Implementing Effective Systems of Care for Children, Youth, and Transition-Aged Youth With or At-Risk of SED in Rural Communities

In 2017, 4.5 percent (11.2 million) of Americans 18 years or older had an SMI, and it is estimated that 6.8 to 11.5 percent of children and youth have an SED. To address this challenge, SAMHSA has included in the FY2019 – FY2023 Strategic Plan a goal to “Reduce the impact of serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED) and improve treatment and recovery support services through implementation of the comprehensive set of recommendations put forward by the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC).”

SAMHSA has a rich history of funding Systems of Care across the country. Implementation of these systems in rural communities is often challenging, in part due to factors such as culture and geography. These challenges require that implementers be well-grounded in community dynamics and demographics and that creative solutions be brought to the design of the framework for successful, rural Our panel will discuss the challenges, successes, and lessons learned from their experiences in the implementation of effective rural Systems of Care. Discussion will include research findings related to engaging students and families in rural educational settings, cultural considerations, and strategies for engaging youth in remote communities. Presenters will offer insights and recommendations of interest to those who are currently involved in this work and for those who are contemplating the implementation of a rural System of Care. This webinar will be of interest to all audiences. 

Presenters:

- Kurt Michaels, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Appalachian State University

- Hannah Soundrarajan, B.S, Youth Engagement Coordinator, Minnesota System of Care

- Brenda Donaldson, M.S., Family and Youth Engagement Program Manager, Tennessee System of Care, TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

- Julie Smith, M.S., Child and Youth Care Coordinator, System of Care Across Tennessee (SOCAT) 

Moderator:

- Lynda Gargan, Ph.D., Executive Director, National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health 

**We do not offer CEU credits. However, letters of attendance can be provided on request.

More than 1.1 million low-income children across New York eat healthy school meals. Let’s make sure they get proper nutrition all summer, too.

When the school year ends, kids and teens can get healthy, no-cost meals and snacks in many communities across the state through USDA's Summer Food Service Program. Visit SummerMealsNY.org to find summer meal sites, learn about hosting one, and access resources to help spread the word, including:

USDA Summer Meal Site Finder Map
Use the interactive mapper on SummerMealsNY.org to find and refer to sites in your area. Check back often, as sites are added as they are approved. Site information is also available in a list linked below the mapper, and by phone:

• Call 2-1-1 (upstate) or 3-1-1 (NYC)
• Text “Food” or "Comida" to 877-877

Free Outreach Materials
Display and distribute outreach materials for families, including Flyers and Rack Cards available in English and Spanish. You can order these resources in bulk from New York State Education Department at no charge; click here for the order form.

Social Media Posts and Newsletter Articles
Share information with your networks using these sample posts and articles.

Web Button Graphics
Add a button linked to SummerMealsNY.org to your e-newsletter, social media channels, and website so families you serve can easily learn about nearby summer meals sites. Click here to view and download them.

For more information about becoming a meal site this year or in the future, visit SummerMealsNY.org or email Krista.Hesdorfer@HungerSolutionsNY.org.

Thank You for your interest in the June 20th Public Health Live!

The Health Impact of Tobacco Use among People with Disabilities

Please give us your feedback in the program evaluation. We use your input to plan future programs. The evaluation leads to a post-test for FREE CE credits.

If you missed the live webcast, access it on demand right now - Plus, view past programs with FREE CE.

Please Click Here for more Upcoming Topics!

Thank you for making us your ongoing resource for public health continuing education.

Coming Soon: Advancing Early Diversion Summer Series!

Please join SAMHSA’s GAINS Center this summer for the Advancing Early Diversion Summer Series! This four-session webinar event will explore practical strategies to implement an early diversion program in your community, with a focus on collaboration.

