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Category Archives: Resources
Approaching your child’s physician about medication for church activities
In a nutshell, it should be possible to find a solution for church for kids who benefit from medication at school. Continue reading
Posted in ADHD, Families, Parents, Resources
Tagged ADHD, adolescents, children, church, Key Ministry, medication, Stephen Grcevich MD
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Key Ministry Contributes to New Resource From Christianity Today
Our team at Key Ministry is pleased to have been invited to contribute to a new resource developed for Special Needs Ministry volunteers by the folks at Christianity Today, offered through their Building Church Leaders website.
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Make ‘Em Smile 2012!
Our Key Ministry team extends our congratulations to Marie Kuck and her crew at Nathaniel’s Hope as they prepare for one of the most unique community outreaches anywhere to families of kids with disabilities. The Tenth Annual “Make ‘Em Smile” community festival in celebration of “VIP Kids” (kids with all types of special needs/ disabilities) will take place this Saturday, June 2, at Lake Eola, near Downtown Orlando.
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Posted in Families, Resources
Tagged Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Make 'Em Smile, Marie Kuck, Nathaniel's Hope, Respite Ministry, special needs, VIP Kids
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Hot Topics: Should Christian Parents Seek Out Christian Mental Health Professionals?
Effective treatment of your child’s mental health condition can often reduce or remove significant barriers to spiritual growth. Unfortunately, parents may find it far easier to find someone to fix their kid than finding someone to fix the attitudes demonstrated toward persons experiencing mental illness at their church. Continue reading
Obstacles Families Face in Finding Mental Health Care For Kids
Parents of kids with significant mental health disorders frequently experience great frustration in negotiating the confusing maze that constitutes our system of mental health care in many communities across the U.S., along with the yet more confusing (intentionally?) system of paying for needed care. Quite frequently, pastors and ministry leaders are trusted resources to parents of children or teens in crisis, and my own professional society encourages parents who are looking for help for their kids to seek recommendations from their spiritual leaders. This post seeks to help ministry leaders better appreciate common challenges families face in finding the proper help for their kids, and offer some resources to share with parents looking for help.
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Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Parents, Resources
Tagged AACAP, access, adolescents, children, church, Facts For Families, families, mental health, NAMI
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Hot Topics: Why is effective mental health care for kids so hard to find?
Reflecting upon these observations, one barrier to kids receiving effective mental health care is that parents often lack an appreciation of the standard of care they should expect for their children. Another barrier is that many parents don’t know the right questions to ask to ensure that their kids get the treatment they need. Parents may be intimidated by the prospect of questioning professionals about their child’s care, especially when access to other qualified professionals is limited by geography or finances. An additional reality is that too many professionals treating kids aren’t especially competent or effective, but continue because the need is so great and alternatives are scarce in many communities.
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Posted in Advocacy, Controversies, Resources
Tagged AACAP, access to care, children, church, effectiveness, Inclusion, Key Ministry, mental health care, NAMI, NIMH
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May Series…Hot Topics in Children’s Mental Health
If kids and teens affected by mental illness and their families are to be successfully welcomed and fully included in our churches, the church will need to make great strides in its’ understanding of mental illness. That’s where I hope we can help.
May is designated as National Mental Health Month, and the week of May 6-12 is officially designated as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. In order to promote better understanding of common mental disorders in children and teens and the challenges faced their families, we’ll spend the month looking in depth at some of the more controversial topics in the field of child and adolescent mental health.
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Ministry Resources From Mike Woods for Kids With Autism
We’ve been fortunate to enjoy the benefits of Mike Woods’ wisdom and experience during his recent guest blog series for Autism Awareness Month. Mike’s truly a thought leader in the field of disability ministry, but a humble thought leader. When we first discussed his guest blog series, I’d asked him to put together a post with links to many of the excellent web-based resources he’s developed for church staff, volunteers and parents for serving kids with special needs. Mike seemed a little reluctant to blow his own horn, so I thought I’d share links to some resources Mike has developed that church staff and volunteers might find especially valuable in ministering to kids with autism spectrum disorders and their families…
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Mike Woods: Human Engagement and Children on the Autism Spectrum
We’re pleased to share with you the third installment in Mike Woods series of guest posts in honor of Autism Awareness Month. Mike currently serves as Special Needs Ministry Director at First Baptist Church of Orlando. For more info on Mike, click here. Today’s post addresses the importance of providing comfort to children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and the theologic foundation to his ministry’s approach to relationships with persons who have special needs.
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Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies, Uncategorized
Tagged Autism, church, Disability Ministry, First Baptist Orlando, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mike Woods
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Cindi and Joe Ferrini…The Unexpected Journey of Relationships
Cindi Ferrini was the special guest last night for SNAPPIN’ Ministries Special Needs Ministry Tweetchat…transcript available here. The discussion topic was Marriage With Special Needs Children. A number of participants had commented on the outstanding presentation Cindi and her husband (Joe) gave for last fall’s Inclusion Fusion on The Unexpected Journey of Relationships…When Special Needs Change Our Course. Here’s the video from Cindi and Joe’s presentation:
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