MACMH provides parent education and training, Information & Referral and Parent Coaching services, and trains parents in advocacy and leadership skills. In addition, MACMH provides publications and classroom curricula, professional trainings, and an annual conference that provides parents and professionals the opportunity to share the latest research and practices in the field. With the development of the Open-Up Campaign, youth have taken a central role in MACMH’s effort to promote mental well-being and fight stigma through arts based outreach activities.
Trainings and Workshops: An important part of our mission is to educate parents about their rights and responsibilities within the multiple mental health systems. MACMH also trains professionals through MACMH Training Services (MTS). Trainings and workshops range from an introductory program called “Early Warning Signs” for educators to advanced trainings for mental health professionals.
 
Individual Parent Coaching: Parent Coaching helps families deal with the intricate demands of multiple service systems. We provided parents and community professionals with referrals to appropriate services and information about mental health through telephone and e-mail correspondence, attending school and/or county team meetings, and staffing exhibit tables at community service fairs and professional conferences.

Publications, Information and Resources: Current, research-informed information is available on our website (www.macmh.org) and MACMH has created publications specifically for parents of children with mental health disorders and for professionals working with children who have or are at risk of having a mental health disorder. Over 3,000 individual publications were sold (or distributed as part of program activities) during the most recent year. More information about the publications can be found at www.macmh.org. MACMH Advocates also provide information and referral to resources to parents and professionals that call looking for help.

 Family Catalyst Project:  The Family Catalyst Project provides parents leadership training classes combined with a chance for mentored participation in state-level policy making bodies. The federal Department of Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Provided the funding that started this program.

The Continuum of Mental Health: This project focuses on the school environment with the objective of reducing stigma, improving interactions in school, and helping all children succeed. Programming includes teacher training, classroom activities, and a community awareness component.

 Bullying and Teasing Curriculum:  MACMH has developed and distributed a multi-component anti-teasing campaign called Super Me for use in elementary schools. In October, 2008, this campaign went on-line in an interactive curriculum entitled “The Defenders of Clearview School.”  Another school-based initiative, “the Continuum of Mental Health” trains teachers and youth to understand mental health disorders to improve school climate and the ability of students to learn and teachers to teach children with a wide range of needs.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health:  This division of MACMH seeks to improve the professional training and competence for every level of professionals working with children 0-3. MAIECMH promotes relationship-based mental health programs throughout the systems and disciplines that touch the lives of infants, young children, and their families.

“Open-Up” is a new, arts-based youth awareness project: This project grew out of years of success with classroom training and a mental health awareness poster contest. In the last year, The Open Up Theater as presented “Fidgety Fairy Tales: a mental health musical” to over 10,000 people of all ages, and Open-Up Magazine – the mental health arts magazine has been published featuring the artwork and writings of over 20 area youth.