be notified via email when your request has been approved.
Cancellation: The registration fee for this event is forfeited if attendance is cancelled. You may send a substitute. As a courtesy to the planners, written notice of your intent not to attend or to send a substitute is appreciated by 8/31/21. That notice can be made by e-mail to mickey@msccd.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 601-969-0601
Planning forms have been submitted for review for the following disciplines: DMH Mental Health Therapist, DMH Addiction Therapist, DMH Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist, Licensed DMH Administrator, DMH Community Support Specialist, DMH Peer Support Specialist, Nursing Home Administrator, Social Worker, Teacher, and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
Attendence Certificates may be requested.
Register here>>

Introduction to Relias’ Suicide Prevention Simulation Training Courses
2021-09-09 15:00 - 15:30
Relias
With suicide being the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, it’s important for your entire staff to be aware of proper suicide prevention protocols. However, knowing what to do is different than doing it in the moment when face-to-face with a client expressing suicidal thoughts.
Scenario-based learning and simulation training offers a safe space for staff to practice their skills—something they might not receive from a traditional training course. This can help clinicians reinforce their suicide prevention skills and improve confidence when applying the same skills to a real-life situation.
On September 9, 2021 at 3 PM ET, Sara will walk you through the technology and importance of suicide prevention simulation courses. During the webinar, you’ll learn:
The benefits scenario-based learning and simulation training have on skills application and staff confidence
The specific simulation courses Relias offers on suicide prevention
How to try the simulation courses yourself
Register here >>

Records and Record Keeping
2021-09-13 10:00 - 11:00
Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center
What records are important? What is FERPA? How do I request copies of my child’s records? How do I stay organized? How long should it take to get the copies I requested? These are five commonly asked questions when parents get ready to attend IEP meetings. This presentation will provide answers and links to other resources.
Register here>>

Advancing Black LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health: Contemporary Approaches to Understanding and Uprooting Intersectional Stigma to Promote Wellness
2021-09-14 13:30 - 15:00
Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity
Accumulating research suggests that multiple, interlocking forms of stigma-related stress (e.g., racism, homophobia, transphobia) drive and maintain behavioral health disparities among Black LGBTQ individuals. Despite this knowledge, most research and clinical interventions related to stigma-related stress focus on one type of stigma (e.g., racism) in isolation from others (e.g., homophobia, transphobia). Intersectionality provides a framework to help researchers and clinicians better understand the multi-dimensional experiences of Black LGBTQ people, but the application of intersectionality to such empirical and clinical efforts remains in its infancy. To address this gap, this webinar includes emerging efforts to better understand and intervene upon links between intersectional stigma and aspects of behavioral health (e.g., mental health, HIV risk) among Black LGBTQ individuals. Delivered by Dr. Skyler Jackson (he/him), this presentation will (a) feature novel experience sampling research illuminating how daily events related to both one’s race and sexual orientation (i.e., intersectional experiences) are associated with day-to-day changes in Black sexual minorities’ psychological well-being and (b) overview recent clinical efforts to develop and test a group-based treatment to address intersectional stigma, mental health, and HIV risk among young gay and bisexual men of color. Future directions, including the applicability of results to clinical, community, and policy-level interventions will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to articulate the framework of intersectionality and distinguish single-axis, additive, and intersectional models of behavioral health.
Participants will be able to identify the unique forms of stigma-related stress experienced by Black LGBTQ individuals and explain how they relate to select behavioral health outcomes.
Participants will be equipped to better intervene upon the modifiable psychosocial mechanisms linking stigma, mental health, and HIV risk among Black sexual minority men.

Register here>>

2021 Opioid & Heroin Mississippi Drug Summit | Rise Up
2021-09-15 07:00 - 2021-09-17 12:30
Rise Up! Facing the Addiction Crisis, One Family at a Time
Join us for the 2021 Opioid & Heroin Mississippi Drug Summit – A Virtual Event
September 15-17, 2021
Education. Training. Collaboration. Saving lives. The goal of the Mississippi Opioid and Heroin Summit is an opportunity for all of us to face the epidemic that touches our families, friends and loved ones.
The 2.5 day Summit will bring together 3 communities public safety, public health, and the public. Learn about threats and trends from public safety officials who are tracking the supply of opioids and heroin. Listen to public health and treatment advocates discuss the disease of addiction and the many tools available to prescribers and treatment professionals. Join with the families touched by addiction to hear stories of recovery and hope.
With many credit hours, everyone will receive credit while gaining awareness from the perspective of others in this fight. It takes all of us working together to make a difference.
Click Here for Conference Draft Agenda
Register here>>

Supportive Coaching for Parents Supporting Other Parents
2021-09-15 12:00
For any parents supporting other parents in any system. Meetings held on the third Wednesday of the month at 12 noon. Parent peer support specialists, parent consultants and parent educators are especially encouraged to attend. We will share ideas, brainstorm and support each other. Coaching is based on the competencies and ethical code of the National Federation of Families Certification model for parent peer support.

