Resources for Families
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law — Advocating for the Civil Rights and Human Dignity of People with Mental Disabilities
Autism Speaks - "Autism
Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy
organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention,
treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism
spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with
autism and their families." Autism Society of America - "The
Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization,
exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by
increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people
on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals
across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding
treatment, education, research and advocacy." http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer Mental Health America - Educates the general public about the realities of mental health and mental illness
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net
http://www.childrensdefense.org
National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice - Assists the field in developing improved policies and programs for youth with mental health disorders in contact with the juvenile justice system
Family Voices - Aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities
A START, the Alliance for the Safe, Therapeutic, and Appropriate Use of Residential Treatment - Seeks to increase awareness, promote protections for children and families, and provide information about residential programs and community-based alternatives
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation -Vital information on bipolar disorder in children, teens, and young adults
http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer
Children’s Mental Health Initiative - Digital library of national and local evaluation and social marketing products
Treatment of Children with Mental Illness -Fact sheets
Georgetown National Technical Assistance Center - Provides technical assistance provision with a focus on family and youth integration in all aspects of the work of the center. Facilitation, presentation, resource identification and leadership development are among the services provided. Current activities include efforts within Public Health, Reduction of Health Care Disparities, Systems Transformation, Transition Age Youth, Early Childhood, and Systems of Care.
Virginia Information
PEATC - The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center builds positive futures for Virginia's children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. Our special focus is children with disabilities. We do this by providing:
The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA) - helps
with disability-related problems like abuse, neglect, and
discrimination. We also help people with disabilities obtain services
and treatment. All callers receive help with these problems.
Individuals with problems, targeted in our program goals, may also receive advocacy services and/or legal representation.
Comprehensive Services Act - Provides for the pooling of eight specific funding streams used to purchase services for high-risk youth. These funds are returned to the localities with a required state/ local match and are managed by local interagency teams. The purpose of the act is to provide high quality, child centered, family focused, cost effective, community-based services to high-risk youth and their families.