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| Volume 16 Issue 5 |
November 2020 |
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This month we share:
Also included: upcoming trainings and events and employment opportunities
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MCF Launches Support Group for Young Adult Children of Parents with Substance Use and Mental Health Issues
 Growing up in a home with parents who struggled with alcohol, drug or mental health issues can have profound and lasting effects on children, even after they become adults themselves. As young adults, they may struggle with mental health issues and forming healthy relationships.
Haley Rizkallah, MCF's Senior Youth Engagement Specialist, is launching an online support group called Putting Ourselves First for young adults age 18 to 30 to create a safe space to address and discuss this aspect of their personal history.
"I grew up in a home that was deeply impacted by substance use and mental health issues," Haley explains. "When I was younger, I felt helpless, scared and often embarrassed. I hope creating this space for others to talk about these challenges will help them to feel in control, supported and empowered."
The first meeting is scheduled for November 18 at 7:00 PM. Future meetings will be on the third Wednesday of each month. For more information and to receive the Zoom link for the meeting, contact Haley Rizkallah at [email protected] or 443-545-6699.
Learn More About MCF Support Groups
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November is National Family Caregivers Month
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of caregivers, provide them with tools they need, and continue to advocate for individuals with mental illness. According to Mental Health America, over 53 million Americans are unpaid caregivers to family, friends, and neighbors. Nearly a third of adult caregivers are helping someone with a mental illness, including many that MCF supports. Caregiving can often have a significant impact on the life of the caregiver in more ways than one. When you are a caregiver, it's more important than ever to take care of your own mental health.
Learn More About Resources for Caregivers
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Help Your Kids and Teens Maintain Social Relationships During Online School
The pandemic is still with us and some schools are continuing or returning to virtual learning. This brings many  challenges for students, including not being able to see friends every day. Maintaining relationships with people virtually can be a challenge, and it can take a little extra work. This Back to School Outreach Toolkit from Mental Health America offers great suggestions on pages 22-23 for helping your child stay in touch with friends and get the social interaction they need to maintain good mental and emotional health. The Toolkit also contains great resources for parents on dealing with
potential COVID-19 exposure, managing distance learning and dealing with tough situations.
See the Back to School Outreach Toolkit Here
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2021 Open Enrollment for Maryland's Health Insurance Exchange
The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) required states to establish and operate a health insurance exchange or to participate in a federal exchange. Maryland opted to create the Maryland Health Connection, a marketplace for residents to enroll in health plans. Through the Exchange, tax credits are available for individuals who qualify, and the insurance plans available reflect reduced copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles for eligible consumers.
The 2021 open enrollment period is November 1 to December 15, 2020, with coverage beginning on January 1, 2021. For information about open enrollment, visit the Maryland Health Connection's open enrollment page.
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Be Alert: Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Are on the Rise
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an extreme increase in online child sexual abuse and exploitation in the United States. Tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the clearinghouse for such information in the United States, nearly doubled from 6.3 million in the first half of 2019 to 12 million through June of this year.
To educate parents and caregivers on how to prevent child sexual abuse, Baltimore-based organization No More Stolen Childhoods is providing free online trainings in November and December. For more information and to register, visit their website.
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Want to be Happier? Be Grateful!
 November is generally when we start thinking about the upcoming holiday season. This time of year is often marked with gatherings of family and friends, religious and social celebrations and traditions that bring joy and comfort. Unfortunately, this year will probably look different for most of us because of the pandemic. Anxiety, sadness and a sense of overwhelm--in children and adults--is on the rise and the holidays might intensify these feelings. What to do? Although it sounds counterintuitive, one proven way to deal with this is to focus on the present and be grateful for what we do have.
Read More
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Get Connected With Our Online Support Groups
 MCF now offers many online support groups to provide a safe space for you to learn, share and receive compassionate help. All are facilitated by trained Family Peer Support Specialists who have dealt with similar challenges in their own families. Current groups are available for:
- Parents and caregivers of children with behavioral health challenges
- Young adults ages 18-26 struggling with behavioral health challenges
- Anyone who cares for a person struggling with substance use (alcohol or drugs)
- Parents who have lost a child to overdose
- Anyone who cares for a person struggling with problem gambling
Groups are free for all participants and are held on different days of the week and different times of day. Find one or more that can work for you and join us soon!
Find a Support Group
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Also online:
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Upcoming Trainings & Events:
Making the Change: How to Help a Loved One With a Substance Use Disorder Make an Action Plan for Change
Have you watched your loved one struggle with alcohol or drug use, but aren't sure what steps to take to help them? Join us for this free webinar and learn how to empower, motivate and encourage your loved one to take positive action around their substance use problem.
When: December 2, 5:30–6:30 PM
Where: Online
Read More and Register
Handling the Holidays: Mindful Holiday Planning for Families Supporting Recovery
Supporting a loved one in recovery for a drug or alcohol issue can bring unexpected challenges to your holiday planning. Join our free webinar and get tips and tools to ensure your holiday parties are fun and accommodating for everyone.
When: Thursday, December 10
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Where: Online
Read More and Register
2021 Family Leadership Institute
Join other parents and caregivers of school-age children with mental health challenges for this six-weekend intensive training program that will connect you to peers and professionals to help you build your knowledge of children's mental health, learn to access supports and work collaboratively with your child's school.
When: Six weekends in January, February, March and April (see link for more details)
Time: Fridays from 6:00 to 9:00 PM and Saturdays 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Where: Online
Read More and Register
For a complete list of upcoming trainings and events, visit our web site.
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MCF Employment Opportunities
MCF is growing, and we have employment opportunities that might be perfect for you or someone you know! We currently have job openings for:
Statewide/Central Office:
Substance Use/Problem Gambling:
Early Childhood
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