Conference Scholarships No Longer Available Due to Funding Cuts

MACMH is sometimes able to offer scholarships to attend our annual conference, however, funding for the 2008 conference was very limited and has already been exhausted. Other organizations or agencies may still have funding available. Following are a few possibilities.

County Funding Sources
•  Some money has been set aside in Dakota County and in Washington County to pay partial costs for parents attending the 2008 MACMH conference.  For information on Washington County funding, contact Jenny Tobin at 651-351-3120.  For information about Dakota County funding, contact Suzette at 651-645-2948, ext. 102.

•  Dakota County has announced the availability of one-time grants to help children with E/BD or SED supplement their formal treatment plans.  In some cases, it may be possible to use this money to cover the costs of attending the 2008 MACMH conference. Dakota County parents who are interested should contact Suzette Scheele at 651-645-2948, ext. 102.

•  STARS is committed to sending parents who have a child with a mental health issue from their four-county service area (Benton, Stearns, Sherburne, and Wright) to the MACMH conference. They can help with registration and lodging expenses – as well as associated costs when indicated. If you are a parent of a child who has a mental health disorder and live in STARS’ service area, contact Mary Christen Czech at 763-271-5321 or 877-333-0083.

Other Funding Sources
•  Try requesting funding from your child's school. Ask the Special Education Director in your district about possible funds set aside for parent training. Also try the PTA.

•  CADI, MR/RC, and Consumer self-directed waiver dollars can be used to fund the conference fee and possibly associated expenses. Be sure to contact your social worker early so the funding is included in your annual budget.

• Try contacting your local Children's Mental Health Collaborative, Family Service Collaborative, Local Advisory Council (LAC), Local Coordinating Council (LCC), and other local parent organizations. In fact, if you get involved now you can campaign for scholarship money to be part of the group's annual budget. For phone numbers and contacts at these organizations call MACMH.

•  Many corporations have local community support programs. For example, try calling your local Wal*Mart, Target, Cub Foods, or Rainbow Foods! Ask to speak to a manager who can tell you about their giving program.  Also try local civic organizations such as the American Legion, VFW, Elks Club, and Masonic Lodge–many are involved in children's causes. These organizations are often willing to provide support if you offer to report back on your experience—this also opens up another opportunity to spread awareness about children's mental health. Also try your church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious organization.

•  Ask your health insurance company to contribute. Suggest that access to the information and resources presented at the conference is preventative care, similar to  the discounts they offer on exercise programs and other preventative care.

Tips for Funding Requests

•  Provide your potential funder with detailed information about the MACMH conference. Download the documents below–they may be useful when presenting your request for funds.  
 
  -- 2008 Conference Brochure

  -- 2008 Conference Funding Fact Sheet

  -- 2007 Annual Conference Report

•  Offer to report back to the organization about what you learned at the conference.

•  Some funders are more inclined to give if they know you have funding from more than one source.  Also let them know if you are able to provided any of the funds yourself.