Connecting, Supporting and Empowering Maryland Families

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Volume 11 Issue 7

June 2022

This month we share:

Also included: upcoming trainings and events and employment opportunities.

You're Invited: Hear Tony Hoffman, Former BMX Elite Pro, Speak About Overcoming Substance Use on June 22

Maryland Coalition of Families is thrilled to host Tony Hoffman, former BMX Elite Pro for a virtual talk on Wednesday, June 22 at 6:00 PM. Tony will share the inspiring story of how he overcame drug addiction and a prison sentence to live a life of fulfillment and purpose.

After paroling prison in December, 2008, Tony started living out his dream, with his addiction behind him. A former BMX Elite Pro, he placed second at the 2016 World Championships in Medellin, Columbia in the Masters Pro class. Tony coached Women's Elite Pro, Brooke Crain, to a fourth place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.

Tony has presented on the prestigous TEDx stage and is the founder and director of the Freewheel Project, a non-profit organization that mentors thousands of youth through action sports. Today, Tony is an author and one of the most requested mental health and substance use speakers in the country, traveling over 200 days a year to share his inspiring story with various audiences.

His virtual talk on Wednesday, June 22 at 6:00 PM is entitled "From Prison to the Olympics: Tony Hoffman's Journey Through Addiction to Mental Health." Please register online to attend this free event.

Families Offer Feedback on Crisis Services in Maryland

In October 2021, MCF shared a survey with families in our database, asking about their use of behavioral health crisis services for a child under the age of 21 within the last three years. We received responses from 173 families. In December, MCF held focus groups with 13 families on the same topic.

The survey and focus groups revealed strong opinions about available crisis services in Maryland. An important finding was that families rated mobile crisis teams highly, but expressed dissatisfaction with emergency departments. Ratings for law enforcement were mixed. Other noteworthy findings were revealed through the survey responses and focus groups.

Read More on Our Website

Rodney Hill Receives 2022 Ginger Rosela Spirit Award

Rodney Hill, a substance use Family Peer Support Specialist on our Baltimore city team, received this year's Ginger Rosela Spirit Award at MCF's All-Staff Meeting on June 7. The annual award was created to honor the memory of Ginger Rosela, a Family Peer Support Specialist who was a founding member of MCF's substance use family navigation program.

This peer-nominated award recognizes an MCF employee who has demonstrated:

An unconditional commitment to and passion for MCF's mission;
Sincere compassion and empathy for the families and individuals they serve; and
Generocity, spirit, kindness and humor with their MCF colleagues

Here are just a few of the comments shared by staff who nominated Rodney for the award:

"Rodney has a special connection with the families he supports."
"It's inspiring to watch Rodney work tirelessly to reach his community."
"Rodney goes above and beyond to support not just his families, but his co-workers, too."
"Rodney brings positivity to everyone he meets. His job is always done with a smile and a push to always look forward, not back."

Congratulations to Rodney on this well-deserved award!

Embracing Discomfort Can Help You Grow

There are many ways we seek comfort in life. We can find it in a warm shower, a fuzzy cuddle with a cat, or a night on the couch with no obligations.

But according to a new study, our desire for comfort could be holding us back when it comes to personal growth. If we want to improve ourselves and achieve our goals, we may want to start actively seeking out discomfort.

Researchers Kaitlin Woolley from Cornell University and Ayelet Fishback from the University of Chicago conducted five different experiments in which over 2,100 people were engaging in personal growth activities. They ranged from taking improv classes to journaling about their emotions to learning about COVID-19, gun violence and opposing political viewpoints.

Read the Article from Greater Good Magazine

Get Connected With Our Online and In-Person Support Groups

MCF offers many 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 with behavioral health challenges
Anyone who cares for a person with a substance use issue (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:

Back to Basics: Support for Parents and Caregivers in the LGBTQ Community
Join us on Zoom to hear from a native Baltimore author who is part of the LGBTQ community on how family support made a difference in their life.

When: Thursday, June 16
Time: 5:30 to 7:00 PM
Where: Online via Zoom
Register at: https://go.mdcoalition.org/e/312281/3Q5kwNU/jx17s/1795012595?h=AEB5aZ_nNOL4xRW4gvSH8NGdStNsbFZrMwonczGgAZw

Community Connections Resource Fair
Join our Baltimore city team along with other community providers at Herring Run Park to learn about local resources for your family's physical and mental health and well-being! Come out to enjoy fun festivities and music, as well as games, activities for the kids, prizes and giveaways!

When: Saturday, June 25
Time: 1:00 to 6:00 PM
Where: Herring Run Park, 3800 Belair Rd., Baltimore, MD

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 openings in many areas of the State. Please check our website for a complete list of openings.

Click here for a complete list of 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

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