Family and Youth Scholarships and Information

Are you someone who is currently raising or has raised a child or youth with emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges? Have your raised or are you raising a child, youth, or young adult who has been involved in one of the "systems" such as: mental or behavioral health, intellectual disabilities, early intervention, juvenile justice, child welfare, drug and alcohol, special education or another? Are you a youth or young adult who has been involved with anyone, or multiple "systems" such as the ones listed above? If so, the information below may be of interest to you. We would love to have you participate in the 2018 Interagency Conference.

Family and youth/young adult scholarships:

Parent and youth/young adult scholarships are available to help with registration and lodging costs. Parents, youth, and young adults are encouraged to contact their counties for scholarship assistance. For more information about scholarships, please email ra-PWInteragencyConf@pa.gov

Interested in being more involved in the conference?

Parent, family member or youth/young adult co-presenters:
The goal of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is to have a parent or family member and/or a youth/young adult as a co-presenter or discussant in every workshop or institute. We continue to be committed to this goal Where parent or family member or youth/young adult co-presenters are not yet named in the program, OMHSAS will work with presenter and family and youth organizations to identify co-presenter and discussants. Any parent or family member or youth/young adult who is interested in participating in this way should contact OMHSAS as soon as possible.

Email ra-PWinteragencyconf@pa.gov

Family Events and Activities

Monday

 

Monday Evening - Youth and Family Gathering to Discuss School-Based Mental Health Services  5pm-6pm

Meeting with Judith Dogin, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist;
former Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer,

Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
This is a time to identify strengths and challenges in the provision of
behavioral health services in schools, and to share personal experiences as
participants feel comfortable. It is a time for this keynote speaker to solicit
and actively listen to the experience of audience members related to school
behavioral health services in preparation for the interactive keynote on Tuesday.

 

Tuesday

 

Tuesday Late Afternoon   Coffee and Conversation with Gary Blau   4:45-5:45 p.m.

Gary Blau, PhD, Chief, Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

An opportunity for youth and families to discuss the growing trends in youth and family leadership and for youth and families to have a conversation with Dr. Blau about SAMHSA activities.

 

Tuesday Evening - Adult Family Partner Networking Event   7pm-8:30 pm

Please join us for a social event where you will have an opportunity to network with other family members. There will be light snacks served. Feel free, if you wish, to bring resources from your county to share with others. 

This event is limited to 50 adult family members. You must sign up when you register for the conference. If it has already capped out at 50 please contact santiagoj@upmc.edu to be added to a waiting list. Unfortunately, we can not accommodate children, youth or walk-ins. 

 

Wednesday Evening- Drum Circle 7pm-8:30pm  Room to be determined

Please join us for a fun, exciting and powerful way to bring families together through music.  A facilitated drum circle promotes a safe, stress-free and entertaining environment.  Each participant will receive their own drum and no prior experience is necessary to participate in this visual, auditory and kinesthetic way of learning how to regulate your brain.

This event is limited to 50 adult family members. You must sign up when you register for the conference. If it has already capped out at 50 please contact santiagoj@upmc.edu to be added to a waiting list. Unfortunately, we can not accommodate children, youth or walk-ins. 

 

Please keep checking back for additional family, youth and young adult information.