formerly Policy Day
~ Thursday, November 20, 2008 ~
We are turning the children’s mental health field around!
The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health is pleased to announce receipt of a grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The special agenda, supported in part by this grant, replaces our traditional “Policy Day."
Hope on the Horizon for Children, Youth and Families
Sandra Spencer will ignite the special day with an exciting description of the new vision, embracing the promotion of mental wellness through a family-driven, youth-guided care public health approach. This is a vision that shines the light on what is right with each of us and with each of our communities that can be used to take every child, youth and family to their highest health potential.
Barry Duncan will present scientific evidence supporting thesingle factor of hopeas being at least as powerful as clinical technique in determining client outcomes. He will bring the “how to” home for youth, families, advocates, and providers.
Revisioning children’s mental health using a public health approach to promotion and prevention will require that family leaders and family-run organizations have excellent working knowledge of the single largest funder of children’s mental health services in the United States, Medicaid. An interactive workshop will explore the potential in Medicaid waivers and demonstrations currently in process to enhance prevention and promotion servicesand supports for children, youth, and their families.
Hope, prevention, and resilience: How can youth impact their own environments in ways that promote these critical elements? Policy is the tool that drives programs, agencies, systems, and governments. Indeed, it is the tool that drives the public health approach. An interactive workshop will provide youth participants the opportunity to learn the importance of their lived experience and the use of their voices.
All of this and more? … Continuing the focus on Friday, after special breakout sessions, an inspiring Key Note presentation by Consuelo Kickbusch, and a powerful message about the strengths, needs and challenges of youth culture presented through personal story, Dr. Gary Blau will deliver SAMHSA’s frame for promoting positive mental health through a public health approach.
Get out in front as we turn the tide and aim not only to decrease the symptomsof mental, emotional and behavioral problems, but to also build positive mental health of our children and youth. Discover new potential. Explore new possibilities. Find renewal for yourself!
What’s RIGHT with YOU? Register now. Use the policy day registration ….
NOTE: Updates on federal legislation usually provided during “Policy Day” will be presented during a plated luncheon outside of the grant activities at 12:00 P.M. November 20, 2008. This luncheon is included in your “Policy Day” registration fee.