Category Archives: Families

Kimberlie Zakarian…When an invisible disability meets pediatric bipolar disorder

During those times, not one person from the church we were at came to visit or pray with me. My guess is that they perhaps did not know how to handle mental illness. Walking those early years alone as a parent of a child with bipolarity led to depression and trauma on my part. This is the trauma many parents of children with hidden disabilities endure. Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Bipolar Disorder, Families, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Any parents of kids with disabilities interested in an online small group?

Dr. Steve Grcevich recently contacted me with the idea of offering an online format for parent support via videoconferencing. This is a great opportunity to offer a community of support to parents who otherwise would not have access via a more traditional face to face group Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The relationship between depressed mood and church attendance

While many experts in the mental health or Christian counseling fields acknowledge the mental health benefits of a vital faith, this data appears to represent a signal that self-reported symptoms associated with anxiety or depression may be significant barriers to church attendance. Continue reading

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How “prior authorizations” impact kids with disabilities…

I’m all for controlling medical costs and trying to apply rational rules to our use of expensive medications and procedures. But in the current system, everything seems to be in service of the corporate side of medicine, not the patient. The clinical rationale and the actual patient — not to mention the doctors and nurses involved in the care — are at best secondary concerns.
Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Families | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Updated: Families impacted by depression…How can the church help?

Society still places a stigma on mental illness, but Christians make it worse, he said, by “over-spiritualizing” depression and other disorders — dismissing them as a lack of faith or a sign of weakness. Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Depression, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A disability is still a disability for kids who aren’t disabled all the time

Many kids and adults experience mental health conditions that substantially limits their ability to participate in church as a major life activity while maintaining reasonably high levels of functioning at school, at work or at home. Continue reading

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

If a kid has mental illness, who will invite their family to church?

It’s hard for families to be invited to church when they don’t know anyone who regularly attends church. Continue reading

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Past experiences of church have left many families hurting and broken…

We hardly ever go to church any more. I write this with tears in my eyes because I want to find a church where my kids and I are accepted, and yes, even given “special” treatment from time to time…I am so close to just giving up on church. Continue reading

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Jeff Davidson…Help Wanted

I wish the 30-year old dad of the newborn son I once was could have known the 47-year old dad of a sixteen year old son with special needs that I am now. I could say, “Listen I’ve been where you are. Your life didn’t just end. In fact, this is only the beginning of the most amazing ride of your life. God is going to teach you and reveal things to you that you can’t even imagine.” Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Intellectual Disabilities, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Matt Mooney…Why after all the hard, did you choose hard again?

Matt Mooney served as our guest blogger for Father’s Day 2013. Many people were touched by his family’s story last June…we thought we’d share with our new readers… Matt currently serves as Executive Director of 99 Balloons, a non-profit organization based in … Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Families, Key Ministry, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment