The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is partnering with multiple groups, including Families as Allies, to implement the National Center for Youth Opportunity and Justice’s “Mental Health Training for Juvenile Justice” trainer network statewide in Mississippi.
Families as Allies appreciates that this training emphasizes partnering with families. We encourage participating agencies to include families who are involved with youth court. We also want to directly invite families to learn more about and participate in this critical training. Families bring invaluable expertise about their children and how systems can be most responsive to them. We offer a $100 stipend to family participants whose children have been involved in youth court and who complete the day-long training.
This training helps professionals and families recognize the effects of childhood trauma and behavioral health conditions on children who come in contact with the juvenile justice system. Often the disruptive behaviors that lead to a child encountering the juvenile justice system are rooted in untreated behavioral health conditions, and contact with the juvenile justice system can worsen those conditions. So, staff, family, counselors and others need to understand those challenges and address them appropriately.
The next scheduled training is May 3, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Hinds Behavioral Health 3450 Hwy 80, Jackson, MS 39209.
For this training in Hinds County, the Hinds County MAP Team coordinates family and community involvement. The MAP Team is an essential resource for families with children in juvenile justice or out-of-home care.
If you are a family member or other community partner who would like to attend the Hinds County training, contact MAP Team Coordinator Henry Moore at 601-355-0915 or hmoore@faams.org. Family members from other parts of the state who would like to participate in training in their area can also contact Henry.
We are looking for parents and caregivers who have been involved in the youth court system to learn to do parent-to-parent support with other families in youth court as well. Contact us to learn more.
