The Missouri Mental Health Foundation and the Department of Mental Health (DMH) are accepting nominations for the 2009 Mental Health Champions recognition. Three persons will be selected as Mental Health Champions:

• an individual with a diagnosed mental illness
• an individual with a developmental disability, and
• an individual in recovery from substance or gambling addiction.

These individuals will be persons who have overcome their personal challenges to make life better for others and for their communities. This is the second year for the champions program, which was started because many Missourians have overcome the challenges of mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities, but very few of their stories are known. "There are many individuals with mental health needs who do exceptional things that inspire others to achieve and make life better for their communities," said Keith Schafer, director of the DMH. "The first mental health champion recognition produced many inspiring stories. I am confident that more will be brought forward this year." Nominations will be accepted until October 30, 2008. The winners will be honored at a Champions Banquet April 15, 2009, in Jefferson City.
Anyone may nominate someone as a Mental Health Champion. Information about the criteria used for selection and nomination forms are available at the DMH web site www.dmh.mo.gov or by calling the Office of Public Affairs at 573- 751-4423. All nomination forms submitted this year must be accompanied by a signed standard release form to allow the department to use the nominee's story and likeness in promotions for the event. Visitors to the website also can view the video tributes to the 2008 Mental Health Champions. 

We are looking for a person who would be interested in impacting and making a difference in the lives of people and families with significant mental health challenges. We have an exciting full-time position as Executive Director for a St. Louis City/County non-profit agency available. The successful candidate will possess the following:

• Has excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Has experience and working knowledge of the System of Care Values and Principals and Vandenberg wraparound training preferred.
• Strong leadership ability to build and maintain consensus.
• Financial ability to review and maintain fiscally sound practices and procedures.
• Interpersonal skills and abilities to train, maintain, and lead staff personnel.
• The ability to maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive information.
• Strong computer skills with knowledge of basic software packages including Access, Excel and Word.
• Working knowledge of basic office equipment.
• Ability to respond positively to parents and customers and to work collaboratively with other agency personnel and community leaders.
• College degree in related field preferred.
• Has ten years of related experience. Human resource and/or financial background helpful.
• Is a parent of a child with mental illness or disability. (preferred)

We are an equal opportunity employer. m/f/d/v
If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit resume no later than the end of business on 7.14.08 to:
Executive Director
800 Friedens Road Suite 200
St. Charles, MO 63303
Or dgould@factmo.org 

The Operation Purple® camp program was created in 2004 to help military children struggling with having a parent deployed. The goal of Operation Purple® summer camps is to impart the message that "They Serve Too". The program aims to help military children of all ages learn coping skills which deal with deployment related stress, foster relationships with other military children in similar circumstances, and most of all have fun.

These free, week-long, overnight camps are open to all military children. We know that we will have a number of children attending our camp whose lives have been dramatically altered by a caregiver's deployment. Some children have had to move to a different city to live with other family, leaving behind friends, pets and familiar places. Others find that dealing with the stress of a caregiver's deployment causes sleeplessness, difficulty with schoolwork and sadness. The caregivers of the children attending our camp this summer tell us they hope their children will learn that they are not alone in this experience.

During the week of July 27 through August 1, we are expecting 134 military children of deployed troops at Camp Shawnee. Our camp will be full to capacity and we are seeking extra help to ensure that these kids have a once-in-a-lifetime camp experience and receive a much needed break from the stress of having a caregiver deployed. We are currently seeking volunteers to help during Operation Purple®. Our most urgent need is for Camp Counselors who will live on site with the kids for the entire week. Please consider this opportunity to use a week of your vacation this summer to make a difference in the lives of kids. Volunteers for Camp must be 18 or older. If you are interested in volunteering for Operation Purple®--even if you can't give an entire week, please contact Tracey at tracey@kc-campfire.org or 913-648-2121 x119. 

This official memorandum officially begins DMH’s SFY 2010 budget development cycle. The information, divided into five sections, alerts consumers, families, advocates, community providers and DMH state programs to issues, constraints and opportunities for DMH in the SFY 2010 budget development process. read more ...

The Office of Transformation and Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services are partnering with Missouri's Center for Safe Schools and the Department of Health & Senior Services to increase availability of bullying prevention services across the state. Research demonstrates a correlation between bullying and several long and short term negative ramifications relative to health and mental health. This prevention program can reduce the occurrence of bullying and prevent it from developing.

Beginning with the national Training of Trainers for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in Kansas City April 1-3, the intent is to locate certified trainers across the state who will then be available to support elementary and middle schools who choose to implement this program. The internationally recognized Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a "Blueprint Evidence Based Program" utilizing a whole-school approach with strong results. The program targets youth who bully, youth who are bullied, youth who stand by, and parents. The program reduces bullying, vandalism, aggression, discipline referrals while improving school climate, attendance, grades, etc. Long-term evaluation reports have been positive.

An application will be available by the end of April for schools to apply for August 2008 implementation. 

Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that his Transformation Working Group has submitted Missouri's Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health to the federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for review and approval. read more ...

The Missouri legislature is moving to make Autism a high priority issue in Missouri. It's a disorder that Senator Scott Rupp refers to as "a tidal wave" of new diagnoses that will be hitting Missouri.  read more ...

Missouri SOC was featured in the most recent Technical Assistance Partnership Newsletter. Read more: http://www.tapartnership.org/news/feb08/default.asp 

The National Institute for Early Childhood Education Research says Missouri lags behind the national average in the resources it devotes to pre-kindergarten education. The group says it advocates quality pre-kindergarten education.  read more ...

The National Institute for Early Childhood Education Research says Missouri lags behind the national average in the resources it devotes to pre-kindergarten education. The group says it advocates quality pre-kindergarten education.

The Institute says Missouri reaches less than five-thousand children with the 12.6-million dollars it commits to pre-kindergarten education. It ranks Missouri 31st in total spending on pre-kindergarten and 32nd in providing access to four-year olds, but says Missouri is 13th in providing access to three-year old children.

Missourinet, March 19, 2008 

SAMHSA Awards $21.9 Million for Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grants read more ...

Since the passage of Senate Bill 1003 in 2004, The Department of Mental Health, in partnership with all of the Departments represented on the Children’s Services Commission, local community stakeholders and families have focused on developing a comprehensive children’s mental health service system.  read more ...

SB 501 signed into law in 2005 established within the Department of Mental Health (DMH), an "Office of Comprehensive Child Mental Health". read more ...