Connecting, Supporting and Empowering Maryland Families

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Volume 16 Issue 7

January 2021

This month we share:

Also included: upcoming trainings and events and employment opportunities.

Forgiveness: Your Health Depends on It

Whether it's a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may realize--it may be affecting your physical health. The good news is that studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, such as lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress. And research points to an increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age. This brief article from Johns Hopkins Hospital offers some insight and tools to help.

Read the Online Article

MCF Offers Help for Families With Young Children

Maryland Coalition of Families now offers family peer support services to families with infants and children under five years old who have developmental or behavioral issues.

"We are pleased to offer support to families throughout Maryland who are worried that their infant, toddler or preschooler may not be meeting developmental milestones or are having difficulty with problem behaviors," said Heidi Rochon, MCF's director of innovation and strategy. "Children don't come to us with a user's manual, and it can be hard to know if something is typical or a 'red flag' at this stage. That's why it's so helpful to connect to other parents who have experienced these issues--it can feel incredibly lonely and scary not knowing how to find help for your child."

The new Early Childhood program links families to MCF staff who have experienced challenges with their own children as infants and toddlers. These specially trained staff are knowledgeable about services available in the community and can help parents and caregivers access resources for diagnosis, treatment and support. Additionally, MCF staff provide ongoing emotional support to help families cope with the challenges of parenting infants and toddlers, understand child development at various stages and advocate for their child's needs.

Read More on Our Website

COVID-19 and the 2021 Maryland Legislative Session

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 health pandemic, there is still important legislative work to be done. One of MCF's priority bills this year is HB 405, Special Education--Judicial Actions--Attorney's Fees and Related Costs. HB 405 would allow parents to be reimbursed for attorney's fees and expert witness costs if they win their case in a due process hearing or court proceeding.

Currently, if a parent feels that the school system is in violation of their child's rights to a free, appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and if mediation over the dispute has failed, the parent can request a due process hearing. Due process hearings are somewhat similar to court proceedings--an administrative law judge hears evidence presented by both the parent and the school system and makes a ruling.

Read More

Smoking, Vaping and COVID-19

With the concerns of COVID-19 and its potential for increased harm to smokers, Maryland's Tobacco Resource Center, MDQuit.org is compiling resources and information concerning smoking, vaping and COVID-19.

Tobacco users may be vulnerable to being seriously infected by COVID-19 due to reduced lung capacity and possible lung disease. Additionally, the act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips, which increases the possibility of transmission from hand to mouth. Similarly, the hand-to-mouth action of vaping devices also appears to increase the risk of virus transmission. A population-based study led by researchers at Stanford University found that adolescent and young adult (aged 13-24 years) users of e-cigarettes and dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes are at greater risk of COVID-19.

Read the Online Article

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

Also online:

Upcoming Trainings & Events:

Each One, Teach One: Supporting Lifelong Success for Children with Developmental Disabilities
Join Colonel Ronald Kelsey, US Army, Retired, and his adult son Grant Kelsey, who has autism, as they speak candidly about their experiences navigating life with a developmental disability. From preschool through college, Ron and Grant discuss the home and community supports that impacted Grant's success.

When: Tuesday, February 2
Time: 11:00 AM-Noon
Where: Online

Click Here to Register

Virtual Wellness Workshop Series
This series of free wellness events presented by MCF and other community partners is designed to help you prioritize wellness in every part of your life.

Wellness Tools for Managing Mental Health--January 28
Wellness During Domestic Violence--February 4
Financial Wellness--February 11
Wellness During Conflict--February 18

When: Thursdays, January 28 to February 18
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 PM
Where: Online

Click Here to Register

For a complete list of upcoming workshops and events, please visit our events page.

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:

Director of Human Resources

Department of Juvenile Services (DJS)/Mental Health/Substance Use:

Early Childhood:

Click here for further information on employment opportunities.

Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) helps families who care for someone with behavioral health needs. Using personal experience as parents, caregivers, youth and other loved ones, we connect, support and empower Maryland’s families. Our staff provide one-to-one support to parents and caregivers of young people with mental health issues and to any loved one who cares for someone with a substance use or gambling issue.

10632 Little Patuxent Pkwy Suite 234 | Columbia, MD 21044
Toll Free: (888) 607-3637 | Fax: (410) 730-8331

www.mdcoalition.org | Connect on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn | Join the Mailing List

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