Parents in Action:
Year One of MACMH’s Family Catalyst Project

MACMH launched the Family Catalyst Project in January 2008 with a core group of ten dynamic parent leaders from the Twin Cities Metro area. Funded in part by SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), the Family Catalyst Team members kicked off their year of training by attending a series of workshops that focused on leadership, the legislative process, parliamentary procedure, advocacy, and navigating the systems of care that are available to meet the needs of children who have mental health disorders. Members have also taken advantage of a wide range of opportunities to attend educational workshops and conferences offered throughout the Twin Cities.

Raising Awareness & Understanding
In addition to the training workshops, Family Catalyst Team members are also serving on mental health advisory committees and participating in workgroups at the local, county, and state levels. The workgroups focus on children’s mental health issues related to juvenile justice, day treatment, crisis intervention services, parent support groups, cultural disparities, and mental health legislation. Through their committee and workgroup activities, Family Catalysts have been invited to tell their stories to professional stakeholders, and through their articulate accounts the Catalysts have passionately demonstrated the need for change within the systems of care they rely on to serve their children.

The overwhelmingly positive response by professionals who continually request Family Catalyst Team members to be on advisory councils and workgroups shows that collaboration between parents and professionals is both needed and wanted. Clearly, providers do want to know—from a family member’s point of view—whether or not the services they provide really do address the needs of their children.

Looking Forward
In 2009, the Family Catalyst Project will add 15 new team members, chosen from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, who will expand on the foundation established by their predecessors. This diverse group will be guided by the year-one Catalysts who will serve as mentors and share their experienced-based expertise with the new team parents. The application to become a 2009 Parent Catalyst will be available at www.macmh.org by November 2008.

MACMH's Free Parent Workshop Received Enthusiastically

On Saturday morning, Sept. 27, MACMH offered a free parent workshop at the St. Paul Children’s Museum.

Ellen Teelucksingh Ph.D, (Special Education Supervisor of Care and Treatment Programs in District 287) presented “Children’s Mental Health Disorders: Brain Functioning and Interventions for Home and School.”

In her presentation, Teelucksingh gave parents an overview of brain-based interventions for school and home for children and teens with AD/HD, depression, anxiety disorders, oppositional defiance disorder, and non-verbal learning disabilities.

While parents participated in the workshop, their children engaged in the many activities available at the Museum. After the workshop, families came together to enjoy lunch, networking, and an afternoon of exploration at the Museum. Parents were especially pleased to be able to spend time asking questions, sharing stories, and getting to know new strategies to use when working with their children.

Funding for this workshop was provided to MACMH from federal funds awarded to the Minnesota Department of Education through the grant entitled Special Education—
Grants to States, CFDA 84.027A.