Advancing Early Diversion Summer Series Webinar Topics

• Webinar 1: Law enforcement and mental health joint responses to mental health crises
• Webinar 2: Follow-up strategies to enhance treatment engagement after an individual has experienced a crisis
• Webinar 3: Collaborations between fire departments, emergency medical services, and behavioral health providers to serve individuals in mental crisis 
• Webinar 4: Strategies for data collection and information sharing between criminal justice and behavioral health agencies

In each of these webinars, you will hear from national experts and local jurisdictional representatives. The presenters will provide guidance on best and promising practices as well as practical lessons learned, so you can design an early diversion program that fits the needs of your community.

In addition, each webinar will be immediately followed by a small group discussion, where audience members can engage directly with the presenters to learn more about the topics of discussion. 

Dates and registration information for these four webinars will be released in the coming weeks! Please contact SAMHSA's GAINS Center with any questions.

Family Peer Advocate 2 Day In-Person Trainings: More Dates Announced! 

The Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) is a training program that introduces new Family Peer Advocates (FPAs) to their role and to the skills they will need to effectively engage and empower parents.

This training is a combination of online modules, a 2 day, in-person training and 12 coaching calls.  Completion of the PEP training is a requirement for the Family Peer Advocate Professional Credential. Registration is open for additional Level 2 in-person trainings statewide. 

Registration forms and more information about the PEP training and FPA Credential can be found on the FTNYS website under the Workforce Development tab.

NEW Youth Peer Advocate Trainings: Registration Open!

The Youth Peer Advocate Training introduces new Youth Peer Advocates (YPAs) to their role and to the skills they will need to effectively engage and empower young people.

This training includes online modules, a 2-day in-person training, and a series of coaching phone calls. Completion of the YPA training is a requirement for the Youth Peer Advocate Professional Credential. We are excited to announce that registration for the Level 2 in-person training is now open in several regions.

Registration forms and more information about the YPA training and YPA Credential can be found on the YOUTH POWER! website under the Workforce Development tab.

Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. (MHANYS) impacts New Yorkers across the state through policy, programs, and products designed to empower individuals experiencing a mental health challenge and reach the general public through the promotion of mental health wellness & recovery. 

Join Us as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness!

Here is a list of all Available Events - Register Today!

For Immediate Release: 4/22/2019

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the release of the first report from the New York State Suicide Prevention Task Force. Established by the Governor in November 2017, the Task Force serves to increase awareness of and access to supportive services with a special focus on high-risk groups including veterans, Latina adolescents, and members of the LGBTQ community. Please click here for more details.

Save The Date! The New York State Education department is pleased to announce Free Training! Creating a Culture of Care in Schools Using Restorative Practices with Dr. Tom Cavanagh.

These 4 consecutive day, train-the-trainer sessions will be held from 8:00 am - 4:00 p.m. each day.

Please choose One Location to Register.

Capital Region
Questar III BOCES
10 Empire State Blvd.
Castleton-on-Hudson, NY 12033
July 23-26, 2019
Register Now!

Western NY
Erie 1 BOCES
Education Campus
355 Harlem Road
West Seneca, NY 14224
July 29 - August 1, 2019
Register Now!

Lower Hudson/Long Island
S. Westchester BOCES
450 Mamaroneck Avenue
Harrison, NY 10528
August 19-22, 2019
Register Now!

Spend quality time with Recovery Champions
during the Annual Recovery Conference!
October 20-22, 2019

Our Annual Recovery Conference brings together the best of the best, providing unique educational and networking opportunities for the Recovery Community. Come celebrate Recovery with people in recovery, friends and family members and our allies in addiction prevention, treatment and recovery support services!

$175 prior to May 31st; $250 thereafter...

Click here for more details.

The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs will be conducting a conference with multiple sessions throughout the day. Each session is targeted for different audiences including provider agency representatives under the jurisdiction of the Justice Center, individuals receiving services, families, peer advocates and other interested stakeholders. You may register for the morning General Session or the afternoon Breakout Sessions, or both morning and afternoon sessions. You will be asked to choose your sessions on the registration page.
A summary of the session topics is here.

Don't wait! Register Now for This Event!

This conference will be repeated five times during 2019 in various locations around the State. Information for other locations are available on the registration page.