Maryland Coalition Of Families Inc

THE MARYLAND COALITION OF FAMILIES, INC. (THE COALITION) IS THE STATEWIDE VOICE FOR FAMILIES WHO CARE FOR SOMEONE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS, AND IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING A FAMILY-DRIVEN NETWORK OF INFORMATION AND SUPPORT, AND IMPROVING SERVICES IN ALL SYSTEMS CARING FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

MARYLAND COALITION OF FAMILIES (MCF) IS A STATE-WIDE NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO CONNECTING, SUPPORTING, AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. THE ORGANIZATION ADVOCATES TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND SYSTEMS THAT IMPACT INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND TO REDUCE STIGMA RELATED TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. MCF STAFF PROVIDES ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT AT NO COST TO FAMILIES OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND ANYONE WHO CARES FOR SOMEONE WITH A SUBSTANCE USE OR PROBLEM GLAMBLING ISSUE. WE DEFINE "BEHAVIORAL HEALTH" AS A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (I.E. DIFFICULTIES WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL) OR PROBLEM GAMBLING.THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS IN FY22 INCLUDED: 3,465 FAMILIES RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT FOR CHILD AND ADULT MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, PROBLEM GAMBLING, OR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES. 15,540 INDIVIDUALS LEARNED ABOUT MARYLAND'S GOOD SAMARITAN LAW, WHICH PROTECTS PEOPLE FROM ASSISTING IN AN EMERGENCY OVERDOSE SITUATION FROM ARREST AND PROSECUTION FROM CERTAIN CRIMES. 623 SUPPORT GROUPS AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS WERE PROVIDED AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO LEARN AND CONNECT. 143 SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT ADMISSIONS WERE FACILITATED WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR STAFF. 62 FAMILIES BECAME BETTER ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILD THROUGH OUR FAMILY LEADERSHIP TRAINING; THIS INCLUDES ITS ANNUAL STATEWIDE SIX-WEEKEND FAMILY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND TWO REGIONAL FAMILY LEADERSHIP RETREATS. IN ADDITION, MCF CO-DIRECTED WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND THE STATE'S ANNUAL CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, WHICH REACHED 388 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND 147 COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, REACHING OVER 225,000 STUDENTS. MCF ADVOCATED FOR IMPROVING SERVICES IN ALL SYSTEMS OF CARE FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH SYSTEM-LEVEL ADVOCACY, AND THROUGH PARTICIPATION ON STATE-LEVEL, PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEES.THE 19TH ANNUAL FAMILY DAY IN ANNAPOLIS WAS HELD TO BRING TOGETHER FAMILY MEMBERS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS AND SYSTEM PARTNERS TO LEARN ABOUT IMPORTANT LEGISLATION AND BEST PRACTICES TO MEET WITH LEGISLATORS. PARTICIPANTS THEN ENGAGE IN APPOINTMENTS WITH THEIR LEGISLATORS. FY22, 151 FAMILY MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER MARYLAND TOOK PART IN THE EVENT. MCF LED EFFORTS TO BRING THE VOICES OF FAMILIES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK ON IMPROVING CRISIS SERVICES IN MARYLAND. THROUGH SURVEYS AND FOCUS GROUPS OF MARYLAND FAMILIES ON THEIR UTILIZATION OF CRISIS SERVICES FOR THEIR CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 21, RESPONSES FROM 173 FAMILIES PROVIDED RICH INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR REASONS FOR ACCESSING CRISIS SERVICES, THE TYPE OF CRISIS SERVICES THEY PREFERRED TO USE, THEIR DESIRED OUTCOME WHEN THEY REACHED OUT FOR CRISIS SERVICES, AND WHAT AN IDEAL CRISIS SERVICES SYSTEM WOULD LOOK LIKE TO THEM. AS A RESULT, MCF DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AUTHORED A REPORT ENTITLED "LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM FAMILIES: CRISIS SERVICES AND THE EXPERIENCES OF FAMILIES CARING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS" THAT WAS DISSEMINATED TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHICH IS NOW ENGAGED IN BUILDING A STATEWIDE CRISIS SERVICES SYSTEM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. FURTHERMORE, MCF'S STATEWIDE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT ADVISORY COUNCIL, TAKING FLIGHT, HOSTED ACTIVITIES THAT INVOLVED YOUTH WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND PROMOTED ACCEPTANCE, YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND THE REDUCTION OF STIGMA. IN SUMMARY, MCF PROVIDED FAMILY PEER SUPPORT TO PARENTS AND OTHER CAREGIVERS IN ALL 24 JURISDICTIONS OF THE STATE, WITH REGIONAL OFFICES ON THE EASTERN SHORE (ONE IN MID SHORE AND THE OTHER ON THE LOWER SHORE), IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND, WESTERN MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY AND IN BALTIMORE CITY.