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The Family Recovery Project: The Mississippi Experience

Explore Mississippi Families as Allies for Children’s Health post-Hurricane Katrina challenges with state partners for family-centered trauma recovery services. Learn about support networks, cultural awareness, and concrete strategies for families in need.

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The Family Recovery Project: The Mississippi Experience

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  1. The Family Recovery Project:The Mississippi Experience October 20, 2005 Tessie Brunini Schweitzer, LMSW Executive Director and Tressa Knutson-Eide, LMSW Director of Family and Youth Services

  2. What is MS FAA?Mississippi Families as Allies for Children’s Health • Statewide Family Network • State Organization: Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health • Mississippi System of Care Partner • Partner in the Family Recovery Project sponsored by CMHS, FFCMH and the SFN TA Center

  3. Challenges for Schools • All of the Gulf Coast schools were closed immediately after the hurricane. • At least seven schools could not open until October. • Most of the open schools are running double shifts of children. • Bay St. Louis – Waveland School District cannot open until November 1 (if they receive portable classrooms). • Therefore, MS FAA and clinical partners focused initial efforts on shelters. • Please note: as of FY2003, Mississippi had 543 school-based general mental health sites and 214 school-based day treatment programs. • Where possible, these services are up and running again.

  4. In-State Partners for the Family Recovery Project • Red Cross • Catholic Charities’ Trauma Recovery for Youth Network (TRY) • The Family & Children Research Unit, Social Science Research Center, MS State University • Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians • Mississippi Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics • Art Therapy Association • MS FAA Gulf Coast Chapter • Gulf Coast Mental Health Center

  5. Target Populationsfor the MS FAA Family Recovery Project • Displaced Families and Children • Families of Children & Youth with Serious Mental Health needs • Helping Professionals

  6. Basic Premises • Supportive family and youth services provided by Statewide Family Networks are an integral part of disaster and trauma recovery, just as they are in any System of Care. • Supportive family and youth services complement traditional clinical services. • Cultural awareness, sensitivity and understanding are integrated into all training and interactions with families and children, especially those in trauma.

  7. Basic Premises (cont) • When Statewide Family Networks clearly represent diverse cultures and are well trained, they are better able to meet the needs of families. • Using the principles of Family-Driven Care, MS FAA heard what families said they needed and modified the timing of planned services (e.g., Multi-Family Groups) • Remembering Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, MS FAA focused first on meeting families’ physiological and safety needs.

  8. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

  9. Supportive Services:MS FAA Examples • Statewide Toll-Free Support/Referral Line • Family Partners for one-on-one emotional support and case advocacy • Family Time-Out Respite services • Mentors for individual children & youth • Psychoeducation, Skills Training, and Leadership Development for Families • Arts for Healing summer day camp for children • Therapeutic Recreation, Social Skills and Leadership Development for Teens • Multi-Family Discussion Groups

  10. Conceptual Merger: • Psychological First Aid • Designed to give practical assistance to: • Meet immediate needs and concerns • Reduce distress • Foster adaptive coping • Family Support • Designed to reduce caregiver strain and improve coping and adapting by: • Providing immediate, meaningful support to individual families and youth • Providing the knowledge and specialized skills necessary to meet the complex needs of their child • Recognizing and using the strengths of each child and family

  11. Key Strategies • Practical and Concrete for Access to Resources • Face-to-Face for Emotional Support • Resource Information to Professionals/Churches

  12. Resource Information to: Professionals, Churches, and Families • Medicaid • Housing • Food Stamps / WIC • School Enrollment • Special Education • Red Cross / FEMA / SBA • Replacing ID’s and Records • Medical Resources • Mental Health Resources • Connecting Families Trauma Assessment Tools Health Department Bulletins Info packets tailored to need

  13. Concrete & Practical • Household items • Phone Cards • Gift cards for beds and appliances • Bleach and laundry soap • Clothing assistance • Help cleaning up houses • Help removing debris • Help with child care • Shopping/budgeting

  14. Face-to-Face • Visits to families: “They needed us to see what it was like.” • Emotional support • Listening to stories • Assessment for depression and suicidal ideation

  15. What’s Next • Katrina Time-Out Day • Information on FEMA/SBA • Assistance on Finding Records • Trauma or Multi-family Groups • Art Activity Groups • Lots of Food • Recreation • Massages • Manicures • Gift Baskets

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