Join here >>

6th Annual Mississippi Science Fest
2021-09-16 18:00 - 2021-09-18 19:30
The 6th Annual Mississippi Science Fest (MSF), presented by C Spire, is a fun event hosted by the four museums of Jackson, Mississippi’s LeFleur Museum District (LMD) on September 16-18, 2021.
The MSF showcases the Magnolia State’s innovative science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM) industries and organizations.
This year, the event is will be in-person and virtual:
* September 16: Science After 6 (click here for details)
* September 17: Field Trip Friday (click here for details)
* September 18: MS Science Fest featuring guest speaker, Dr. Temple Grandin (click here for details)
On Saturday, September 18th, your ticket will include parking and your shuttle ride between museums.
Food trucks and vendors will also be on-site. Visit the MS Agriculture Museum’s General Store, MS Children’s Museum’s Red Rocket Cafe (open 9 am – 4 pm), or one of several food trucks (10:30 am – 3:30 pm, not included with admission).

TEMPLE GRANDIN
• 11 a.m. Speech
• 11:45 a.m. Question & Answer
• 1 – 2 p.m. Book Signing
Location: MS Agriculture & Forestry Museum on September 17 for Field Trip Friday and at MS Children’s Museum on September 18 for the MS Science Fest presented by C Spire. Dr. Grandin’s presentation will also be broadcast to the MDWFP MS Museum of Natural Science theater. Included with your MSF ticket.Dr. Grandin is an animal scientist, autism self-advocate, and a professor at Colorado State University. She will share her life story and how she evolved into doing the work that she does today, including her experience with science, agriculture, and autism awareness.

Buy tickets>>

Families as Allies has a limited number of free tickets thanks to the generosity of Mississippi Public Broadcasting for Saturday, September 18. Families who are interested in tickets can call our office at 601- 355-0915 or email info@faams.org

Oh Behave! Creating a Behavior Support Toolbox for Infants/Toddlers
2021-09-17 12:00 - 13:00
Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center
Parents, teachers, and others who work with children sometimes face challenging behaviors. Learn strategies and create a Behavior Support Toolbox for yourself and for sharing with your students’ families!
Register here>>

Mississippi Trauma Informed Care Virtual Conference
2021-09-22 08:00 - 2021-09-24 12:30
The 2021 Mississippi Trauma Informed Care Conference Planning Committee is pleased to present the VIRTUAL 2021 Mississippi Trauma-Informed Care Conference, “Building Resiliency Through the Pandemic.”

Participate in up to 8 Keynotes and 15 Breakout Sessions that encourage new coping strategies and resiliency for service providers. You’ll have an opportunity to continue your professional development and earn up to 14.25 Continuing Education Hours from multiple continuing education credentialing agencies.
For the past 7 years, several state and local agencies have joined together to host the annual Trauma Informed Care Conference. Each year, the conference has brought together over 500 diverse participants representing a wide array of service providers. This year’s theme, “Building Resiliency through the Pandemic,” was chosen to provide optimism that we will work through this difficult time by developing new coping strategies and building resiliency skills.
Resiliency is defined as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. Through innovative and thought-provoking sessions, it is our expectation the conference will provide information to assist attendees in working through this difficult time but also help in improving lives even in the absence of adversity.

Who should Attend?​
The target audience includes those directly or indirectly impacted by trauma, including but not limited to:
Mental Health and Addiction Professionals
Social Workers
Marriage and Family Therapists
National Board for Certified Counselors
Juvenile Justice Personnel – judges, counselors, administrators, probation officers
Educators – teachers, administrators, counselors
Domestic Violence and other advocates
Parents/Guardians/Foster Parents/Resource Parents
Community and Faith Based
Peer Support Specialists

Register here>>

Steps for Success: Making IEP Meetings Work
2021-09-22 10:00 - 11:00
Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center
Do you often leave your child’s IEP meeting feeling as if your concerns were not heard or addressed and that nothing has changed? You may be missing one of the steps covered in this training.
Join us to learn how you can avoid some of the most common hurdles and how to have more productive IEP meetings and better outcomes for your child.
Register here>>

Leadership Training Graduates Coaching and Support Group
2021-09-22 12:00 - 13:00
This group will focus on opportunities for leadership training graduates to serve on decision-making groups, provide coaching guidance for those who are already serving on groups or about to serve on groups, and will be a place where graduates can discuss common concerns, problems and successes that will help them be more effective parent/caregiver leaders. Meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 12 noon. (Open only to leadership training graduates)
Register now >>

Mississippi Department of Education Board of Education Meeting
2021-09-23 10:00
The Mississippi Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2021, starting at 10:00 a.m.
The Mississippi Board of Education is taking this step to limit public contact due to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The meeting will be held via teleconference and video means and available via live stream at https://msachieves.mdek12.org.

Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: After High School
2021-09-23 10:00 - 11:00
Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center
IDEA or 504 services in high school do not guarantee eligibility for accommodations in post-secondary education. Join us and learn how to be prepared for the next phase of education.
Register here >>

Mississippi Free Press Live
2021-09-23 18:00
Families As Allies Executive Director, Joy Hogge, and Melody Worsham talk with MFP co-founders Kimberly Griffin and Donna Ladd about the state’s mental health crisis and lawsuit outcome.
Watch live>>

Legislative Budget Office Budget Hearings
2021-09-24 08:30 - 17:00
The Fall 2021 Joint Legislative Budget Committee meeting will be held this Friday, September 24, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The detailed Hearing Schedule (PDF) can be found here. >>
Go to the Mississippi Legislature Youtube page to view the hearings. >>
