Project Helps Students Express Feelings Through Art: Children and teenagers from several organizations in Clermont county learned about ways to express their feelings this year during a project organized by Clermont County FAST TRAC.
Early Childhood Mental Health
Child Focus, Inc. has long valued the importance of Early Childhood Mental Health. As such, we are dedicated to expanding and improving our services each year. Child Focus, Inc. has the unique privilege to have a team of three mental health professionals who specialize in serving the early childhood population. This team of professionals is made possible through the funding received from Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board, the United Way, and the FAST TRAC System of Care (SAMHSA). The Early Childhood Therapists at Child Focus offer a myriad of services, including: administrative consultation, classroom consultation, intensive individual interventions, classroom and group prevention services, therapy services, and case management.
Despite funding cuts, Child Focus, Inc. and Clermont County have worked to ensure that Head Start and area child care centers are still provided with consultation and prevention services. The team has been able to secure funding from the Mental Health and Recovery Board to maintain three part time consultants to serve Clermont County. Moreover, Child Focus, Inc. has recently submitted a grant proposal through the United Way to fund an additional consultant focusing on serving children involved in the Help Me Grow program. Through the Coordinator of Mental Health in Early Childhood’s involvement in the Early Childhood Coordinating Council (EC3), the birth to three population was able to be identified as an underserved population for mental health. The Mental Health in Early Childhood team has been providing support for at risk children and families in Clermont County for over 10 years and has built a solid reputation in the community. Frequently ECMH team members receive calls from parents, teachers, or center directors seeking support and consultation services. Child Focus, Inc. is one of the few agencies in the region that is willing and able to provide mental health services for the very young. A common theme during phone calls with parents is that they have sought services elsewhere, but were turned away because their child was too young. Child Focus, Inc. has the distinct privilege of having three full time staff members who specialize in social-emotional development and mental health in early childhood.
Youth Leadership Training
The first Youth Leadership Training series will begin on February 9th from 10am to 2pm. It will be held the second Saturday of the month from February through May at 1074 Wasserman Way in Batavia. The first part of the training will be an overview of the FAST TRAC system of care and what social marketing is. In March, the group will participate in team building activities and the ropes course at Woodland Lakes. If you identify yourself as a leader and want to further develop your leadership skills, then these trainings are for you. If you’re interested, you can contact me, Danny Little, at (513)305-3471 or you can email me at dlittle@ccmhrb.org.
Youth Leadership Academy Update
We are halfway through the first FAST TRAC Youth Leadership Training and I would like to highlight some of the things we have done so far. One thing we have focused on is growing as a group. The youth completed the low ropes course at Woodland Lakes, in which the youth had to work as a group to accomplish different tasks. These tasks could only be completed with the cooperation from everyone in the group and if youth took the lead.
Another focus of Youth Leadership Training has been on self-development. The youth have learned more about the FAST TRAC System of Care and how they are empowered to have a voice when it comes to their treatment and things that involve their lives. They have narrowed in on things that have led them to enhance their leadership abilities, such as their history, fears, and skills. They have also begun to plan goals and things they would like to accomplish after the training series is over.
Next month, the youth will have Susan Graham from Child Focus as a presenter. For the beginning of the day, she will be presenting on School-Based Mental Health Services and how the youth can find help for themselves or a friend who is struggling with depression and other mental health issues. Then she will talk about bullying for the last half of the day and the youth will discuss different scenarios and options they have when bullied and as a bystander.
SibShops are Coming to Cincinnati
Sibshops are coming to Cincinnati thanks to Clermont FAST TRAC, a system of care initiative of the Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board, funded by a grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Sibshops acknowledge that being the brother or sister of a person with special needs, including mental health needs, is for some a good thing, others a not-so-good thing, and for many, somewhere in-between. They reflect a belief that brothers and sisters have much to offer one another — if they are given a chance. Sibshops are a spirited mix of new games (designed to be unique, off-beat, and appealing to a wide ability range), new friends, and discussion activities. They give the “typical” sibs an opportunity to work through issues they may have regarding his/her family member with a disability.
Don Meyer, creator and Director of the Sibling Support Project in Seattle, Washington, will provide the two-day Facilitator training. Don is a sought after trainer and is involved with many projects, including the “Supporting Extended Family Members” program at the University of Washington. It is an honor to welcome him to Clermont County!
If you’re a parent, adult sib, student or service provider interested in sibling issues, but not interested in running a Sibshop, the first day of training is for you! You’ll hear from a panel of sibs about their unique concerns and talk about what parents and service providers can do to address sibling issues. Participants will hear poignant stories, share laughs, meet courageous sibs, and learn practical advice.
The second day is for Facilitators-in-training only! Don will guide Facilitators through a 4 hour workshop with 12-15 local youth volunteers.
The two-day training is February 22-23, 2013, 9:00am-3:30pm at Child Focus in Eastgate (551 Old State Route 74, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244). The two-day Sibshop Facilitator training is $110 and each individual day is $60. To register online for the training, go to: http://conta.cc/T5dgzw or for more information, call Melanie Reccia at 752-1555.
Sibshop Update
A rare opportunity to train and learn how to facilitate Sibshops came to Clermont County through Clermont FAST TRAC, a system of care initiative of the Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board, funded by a grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This two day training was held on February 22-23, 2013 at Child Focus in Eastgate.
Sibshops acknowledge that being the brother or sister of a person with special needs, including mental health needs, is for some a good thing, others a not-so-good thing, and for many, somewhere in-between. They reflect a belief that brothers and sisters have much to offer one another — if they are given a chance. Sibshops are a spirited mix of new games (designed to be unique, off-beat, and appealing to a wide ability range), new friends, and discussion activities. They give the “typical” sibs an opportunity to work through issues they may have regarding his/her family member with a disability.
Don Meyer, creator and Director of the Sibling Support Project in Seattle, Washington, provided the two-day Facilitator training through our Clermont FAST TRAC System of Care. Don is a sought after trainer and is involved with many projects, including the “Supporting Extended Family Members” program at the University of Washington. It was an honor to welcome him to Clermont County!
Some 35 people, including local participants, participants from other states, as well as, a wonderful young lady from Japan romped and played with a group of 15 youth who shared their insight and were always ready to play a game. Additionally, a panel of 7 adult sibs discussed their unique concerns and talked about what parents and service providers can do to address sibling issues. Participants heard poignant stories, shared laughs, met courageous sibs, and received some practical advice.
Those who received this training learned the skills to provide workshops for the siblings of children with disabilities and are now “sanctioned” group leaders who can register their workshops through the Sibling Project. A curriculum is available to assist leaders in providing workshops for sibs.
Trainees from Clermont County included 2 staff from Child Focus, 3 parents, one Peer Support Partner, and the Lead Family Contact. The first planning meeting for implementing Sibshops in Clermont County was already held. The goal is to have the first Sibshops opportunity in August 2013. Currently, the planning group is looking at locations to hold the Sibshops, which will meet at least quarterly and be available for youth 7-11 years old. Specific information and registration forms will be available in July 2013. To learn more about the Sibling program: www.siblingsupport.org
