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Child Mental Health Advocacy Guides and Resources |
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Guides for Mental Health Services and Resources
Resources for Identifying and/or Living with Emotional Disorders
Psychiatric Hospitalization Guides
Mental Health Policy Advocacy
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Guides for Mental Health Services and Resources
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The Parents How-to-Guide to Children's Mental Health Services in Massachusetts
The How-to-Guide is a very comprehensive reference tool for parents, which covers the kinds of mental health services available in the state, how to get these services, and how to pay for them. There are advocacy tips sprinkled throughout the chapters that offer additional guidance and words of wisdom about the potential obstacles parents may encounter. Children's Hospital partnered with the Boston Bar Association in the development of this guide; the first chapter was written by a number of our colleagues in the Department of Psychiatry.
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Making Sense: Mental Health Resources in Boston (English and Spanish)
This piece was developed by a coalition on Boston advocates and parents as part of the Boston Public Health Commission's mental health public awareness and anti-stigma campaign. It provides an overview on mental health and special education services as well as resources for Boston residents. The guide is available in both English and Spanish. Check out the website: www.talklisten.org and www.hablaescucha.org. To reorder call Paula Georges at 617-534-5671
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Your Child's Mental Health Benefits: Navigating the Maze
This is a brochure for Children's Hospital Boston families insured by Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, or United. These brochures are available for each of the four insurers listed above and provide an overview of the mental health "carve outs", internal and external appeals and the state law protections.
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Resources for Identifying and/or Living with Emotional Disorders
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Tip Sheet: Understanding How Teens Behave Emotionally- Ages 13-15
This neatly designed brochure is intended for parents and those who care for and work with youth to better understand and differentiate normal from worrisome behaviors. It presents in chart format a number of helpful suggestions on how to talk with teens, what to look for and what one can do when concerned about specific and/or unusual behaviors.
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Helping Children Cope With Frightening Situations without Frightening Them
In this brochure you will find age appropriate answers to the questions of children at specific developmental levels. It highlights the importance of talking with children, noting signs of unusual stress, taking an active stance, and the importance of play. This brochure was developed by staff from Children's Department of Psychiatry.
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Experience Journal
Would you like to hear about other families' experiences living with a physical and emotional illness? Check out Children's Experience Journal at www.ExperienceJournal.com. The Experience Journal is a website for families in which parents and children tell their stories about living with pediatric physical and emotional illnesses. It is designed to facilitate the health coping of families. There are 6 journals currently on line: pediatric heart disease; child and adolescent depression; inflammatory bowel disease; organ transplant; childhood obesity; and ADHD.
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Talk. You've Got to Start Somewhere
These graphically illustrated postcards provide messages for teens and directs them to resources at the Mayor's Health Line or the Boston Public Health Commission Talk, Listen website. They can also visit www.talklisten.org and www.hablaescucha.org.
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Families for Depression Awareness
This is a national nonprofit organization that helps families and friends recognize and cope with depressive disorders. The organization provides education, outreach, and advocacy support for families. For information go to www.familyaware.org.
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Parent Resource Network (PRN) Hotline
Parent Professional Advocacy League (PAL) is the statewide chapter of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. www.ppal.net offers advice and support for parents. The PRN line is a toll free number where you can obtain support and get information on mental health services for children. The number is 1-866-815-8122.
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Psychiatric Hospitalization Guides
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Helping With Your Child's Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Practical Guide for Parent's at Children's Hospital Boston
This guide was developed by Department of Psychiatry staff to help families prepare for admission to Children's Richmond Inpatient Psychiatry Program. It covers the child's typical day, helping the child and other family members cope with the admission and return home.
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Making Sense: A Parent's Guide to a Child's Psychiatric Hospitalization- Any Hospital
Building on the above guide for Children's inpatient psychiatry admission, this bilingual guide can be used for any hospital admission in Massachusetts. It helps parents prepare for the admission; overviews inpatient treatment- how the day goes, meals, safety; coping strategies for the child and family; and the return home.
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Mental Health Policy Advocacy
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Children's Advocacy Network- the CAN
Interested in policy advocacy issues for your child and family? For more information on how to join the Children's Advocacy Network (the CAN), click here.
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