Connecting, Supporting and Empowering Maryland Families

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Volume 12 Issue 4

November 2022

This month we share:

Also included: upcoming trainings and events and employment opportunities.

Mark Your Calendars for Family Day in Annapolis on February 2!

Join us on Thursday, February 2, 2023 to advocate for behavioral health services!

MCF's Family Day in Annapolis offers a unique opportunity to share your views with those who have the power to make changes. We will be advocating for children, youth and adults with behavioral health needs. MCF will provide free shuttle buses from various locations across the state.

You'll be able to:

Express your concerns about the need for more behavioral health services
Learn about important legislation in Maryland's House and Senate
Meet with legislators and/or their staff

The event will take place at the Governor Calvert House, 30 Randall Street, Annapolis, MD, from 9:30 AM to noon and includes breakfast and a box lunch. Registration and bus information will be shared at a later date. Don't miss this opportunity, mark you calendars today!

Learn More About Legislative Advocacy at MCF

Maryland Votes to Legalize Marijuana for Recreational Use

On November 8, Marylanders voted overwhelmingly to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21.

The new law will not take effect immediately. In the 2022 legislative session, HB 1, which passed, put the legalization question on the November ballot. At the same time, a companion bill passed that stated IF the ballot question on legalization passed, then:

From January 1 to June 30, 2023, posession of up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana will be a civil offense only
Effective July 1, 2023, adults can possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana legally
A Cannabis Assistance Fund will be established to assist small minority-owned and women-owned businesses to enter the marijuana industry
Past convictions for offenses made legal under the new law will be expunged from people's records
A Community Reinvestment Fund will be established that will allocate 30% of the state proceeds from the sale of marijuana to communities disproportionately harmed by previous marijuana laws

Read More Online

Supporting Trans and Nonbinary Kids at School

When kids come out as transgender or nonbinary, expressing their identity at school is often a big challenge. Feeling supported both at home and at school makes a huge difference to these kids' mental health, and there's a lot parents can do to help.

Transitioning at school can be tough because kids' birth names and old pronouns are likely listed in school records. Being called by old names and pronouns can cause a lot of distress. Trans and nonbidnary kids may also be targets for bullying. And even when their school and peers are supportive, figuring out when and how to come out can be confusing and stressful.

Read the Article from Child Mind Institute

Five Ways to Cultivate Gratitude at Work

Americans are less likely to say "thanks" on the job than anywhere else, which hurts productivity and happiness. That needs to change.

Why should anyone thank you for just doing your job? And why should you ever thank your coworkers for doing what they're paid to do? These are common questions in American workplaces, often posed rhetorically--and sometimes with hostility.

Elsewhere in American life, we say "thank you" to acknowledge the good things we get from other people, espeically when they give out of the goodness of their hearts. We say "thanks" at home and in school, in stores and at church.

But not at work. According to a survey of 2,000 Americans released earlier this year by the John Templeton Foundation, people are less likely to feel or express gratitude at work than anyplace else. And they're not thankful for their current jobs, ranking them dead last in a list of things they're grateful for.

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:

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
For Anne Arundel County Families
Join other parents for a free online workshop to learn time-tested methods to solve common problems and build foundations for lasting relationships.

When: Thursday, December 8
Time: 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Where: Edgewater Library, 25 Stepney's Lane, Edgewater, MD 21037
Register at: https://go.mdcoalition.org/e/312281/3Fb0Ipu/lfhpb/1970185176?h=1cHr4FOHCd5w-J6kcg5DMm5ZLfdK_c6eyeP5-FmFk-o

Potty Training Basics
Join us for this free online workshop to prepare you and your toddler for successful potty training! Presenter: Molly the Autism Consultant

When: Thursday, December 8
Time: 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Where: Online
Register at: https://go.mdcoalition.org/e/312281/3GpSOsZ/lfhpf/1970185176?h=1cHr4FOHCd5w-J6kcg5DMm5ZLfdK_c6eyeP5-FmFk-o

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.

8950 State Route 108, Suite 223 | Columbia, MD 21045
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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