Author Archives: Dr. G

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About Dr. G

Dr. Stephen Grcevich serves as President and Founder of Key Ministry, a non-profit organization providing free training, consultation, resources and support to help churches serve families of children with disabilities. Dr. Grcevich is a graduate of Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), trained in General Psychiatry at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University. He is a faculty member in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at two medical schools, leads a group practice in suburban Cleveland (Family Center by the Falls), and continues to be involved in research evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medications prescribed to children for ADHD, anxiety and depression. He is a past recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Dr. Grcevich was recently recognized by Sharecare as one of the top ten online influencers in children’s mental health. His blog for Key Ministry, www.church4everychild.org was ranked fourth among the top 100 children's ministry blogs in 2015 by Ministry to Children.

Vangie Rodenbeck’s interview with Dr. G on Mental Illness and the Church…

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Dr. G

Steve will be Vangie Rodenbeck’s special guest THIS COMING TUESDAY, MAY 19th, at 12:00 PM Eastern as part of Vangie’s Shaping Special Hearts podcast hosted by CM Connect and sponsored by Standard Publishing. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mental health inclusion…The importance of getting the right people around the table

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Dr. G

If you’re seeking to start a mental health inclusion ministry initiative and your job title is something other that Senior Pastor, Job #1 is to get buy-in from the most senior leader in your church. Here’s why… Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Does adoption Christianese sometimes feel like a sucker punch?

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Dr. G

For children in adoptive or foster placements, their lived experiences might offer a perceived theology of a God who abandons, a God who watches but is not overly involved, a God who leaves, or several gods who are interchangeable as different caregivers. Then when we take those assumptions about God and layer confusingly positive Christian clichés about adoption, the end result can be dismissiveness instead of discipleship. Continue reading →

Posted in Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church, let’s stop equating vertical adoption and horizontal adoption

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Dr. G

When we choose our words about adoption, let’s do so carefully so that we don’t add to the trauma and hurt that might already be present in our churches. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Foster Care, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christians, are we being wise with the words orphan and fatherless?

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Dr. G

We still use “orphan” or “fatherless” a lot in the church when we’re talking about adoption and foster care, even when those words don’t fit with our current culture or a specific circumstance. Why? Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Families, Foster Care, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

One mother’s journey…adoption and psychiatric medication

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Dr. G

Contrary to what many believe, putting a child on psychotropic medication is neither quick, nor easy, nor a fix. It is a serious decision with potentially serious consequences. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Controversies, Families, Mental Health, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Seven reasons church attendance is difficult when kids have mental illness…

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Dr. G

Today, we’ll start by identifying seven reasons church attendance/participation is difficult for families of kids with mental illness.
Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Welcome Ryan Wolfe to our Key Ministry team…

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Dr. G

Ryan (along with Shannon Dingle) is available through our FREE Consultation Service to come alongside churches of all sizes when they have a child or family impacted by disability they’re called to serve. Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Church, what if we think _______ diagnosis isn’t a real thing?

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Dr. G

I don’t hear Jesus suggesting that we place bouncers at the door of a Luke 14 banquet to ensure that folks are crippled enough, lame enough, or blind enough. Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Advocacy, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mental health inclusion…taking the first step

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Dr. G

May 2015 is Mental Health Month. In recognition, Key Ministry will be presenting a series of blog posts… Ten Strategies for Promoting Mental Health Inclusion at Church. By the end of the series, we will have created a template for churches … Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment