This past Wednesday, Families as Allies held its quarterly “Fifth Wednesday” live stream on Facebook and Youtube. Four times a year, we take to the Web to discuss issues that concern families of children with behavioral health and related challenges. Our November 30 event featured Families as Allies staff and two special guests: Gigi Holder and Brooke Guyton from the CHAMP program at UMMC.
CHAMP, which stands for Child Access to Mental Health Professionals, is a program that enables primary care healthcare providers to call in for a consultation with doctors of psychology and psychiatry to better serve their patients with mental healthcare and resources. Gigi and Brooke spoke specifically about the CHAMP for Schools initiative, designed to make those same resources available to anyone who works in schools.
CHAMP for Schools consults on behavior issues and effective Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans. CHAMP for Schools can also help school districts conduct risk assessments that keep children in school and are consistent with federal requirements. School districts can contact the CHAMP line at 601-984-2080.
The group discussed issues families often face, particularly around the holidays, including situations where schools send children home just before the holidays and families don’t know how to respond or what their rights are. Executive Director Joy Hogge of Families as Allies discussed a blog entry, “School Suspensions and Expulsions During the Holidays,” in some depth, pointing out some of the rights and challenges of which families should be aware. She also encouraged families to call Families of Allies at 601-355-0915 to ask questions or get more information.
Henry Moore, director of family-driven practice, summed up the discussion with the thought that he’d like families to remember that “it’s a partnership” among families, Families of Allies, CHAMP and other resources available to parents and other family members raising kids. He encourages families to remember that they should always be treated as partners by schools and systems working with their children instead of feeling “they’re on the firing squad.” Families know their children better than anyone and bring important information about their children to every table.
