WATCH Wellness Workshop February 2016:

Strengthening the bridge between parents and providers

In order for a child with mental health challenges to receive the best possible care, it’s necessary to have a trusting relationship between the parent and provider. This workshop featured a panel discussion about the benefits of providers and families working together and about how to strengthen those relationships through collaboration.

Panelists

Lisa Elliott, PhD, moderator, Licensed Psychologist and Clinic Manager, Cook Children’s Medical Center

The Honorable Kimberly McCary, County Court at Law Number One, Denton County, Texas

Jason and Ann York, Skelton, Thomason and York educational consulting

Mike and Kathy Conduff, parent advocates

Ray and Susan Croff, parent advocates

Wisdom from the Panel

Panelists outlined practices and behaviors practitioners can do to better help their client families:

Stigma
Let parents know they are not alone and let kids know they are not alone
Participate in the “It’s Okay to Say” Campaign
Normalize the client’s experience
Peer-to-peer support is key

Communication
Talk to as many other practitioners as possible
Get releases signed to speak with other providers

Transitions
Parents need help getting connected with other providers
Help families keep records of their story and treatment so they don’t have to retell it
Teach clients self-advocacy skills

Whole-family support
Help parents make changes at home while the child receives treatment
Parents and kids need respite care (self-care for families)

Innovative and individualized approaches
Think out of the box for non-conventional approaches
Keep supports local
Collaboration fosters innovative treatments

Strategies for Collaboration

Strategies for collaboration, as outlined by workshop participants:

Help your client express their big picture. Give them a transition document that outlines next steps for the next provider.

Expand services to the whole community even if prospective clients are not eligible to receive services as a specific agency

Think strategically about funding – how can you maximize it

Host regular networking opportunities or provider forums at your organization

STAR Kids Medicaid is coming in November and are taking suggestions – give your input at a state level here: [link]

What’s already happening in the community?

Denton Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition is developing a coping skills program for Summer 2016 (group format to build resiliency skills)

Green Apple Therapy and private counselors have partnered across disciplines to reach more kids

Denton ISD and CCD/Family Tree Program are working on a support group for youth with incarcerated parents

Lewisville ISD offers transition meetings for kids coming back into the regular school environment

Resources

A list of resources and things to know as mentioned in the workshop:

Judge McCary invites you to attend a Juvenile Court session. The Court is open every business day starting at 8:15 am at the Charlie J. Cole Building, 210 South Woodrow Lane, Denton. You can email Judge McCary at kimberly.mccary@dentoncounty.com to see how full the docket may be.

Kathy and Mike Conduff found it helpful to create a genogram of their family to take with them to various providers. The template they used is from www.genopro.com.

Clarissa Morales, a workshop participant, shared a resource to help children on Medicaid or CHIP access services. Visit the Texas Medicaid Program website for more information.

Texas Health Steps – Medicaid, comprehensive preventive child health services
Medicaid STAR PLUS (Disabled SSI), disability-based
Children with Special Health Care Needs (CPHCN), income-based
Children’s health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Case management for children and pregnant women, for Medicaid recipients

“Strengthening the bridge between parents and providers” was presented on February 19, 2016 at Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home.