Dear Community Partners,

The WCCP is pleased to bring you this edition of the "Partnerships E-Newsletter" and invites you to read about the exciting community collaborations occurring in Washington County.

I also invite you to visit Mental Health America's Web site by clicking on the image above to learn more about Mental Health Month.


Sincerely,

Stephanie Stone, WCCP Director

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Therefore, it is appropriate to take a look at the data and see what it tells us about child abuse and neglect in Washington County. Review of this data should be prefaced with the understanding that it only reflects what has been reported, not necessarily what has actually occurred.

In 2005, Washington County, as shown in the chart above, ranked 24th in the State of Maryland for the rate of indicated child abuse and neglect investigations per 1000 children. It is important to note that these investigations may have included more than one child. The actual rate, which was 12.7 indicated investigations, means that for every 1000 children in Washington County there were approximately 13 child abuse and neglect investigations in which there was irrefutable credible evidence found. The total number of investigations in which there was irrefutable credible evidence found was 406.

For information about child abuse and neglect and ideas on how you can help prevent it, please visit the Washington County Department of Social Services or The Family Tree, the Maryland affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America.

The Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) recognizes mental illness as a permeating factor in all of the social issues that impact Washington County. Research suggests that stressful life events are more likely to spawn mental illness in people who are vulnerable biologically, socially, and/or psychologically (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Brown & Harris, 1989; Kendler et al., 1995). While it is impossible to ascertain how many individuals in Washington County possess a biological proneness for mental illness, the data for Washington County suggests that there are many residents socially and psychologically vulnerable due to the continued increase in the rates of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, juvenile aggravated assaults and poverty (Click here to see Washington County Data Trends).

Those living in the low-income rural parts of Washington County, in particular, can face unique mental health challenges. Rural residents are often isolated from social support and health care services. Lack of mental health services, coupled with the cost of these services, often deters the poor from seeking mental health care. Many rural counties have few or no inpatient mental health facilities, forcing families to travel long distances to address their needs. Lack of anonymity, associated with mental health stigma, further limits individuals' use of mental health services in rural areas (Braun & Rudd, 2003).

The National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC) estimates that at least one in five people has a diagnosable mental illness. Applying this prevalence estimate to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 population estimate for Washington County indicates that, conceptually, there were 22,416 adults with a diagnosable mental illness. Further, this prevalence estimate indicates that, conceptually, there were 6,333 children and youth with a diagnosable mental illness. The NMHIC estimates that at least one in ten children and youth, ages 0-17, suffer from a mental illness that severely disrupts their daily functioning in home, school and/or community. Sadly, the NMHIC estimates that less than two thirds of those with a diagnosable mental illness actually seek treatment. For more information on the prevalence of mental illness and strategies to promote public awareness, please visit NMHIC's Web site (click here) or Mental Health America's Web site (click here) .

The Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc., which oversees the public mental health system (customers utilizing Medical Assistance for the procurement of mental health services) in Washington County, reports that 1,563 children and youth, ages 0-17, were served in the public mental health system in fiscal year (FY) 2007. The total costs for services rendered in FY 2007, were $5,512,920. These statistics are cited from a preliminary FY 2007 report dated September 30, 2007. The public mental health providers have up to nine months following the rendered services to bill Medical Assistance, therefore, the statistics stated above will likely increase once the finalized FY 2007 report is released. For more information about the public mental health system in Washington County, please contact the Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc. at 301-739-2490 or (click here) to visit them on the Web.

Mental health awareness encourages the general public to learn that they should not feel shame or stigma in talking about mental illness. The overriding message is that mental illness can affect anyone. Mental illness is treatable. Those with mental illness get better.

