MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF FREDERICK COUNTY INC

PREPARING RESILIENT CHILDREN: CHILD CARE PROVIDER TRAINING - TRAINED 1,984 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH 479 WORKSHOPS, SOME AVAILABLE ONLINE, CONDUCTED OR CO-SPONSORED BY CCC. WE CONSTANTLY EXAMINE THE RESULTS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND ENROLLMENT TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS OFFERED BASED ON DEMAND. WE ALSO EXPAND COURSE TOPICS WHEN PROVIDERS OR REGULATORY AGENCIES EXPRESS A NEED. CCC CURRENTLY OFFERS COURSES IN ALL SIX CORE OF KNOWLEDGE AREAS RECOGNIZED BY MARYLAND-CHILD DEVELOPMENT, CURRICULUM, HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION; PROFESSIONALISM; SPECIAL NEEDS; AND COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, CCC OFFERS COURSEWORK IN FIRST AID, CPR, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND SIDS. CCC PROVIDED TRAINING TO 229 PARENTS. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS - CCC ASSISTS REGULATED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SO THEY CAN ENTER OR REMAIN IN THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FIELD. CCC STAFF RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SUBJECT AREAS-INCLUDING CHILD BEHAVIOR, PROVIDING QUALITY CARE FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS, IMPROVING QUALITY, CURRICULUM AND COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS. CCC ALSO SUPPLIES PROGRAMS WITH STATISTICAL INFORMATION PERTINENT TO A CHILD CARE BUSINESS, SUCH AS THE AVERAGE COST OF CARE IN A PARTICULAR SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE AVERAGE CHILD CARE SALARIES IN THE COUNTY OR THE STATE. CCC RESPONDED TO 419 INQUIRIES. EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH - PERKS PROGRAM WORKS WITH EARLY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN WHILE DECREASING OR PREVENTING CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS. SERVED OVER 158 CHILDREN, CONDUCTED 994 CHILD CARE PROGRAM SITE VISITS. HEALTHY FAMILIES FREDERICK (HFF) - HFF IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FIRST-TIME PARENTS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF QUALITY, STRENGTH-BASED, FAMILY-CENTERED SERVICES AND SUPPORT, AND ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND AGENCIES TO HELP BUILD STRONGER FAMILIES, HEALTHIER CHILDREN AND A BETTER COMMUNITY. SERVED 61 FAMILIES AND 59 CHILDREN AND COMPLETED 986 HOME VISITS (SERVICES BEGIN PRENATALLY). NONE OF THE FAMILIES SERVED REQUIRED CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES INVOLVEMENT

SECURING VULNERABLE FAMILIES: COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN (CASA) - 13 NEW VOLUNTEERS WERE GIVEN 16 HOURS OF TRAINING TO PREPARE THEM TO BE SWORN IN BY THE COURT SYSTEM AS A COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE TO ACT AS BEST INTEREST ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED. A TOTAL OF 69 VOLUNTEERS SERVED ON CASES FOR 77 CHILDREN, 47 IN FREDERICK COUNTY AND 30 IN CARROLL COUNTY. CASA WORKS WITH THE CIRCUIT COURTS OF FREDERICK AND CARROLL COUNTIES, DEPARTMENTS OF SOCIAL SERVICES, TREATMENT FACILITIES, GROUP HOMES, SCHOOLS, PARENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE GOAL OF A CASA VOLUNTEER IS TO HELP THE COURT TO SECURE A SAFE AND PERMANENT HOME FOR EVERY CHILD. SUPERVISED VISITATION AND MONITORED TRANSFER - OFFERED A NEUTRAL SETTING FOR NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS TO SAFELY MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHILD(REN). THE CENTER SERVED 96 PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND GRANDPARENTS AND 69 CHILDREN FOR SUPERVISED VISITATION, 9 PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND GRANDPARENTS FOR MONITORED TRANSFER, 23 FAMILIES FOR THERAPEUTIC SUPERVISED VISITATION, AND 16 FAMILIES FOR PARENT COACHING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED 806 HOURS OF VISITATION, 225 HOURS OF PARENT COACHING, AND COMPLETED 76 EXCHANGES OF CHILDREN. SYSTEMS NAVIGATION - 56 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH INTENSIVE NEEDS RECEIVED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT THROUGH THE SYSTEMS NAVIGATION PROGRAM. TRAINED PROFESSIONALS KNOWN AS SYSTEMS NAVIGATORS, ASSISTED FAMILIES WITH IDENTIFICATION OF AND ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES SUCH AS COUNSELING, HOUSING, FINANCIAL AND JOB ASSISTANCE, AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES THAT BEST MET THEIR FAMILY'S NEEDS. BUILDING RESILIENT FAMILIES (BRF) - BRF IS A PROGRAM THAT WORKED TO SUPPORT THE BOND BETWEEN PARENTS, CARE-GIVERS, OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, OR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, AND HELPED TO STRENGTHEN THE PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIP. BRF WORKS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE, INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY ADVOCACY TO 46 PARTICIPANTS, AND PARENTING MENTORING WAS PROVIDED TO 9 PARTICIPANTS.