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Kinship House provides mental health services to children who have experienced foster care and adoption. Some of the therapies involve outdoor play in the agency's backyard.
(Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian/OregonLive/2013)
Thursday, May 7, is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, which this year centers on integrated care for children, youth and young adults with mental or substance use disorders.
The importance of mental health care for this population is alluded to in the results of the most recent Oregon Healthy Teens survey, conducted in 2013.
It asked eighth- and 11th-graders: "During the past 12 months, did you have any emotional or mental health care needs that were not met? (Count any situation where you thought you should see a counselor, social worker, or other mental health professional)." Among eighth-graders, 14.4 percent answered "yes," while among 11th-graders, 15.2 percent answered "yes." That's roughly one in every seven students.
Students were also asked to rate their emotional and mental health as "excellent," "very good," "good," "fair" or "poor." Among eighth-graders, 16.5 percent chose "fair" or "poor," while among 11th-graders, 18.9 percent chose "fair" or "poor." That's one in six among the eighth-graders and nearly one in five among the 11th-graders.
From July 13, 2013, through June 14, 2014, about 41,000 Oregon children ages 17 or younger received a mental health service, according to Christine Stone, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Health Authority.
Oregon parents and guardians who are concerned about their children's mental health have numerous resources to draw on. Here's a sampling:
Albertina Kerr: This Portland-based nonprofit provides pediatric and adolescent mental health services that include crisis psychiatric care, a family resource center, foster care, intensive community-based treatment, an intensive treatment program, outpatient services and youth group homes. 503-239-8101.
CaCoon: This Oregon Health & Science University community-based care coordination program sends public health nurses to children's homes to assist with chronic health conditions, including behavioral or emotional conditions. Call 877-307-7070 or 503-494-8303.
Children's Relief Nursery: This program, under the umbrella of LifeWorks Northwest, provides pediatric psychological evaluations, mental health counseling for youth and mental health services and skills training for foster children ages 3 to 17. Call 503-283-4776 for the St. Johns site or 503-564-0164 for the Mills Park site.
FACT Oregon: This peer support network advocates for and connects families experiencing disabilities. It holds frequent trainings and conferences on topics such as special education and the transition to kindergarten. Call 503-786-6082 or 888-988-3228 or email info@FACToregon.org.
The Flawless Foundation: This Portland-based foundation works to raise awareness about brain-based behavioral challenges. It is holding a symposium on new approaches to mental health for children and teens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, May 18, at Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 N.E. Glisan St. Scheduled presenters include Erik Kola, an instructor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at OHSU, and Ross Szabo, former director of outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign and author of the book "Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health - A Guide for Young Adults." The event also includes a panel discussion. Admission is $45, which includes a copy of Szabo's book. Contact the foundation at info@flawlessfoundation.org.
Kinship House: This nonprofit provides mental health services for children who have experienced the foster care and adoption system. A documentary about the nonprofit, "Kinship House: A Journey to Family," will be screened at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Academy Theater, 7818 S.E. Stark St. For tickets, email ts@kinshiphouse.org.
Morrison Child & Family Services: This nonprofit's services include community- and school-based mental health services, crisis prevention outreach, psychiatric day treatment and residential treatment. 503-258-4381 or intake@morrisonkids.org.
: This nonprofit, which has more than 1,700 members, works to improve the quality of life for those living with mental illness and their loved ones. It runs a free helpline at 1-800-343-6264. It holds what it says is the largest mental health event in Oregon,
, which is scheduled this year for Sunday, May 17, in Southeast Portland. 5
Oregon Family Support Network: This group focuses on mental, behavioral and emotional wellness. It is sponsoring a Children's Mental Health Awareness Day event from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday on the state Capitol steps in Salem. The group's toll-free line for parents is 800-323-8521.
Oregon Infant Mental Health Association: This statewide network "pulls together parents as well as professionals that work with infants and toddlers and young children around social and emotional issues, both normally developing children as well as atypically developing children," said Redmond Reams, a licensed psychologist affiliated with the group. webmanager@orimha.org.
Project Launch: This Multnomah County program supports mental health consultations with selected child care centers and a home visiting program. 503-257-1649.
School-based health centers: Oregon has 72, and they are open to any student in the school districts they serve.
Trillium Family Services: This nonprofit has a children's mental health program for 5- to 17-year-olds and a young adult mental health program for 18- to 24-year-olds. 503-234-9591.
211info: When in doubt about how to find the most relevant or useful mental health service for a child or teen, visit 211info.org, call 211, email help@211info.org or text your zip code to 898211. Lindsay Wills, maternal and child health coordinator at 211info, said the nonprofit has two lines for families: a maternal and child health line that covers all of Oregon for children up to age 18, and a family information line for the Portland metro area for children up to age 8. "We do get calls every day for parents that are worried about their child's development or just have some concerns," she said. "We do have resources all over the state."
More reading:
How to tell if your child needs mental health services (The Oregonian/OregonLive)
As a child with mental illness moves into adolescence: tips, resources for parents (The Oregonian/OregonLive)
Celebrities share their coping strategies with kids, teens in psychiatric care (The Oregonian/OregonLive)
-- Amy Wang
awang@oregonian.com
503-294-5914
@ORAmyW