In an effort to raise mental health awareness and combat stigma, the WCCP has arranged for The Anti-Stigma Project to do a training on May 9 in Washington County on reducing stigmatizing behaviors, attitudes and practices within the mental health and addiction recovery communities. Participants will identify stigmatizing behaviors and attitudes and their impact on the design, delivery, and receipt of services, and develop possible solutions and action steps. The Anti-Stigma Project is part of On Our Own of Maryland, Inc., Maryland's Statewide consumer/survivor organization. The project reduces stigma by raising awareness, facilitating discussion, searching for creative solutions, and educating the public. The Anti-Stigma Project works closely with the mental health community, including consumers, family members, providers, educators, administrators, and law enforcement representatives.

Additionally, the WCCP, in partnership with the Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc. and The Family Network, has planned several efforts around the theme "Mental Health Matters: mental illness can affect anyone." A suicide prevention training is being scheduled for later this month, which will be advertised in the near future. Additionally, The Family Network will hold an outreach event on May 31 at the Valley Mall where anti-stigma and mental health resource information will be distributed.

Mental Health America's theme for this year is focused on an essential component of maintaining and protecting mental health and wellness: social connectedness. The tagline for this year's observance is "Get Connected." There are many ways of creating connections that support mental health:

• Get connected to family and friends to feel close and supported.
• Get connected to your community to feel a sense of belonging and purpose.
• Get connected to professional help to feel better when you're stressed and having trouble coping.

In recognition of Mental Health Month, the WCCP has funded and/or participated in the development of Mental Health Month awareness materials over the last couple of years. Below, is a brief description of each of these efforts and a link to download the awareness materials.

In recognition of Mental Health Month two years ago, the WCCP funded The Mental Health Center of Western Maryland, Inc. to develop and publish a flyer to send to Parent-Teacher Associations, pediatricians, organized children's clubs/groups, sports leagues, scouts, after school programs, etc. The flyer not only proclaimed that May is Mental Health Month, but also focused on childhood depression - that it is real, that it is common and that it is treatable! Please (click here) to download it.

In recognition of Mental Health Month and the families affected by mental illness in 2005, the WCCP partnered with the Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc. on an awareness project. The goal of the outreach effort was to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness that oftentimes prevents children and youth from seeking the treatment they need. A Mental Health IQ Test was developed and distributed to students in Washington County Public Schools, students attending private schools in Washington County and children and youth involved with several child-serving organizations in Washington County. The collaboration also resulted in the development of a poster that was sent to all the school counselors in Washington County Public Schools for display in their counseling centers. Please (click here) to download the Mental Health IQ Test and (click here) to download the poster.

References:

Braun, B., Rudd, M. (2003). Maryland Rural Families Speak: About Mental Health.

Brown, G. W., & Harris, T. O. (1989). Life events and illness. New York: Guilford Press.

Kendler, K. S., Kessler, R. C., Walters, E. E., MacLean, C., Neale, M. C., Heath, A. C., & Eaves, L. J. (1995). Stressful life events, genetic liability, and onset of an episode of major depression in women. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 833-842.

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.

The Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) submitted a proposal in response to the Governor's Office for Children's (GOC) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for strategies designed to::

1. Develop and/or expand home and community-based services for children who have serious mental health and developmental disabilities so that they can remain in their homes. In FY 2008, the GOC, on behalf of the Children's Cabinet, will disburse a minimum of 1.3 million dollars in resource development funding for this purpose. These one-time only funds shall be used to finance start-up costs, as described in this NOFA, for needed services as identified by each jurisdiction submitting a proposal in response to this NOFA.

2. Support community capacity building that will enhance a jurisdiction's ability to serve children and families. Funding is potentially available to support one-time expenditures for a target population that is at-risk of an out-of-state placement or in-state residential placement. The amount of funding that may be awarded for these projects in FY 2008 is undetermined at this time and there is no guarantee that funding will be available for these projects.

The WCCP proposed four strategies directed toward summer programming for youth with special needs, facility-based respite care services, home and community-based therapeutic support services and involvement of family members with experience caring for a child or youth with special needs in the advisory of the System of Care.

Eighteen of the 24 jurisdictions submitted proposals totaling far more than the funding available. It is anticipated that notification of awards will occur by the end of the month.