MISSISSIPPI FAMILIES AS ALLIES INC

SUPPORTING FAMILIES:IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO OVER 300 FAMILIES OF CHILDREN AND OFFERING VIRTUAL RESOURCES TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FAMILY MEMBERS, WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND THE POPULATIONS WE SERVE AND THE SETTINGS IN WHICH WE COLLABORATE WITH FAMILIES AND PARTNERS. OUR EFFORTS INCLUDED WORKING WITH STATE AND NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS TO ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. WE HELPED DEVELOP RESPONSIVE PROTOCOLS FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING THESE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. THIS WORK CULMINATED IN PARTICIPATION ON A NATIONAL COMMITTEE TASKED WITH CREATING A CURRICULUM FOR TRAINING FRONTLINE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE CO-PRESENTED UMMC'S PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION CHAMP PROJECT AT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FAMILIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE, HIGHLIGHTING OUR PARTNERSHIP THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN'S PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS IN ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. WE ALSO SUPPORTED OTHER FAMILY-LED ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN ADOPTING THIS MODEL ACROSS DIFFERENT STATES. OUR ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH THE HINDS COUNTY YOUTH COURT COALITION INCLUDED FACILITATING A LARGE YOUTH CONVENING IN AUGUST AND ESTABLISHING AN ONSITE DIVERSION PROGRAM FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY:WE PROVIDED MULTIPLE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROVIDERS ACROSS VARIOUS SYSTEMS TO PROMOTE FAMILY-DRIVEN APPROACHES. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT COALITION (ECDC) EXPANDED, INTEGRATING FAMILY-DRIVEN PRACTICE TRAINING INTO ITS ONBOARDING PROCESS. JOY HOGGE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FAMILIES AS ALLIES, WAS ELECTED CO-CHAIR OF THE COALITION IN JULY 2025, HELPING TO EMBED FAMILY-DRIVEN PRACTICES INTO THE COALITION'S ONGOING PROCEDURES AND POLICIES. WE ALSO TRAINED ATTORNEYS SERVING AS YOUTH AND FAMILY DEFENDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE DURING THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN APRIL 2025, BRIDGING GAPS BETWEEN YOUTH COURTS AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN NEED. IN COLLABORATION WITH UMMC'S CHAMP FOR SCHOOLS, WE TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS ACROSS THE DELTA REGION ON SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES AT SCHOOL, INCLUDING UNDERSTANDING THEIR RIGHTS AND AVAILABLE OPTIONS. WE FACILITATED THE ANNUAL REGIONAL CONVENING FOR ALL FAMILY-TO-FAMILY HEALTH INFORMATION CENTERS IN THE SOUTHEAST, FOCUSING ON HOW MEDICAID PROGRAMS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND TRANSITION SUPPORT CAN ASSIST CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AS THEY APPROACH ADULTHOOD.