Parents of students in the East Greenbush Central School District who have a child who developed symptoms of mental illness prior to age 13 are invited to a free, six-session course presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Parents will learn the basic information necessary to be as effective a caregiver as possible and tools to assist in making the best decisions possible for the care of the child.
The course is held for six weeks on Mondays from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Turnpike Elementary School in the Lansingburgh Central School District, 55 New Turnpike Rd., Troy, NY 12182.
- January 14
- January 28
- February 4
- February 11
- February 25
- March 4
Space is limited so advance registration is required.
The course includes:
- Introduction to the normative stages of emotional reactions of the family to the trauma of mental illness.
- Insights into an empathetic understanding of the subjective, lived experience of the child living with the mental illness.
- Current information about Attention Deficit Disorder, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Childhood Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorders.
- Current research related to the biology of mental illness and the evidence-based, most effective treatment strategies available, including medications used to treat mental illness in children and adolescents.
- Specific workshops to learn problem solving, listening and communication skills.
- Examples of strategies that have been found helpful in handling challenging behaviors in children and adolescents.
- Information about the systems that are major players in the lives of children and adolescents with mental illness in the school system and the mental health system.
- Exposure to personal record keeping systems that have proven to be effective for parents/caregivers in their interactions with the school and healthcare systems.
- Information on planning for crisis management and relapse.
- Information on locating appropriate supports and services within the community.
- Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services, with an emphasis on personal advocates for the parent/caregiver and child on an individual level.
For more information, contact Dana Roman, MS, LMHC, Director of School-Community Partnerships, Lansingburgh CSD at droman@lansingburgh.org or 518-233-6857.