June 9, 2022

In this Issue:

 

Parent News & Opportunities

The Parent Catalyst Leadership Group (PCLG Parents) is a program of the Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative. PCLG Parents work to improve the children’s mental health system AND provide support and guidance to parents and caregivers.

Contact Margaret at [email protected] to learn more or join other parents!

PCLG Parent Support Group ONLINE

The PCLG SUPPORT GROUP offers a safe place where you can connect with other parents & caregivers who are raising a child or youth with mental health challenges.  Learn about resources and advocating for your child as you navigate through the system. Join us on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm to share your challenges and celebrate successes.

Our Next Live ZOOM Meeting is tomorrow, June 9th at 7:00pm
Questions? Contact Margaret at [email protected] 

Gratitude to Parent Leaders

The Collaborative and PCLG parents want to acknowledge two Catalysts, Liz Gronert and Peggy Larkin, for their years of dedication to improving the children’s mental health system for families. Over the years, Peggy Larkin has been a tireless and extremely effective advocate for families of children with mental health challenges at the local, county, and state levels. Liz Gronert, in her leadership roles, has helped transform how the Collaborative works with parents and caregivers. These two have been true catalysts for positive change. As they step away from formal leadership positions within PCLG and the Collaborative, they will continue to be strong advocates in support of people with mental health challenges and engage in various Collaborative workgroups. Thank you!

 

Collaborative Meeting Announcements

The Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative Governance Committee will meet June 15, 2022 from 3:30-5:00 pm. The Executive will meet August 5, 2022 from 9:00-11:00 am. If you would like to attend or access meeting materials, please contact Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn.

Neither the Executive nor Governance Committees will meet in July 2022. Workgroups and ad hoc committees will continue to meet during July.

The 2022 meeting schedule is available online here.

 

Growing Resilient Communities

The 5th annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering of Collaboratives & Tribal Nations will be held Thursday, June 16th from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. This free, virtual event will focus on highlighting community-based approaches that support the development of self-healing communities – communities that intentionally develop more inclusive and equitable practices, cultural norms, and concrete supports so all children, families, and adults can thrive.

Keynote speakers include brothers Jerry and Wendell Waukau of the Menominee Nation. They will be sharing the story of their community’s path to heal their invisible Wounds of Historical Trauma. Learn about the Menominee Nation’s journey to improve the health of their tribal community that includes a patient-centered approach, as well as a student-centered approach in their schools.

Collaborative and community partners are encouraged to attend.

Register today! 

 

Maternal & Infant Mental Health Resources

1-888-9-HELP4MOMS – National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

Pregnancy and a new baby can bring a range of emotions. Many women feel overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or exhausted at different times during their pregnancy or after having a baby.

These feelings can make it hard to care for yourself, care for your baby, or even do basic daily tasks. Sometimes these feelings go away on their own. But for some women, these emotions, if they last more than two weeks, are more serious and need treatment.

About the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. The Hotline offers callers:

  • Phone or text access to professional counselors
  • Real-time support and information
  • Response within a few minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Resources
  • Referrals to local and telehealth providers and support groups
  • Culturally sensitive support
  • Counselors who speak English and Spanish
  • Interpreter services in 60 languages

Frequently Asked Questions about the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.

Increased Access to Mental Health Services through Extended Medical Assistance Postpartum Coverage, Beginning July 1, 2022

Under current state law, the Medical Assistance (MA) postpartum period, starts on the date the pregnancy ends, even if the pregnancy does not end in a live birth due to stillbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. Beginning July 1, 2022, MA Coverage Postpartum will be extended from 60 days to 12 months.

These extended benefits will provide important access to mental health services to individuals and their families postpartum. Please help increase awareness among pregnant and postpartum families!

Below is a brief summary:

  1. New applicants or enrollees newly reporting pregnancy will have their eligibility period determined using the new 12 month postpartum extension rules.
  2. All current enrollees who are pregnant will have eligibility re-assessed and their eligibility period will be automatically extended to 12 months following their due date.
  3. Current enrollees who were enrolled as a pregnant woman on MA in the last year, but who are no longer pregnant will have eligibility re-assessed and will be given any remaining months of their 12 month postpartum period.
  4. Women who were enrolled as a pregnant women on MA/ CHIP MA in the last year, but who are no longer pregnant, and who are no longer MA enrollees, will be sent a notice informing them of the legislative change and the opportunity to have eligibility redetermined for any remaining months of their 12 month postpartum period.
 

Help Staff and Eligible Family Access Frontline Worker Pay

Governor Walz and MN Legislature made frontline worker pay a priority this legislative session;
https://frontlinepay.mn.gov/. Applications are expected to open this summer June 8-July 22, 2022, and will have 45 days to apply for Frontline Worker Pay.

Employees who worked 120 hours in Minnesota in between March 15, 2020-June 30, 2021 in one of the following sectors

  1. building services, including maintenance, janitorial and security;
  2. child care;
  3. courts and corrections;
  4. emergency responders;
  5. food service, including production, processing, preparation, sale and delivery;
  6. ground and air transportation services;
  7. health care;
  8. long-term care and home care;
  9. manufacturing;
  10. public health, social service and regulatory service;
  11. public transit;
  12. retail, including sales, fulfillment, distribution and delivery;
  13. schools, including charter schools, state schools and higher education;
  14. temporary shelters and hotels; and
  15. vocational rehabilitation.

Frequently Asked Questions are addressed here.

 

Children’s Mental Health Scholarships, Training, and Sponsorship Resource

The Collaborative is committed to providing financial assistance to support training within the children’s mental health field in Hennepin County. Funding is available for scholarships, training, and sponsorships. Resources are available to parents, caregivers, providers and community stakeholders working to support children’s mental health. You are not required to be an active partner, or parent, of the Collaborative. Funding is available on a first come, first served basis throughout the year.

Three types of scholarships, training or learning have been prioritized in 2022:

  1. Scholarships to attend publicly announced children’s mental health conferences or trainings.
  2. Training grants (up to $1,000 each) for up to 10 community agencies that provide children’s mental health related trainings or workshops.
  3. Sponsorships (up to $1,000 each) will be available for up to three agencies, individuals (adult or youth), or providers to create or host plays, speeches, or public events that have clear children’s mental health focus or education goals.

For more information, contact Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn.

 

MACMH Summer Training Series

Minnesota Association of Children’s Mental Health (MACMH) is offering a strong summer training series on a wide range of topics this summer. Topics include multicultural awareness training for helping professions, pandemic life and developmental detours, supporting LGBTQ+ Youth, suicide prevention and understanding circumstances that may lead young men to engage in criminal behaviors.

For more information, visit https://macmh.org/event-page/trainings/training-series/.