Tag Archives: adolescents

Faces of the Movement…Amy Jacober

In Amy’s presentation, she’ll expound upon her observation that many people find after volunteering with people with disabilities that their own faith not only is strengthened but flourishes. What may begin as a hesitant agreement to “serve others” becomes a life changing experience for all involved. This is good news for those recruiting leaders who may be reluctant thinking that they either not qualified or fearful of what it may do to their faith.
Continue reading

Posted in Families, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Faces of the Movement: Ben Conner

So my strategy is to go where kids with developmental disabilities gather or are gathered: Buddy sports programs, help out at a local school, volunteer at a therapeutic horse riding facility, get involved in Special Olympics, or even have someone from your church start a program, like an assisted art program, that supports that community. When you reach out in love to kids with developmental disabilities you will also being serving their families. Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Amplifying Our Witness by Ben Conner

In Ben’s book, he advocates for a “practice-centered” approach to discipleship of teens and young adults with developmental disabilities. Through including adolescents with developmental disabilities in traditional Christian practices (worship, hospitality, prayer, friendship) involving participation in a community of faith, a transformative effect on spiritual development can occur based upon intuition and impression that doesn’t necessarily correspond to our understanding of intellectual or psychosocial development. Continue reading

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hot Topics: When Should You Fire Your Child’s Mental Health Professional?

What are some of the signs parents should look for when they’re concerned that they’re not in the right place for their child with a mental health disorder? Continue reading

Posted in Controversies, Families, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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.
Continue reading

Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Parents, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hot Topics: Is Antipsychotic Medication Safe for Kids?

Among the classes of medication commonly used for kids and teens with mental health disorders, I’m most concerned about the potential long-term safety risks associated with the use of antipsychotics.
Continue reading

Posted in Controversies, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hot Topics: What’s Causing the Epidemic of Mental Illness in Kids?

As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I frequently encounter parents and skeptics who freely share their opinions that much of the reported crisis in children’s mental health is fabricated…a marketing scheme of the pharmaceutical industry, a consequence of poor parenting or misplaced priorities on the part of families.
Continue reading

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