Training/Presentation

The Impact of Mental Health Challenges on the Family
            When a child has an emotional, behavioral or mental health challenge the entire family is affected.  Parents and caregivers need current and reliable information and support to better care for their individual needs and the needs of the whole family.  This presentation will provide tools for parents and caregivers to build and development of practical, real-life interventions and strategies.  Topics such as:  crisis planning, sibling support, school services, building a support team and wellness strategies will be discussed.  This unique point-of-view offers a strength-based, child and family-focused perspective.  

            Professionals and other support persons of a child with mental health challenges actively learn to understand the perspective of a child with mental health challenges, the parent of a child with mental health challenges and a brother of sister of a child with mental health challenges.

Some of the comments from Impact of Mental Health Challenges on the Family presentation:

• “It is hard sometimes to remember that he has a mental disorder.  I need to remember to look at his behavior as not being defiant but uncontrollable because of his illness.”
• “I will avoid judgments of parenting”
• “I will be more sensitive as to what the person can do instead of what I may want them to do.”
• “I have more empathy to parents of children with disabilities.”
• “Talk more about mental health and strengths of the child rather than focus on the illness.”

Siblings Speak Out
            Being a brother or sister of a child with special needs is a unique experience.  Sibling relationships are an important part of a child’s social and emotional development.  Although brothers and sisters have the longest-lasting relationship in the family, siblings of children with special needs have; compared to their parents, far fewer opportunities to gain access to programs, services and professional support.

            This presentation highlights the common themes and concerns of brothers and sisters and information on how a sibling’s illness/disability affects them.  Information about Allies with Families Sibshops, a fun recreational program for siblings (ages 7-13), will also be presented.

Listen to the comments from people who have attended the Sibling Speaks Out presentation:

• “Now I feel like I can understand him better, and try to compromise with him.  I want to help him.  I know that the illness will not go away but we can make it better.”
• “My attitude is more open to work with my son and my other two boys.”
• “I will put more attention at my daughter’s mood.  And use some of the skills learned in this class to know better my daughter’s feelings.”
•  “I never thought about how siblings are affected by other family members.  I will be more aware of that when dealing with struggling students.”
• “My brother has ADHD and when we were younger I didn’t always understand why he would act so different.  Sometimes I wanted to ask my parents questions, but I didn’t’ know how.  It is nice to see I was not alone.” 

Helping Children with Mental Health Challenges Succeed in School
            School is a place children spend most of their day, but for children with mental health challenges school can be especially hard.  Behaviors and learning problems are often a part of a child’s emotional and mental health needs.  Parents, caregivers and professionals working with these children often ask questions such as:  How does a child get special education services in school?  What can a parent do to help?  What does the testing mean?

            This presentation includes information to help parents and those who work with the school open and understand the secret “language” of the school system to make changes happen.  A basic review of the referral and evaluation process for school services and supports are presented along with resources and information to help partner with school staff.  Activities to brainstorm and match a child’s unique strengths and needs help participants to build an effective school educational plan for a child with mental health challenges.  

Parents, professionals and educators who have attended the Helping Children with Mental Health Challenges Succeed in School presentation share:

• “The information helped give me confidence in my meeting with the school for my son’s IEP.”
• “I love the binder—having one place for all her records will make such a difference.”
• “I think I will be of more help to parents of students with disabilities.”
• “It gives me a greater understanding of the effect of mental illness on all our families.”
• “I feel more confident in my job knowing what information to share with parents.”

From Hope to Recovery Education Program
From Hope to Recovery Education Program is a free class series for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with mental health challenges.

            Issues such as the impact of mental illness on the family, sibling support, crisis planning, school services, communication and wellness strategies give real-life, practical tools and resources to help children and families.

            From Hope to Recovery is a six week class series which includes:

• Impact of Mental Illness
• Mood Disorders
• Thought Disorders and Other Serious Mental Illnesses
• Helping Your Child Succeed in School
• Cultivating Hope—Navigating the Mental Health System
• From Hope to Recovery

Hear what people who have taken the From Hope to Recovery classes say:

• “The class activities help me look at my son’s needs from his perspective.” (Father of a child with bipolar disorder)
• “I liked the class interaction.  I no longer feel alone.  This is a wonderful support group.”  (Mother of a child with ADHD)
• “I liked sharing my experiences and others understanding.  I am so excited to read and study all the information.  Great job on having us work together and doing activities during class!”  (Mother of a child with depression and anxiety)
• “As I grandmother I now have more information and insight.  This class has been life changing for the positive.”  (Grandmother of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome)

**Also include a separate Spanish From Hope to Recovery Education Program notice. 

Sibshops
            The Allies with Families Sibshops are one-of-a-kind workshops for brothers and sisters (ages 7-13) of a child with mental health challenges and other special needs.  Sibshops are fun workshops with a mix of new games, new friends and discussion activities.

            Sibshops are not therapy, but a recreational program for the siblings of a child with special needs.  Sibshops are free and available throughout the year in locations throughout Utah.

Here’s what kids say about Allies with Families Sibshops:

• “I loved the Sibshop games.”
• “Sibshops are fun and the leaders were great!”
• “Sibshops are a place to learn about cool things.”
• “I like all of the people at Sibshops and all of the activities.”
• “Sibshops are cool!”