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.

Why are so many parents open to ADHD medication for their kids?

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Dr. G

The end result is that the consequences of a lack of success in our educational system can be dire, and if we conceptualize kids having to pass through an ever-increasing number of “round holes” in our schools, the desperation of parents to get their “square peg” through those round holes is mounting. The end result is that parents pursue medication, tutoring, alternative schools and other approaches for their kids who struggle academically because they fear the long-term consequences associated with academic underachievement. Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Advocacy, Controversies, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

A success story from one of our colleagues…

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Dr. G

During the Praise and worship service, one of the young ladies looked at me with tears coming down her face…during her favorite song. I talked with her for a minute and then got on my knees and prayed with her. She accepted Christ. Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion, Intellectual Disabilities, Stories | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

An unexpected plot twist…”Movie with Max”

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Dr. G

“I had a lot of parents, hundreds of parents that contacted me and said thank you for sharing this story, because this happens in my family, it happens in the community, it might look different but it even happens in our church that we can’t find our way in and people feel like you’re disrupting us.” Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Stories, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Components of a ministry strategy for including kids with mental illness at church

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Dr. G

We look at the components of an effective ministry strategy for outreach and inclusion of children and teens with mental health concerns at church. Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Emily Colson to keynote Northeast Ohio disability ministry event…

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Dr. G

Please join us in welcoming Emily, Deb, Laura and all the speakers scheduled for the disability ministry training event at Hope Community Church on Saturday, March 29th. Continue reading →

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Now that I’m the parent of an adult…

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Dr. G

It would be difficult for me to be more proud of the person Leah has grown up to be. She has an incredible work ethic. She’s maintained commitments to her dance team, her Science Olympiad team, her music, her volunteer work, her work at Cleveland Clinic , and hopefully…her twelfth and final season on her summer swim team. She’s never backed down from any academic challenges. Her accomplishments through high school are more substantial than mine were at her age.
Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Stories | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

What if a parent ALSO has mental health issues?

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Dr. G

When we’re talking about kids experiencing mental health concerns that keep them from church, there’s a reasonable possibility that their mother or father experienced or continue to experience similar difficulties that kept them from attending church. Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Ministry Environments | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Special Needs Ministry: Salt Block or Salt Shaker?

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Dr. G

The challenge is that Sunday morning success, or church-event success, can end up becoming the dominant strategy to share with others the love of Christ: a salt block approach. This is the way it is in a lot of church-based special needs ministries. We operate primarily, almost exclusively, as salt blocks. Paid staff and/or volunteers knock themselves out, week to week, trying to offer the best ministry possible to get both Christian and non-Christian to attend. And that’s a good thing. It’s a needed thing.

But…is it the only thing? Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Inclusion, Intellectual Disabilities, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Online Church for families impacted by disability…TODAY at 1:00 Eastern

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Dr. G

UPDATE: Nils Smith will be joining us at 1:00 PM Eastern and 9:00 PM Eastern for an interactive chat! Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to join us for this month’s Inclusion Fusion…

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Dr. G

We’ve made some changes to make it as easy as possible for pastors, church staff, volunteers and families to join us for Inclusion Fusion… Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment