Skip to Content Accessibility Information

Children and Mental Health Tips and Resources

Mental health for children means learning healthy social skills and how to cope with problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities. The phrase “mental health” doesn’t mean something is wrong, but includes mental wellness and self-care.

Learn how you can help your children be mentally well, and what to do if you are concerned about your child’s mental health.

Children’s Mental Health Matters!

The Children’s Mental Health Matters! Campaign is a partnership between the Mental Health Association of Maryland and Maryland Coalition of Families. The goal is to raise awareness about children’s mental health.  Their website includes information for parents, providers, educators, and children themselves.

Mental Health Fact Sheets for Parents

Updated in 2018, these fact sheets provide parents with information about when and how to seek services for their children and specific topics or diagnoses. 

 

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Mental health information and support for children and adults

Mental Health Facts for Children and Teens

Mental Health by the numbers!  This infographic breaks down the impact of mental health conditions on children and teens as well as warning signs and how parents can help.

NAMI Carroll County Family Support group meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 6:45-8:15 at the Carroll Nonprofit Center (255 Clifton Blvd, Westminster, 21157).

 

Resilience

Resilience is like a rubber band.  Think about pulling a rubber band and stretching it out.  Now imagine it bouncing back to its original shape.  Sometimes kids (and adults too!) are “stretched out” during a difficult time and then bounce back once the situation resolves. 

Resiliency Calendar 2018 The activities on the resiliency calendar can help kids build their skills to “bounce back” after a difficult time. 

Mind resilience means building skills to stay mentally well. This interactive website describes resilience through dialogue, videos and cartoons.   

13 Reasons Why Toolkit

In response to the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) brought together a group of 75 experts to a develop toolkits to foster healthy conversations about suicide, school violence, sexual assault, bullying, substance use and more.

 

Mental Health/Family Navigation

Do you need assistance with navigating your child’s needs?

The Local Care Team (LCT) consists of various family-serving agencies in Carroll County and is a free service provided to all families in the county.  Members of the LCT work together to open doors, brainstorm ideas, share resources, and develop strategies to help children and families thrive.

The LCT can help your family if:

  • A child or children in the household are experiencing on-going challenging behaviors (in areas such as substance use, problems with school, peer/family conflicts, escalating behavioral issues, or accessing mental health services); and
  • The family is willing to attend LCT meetings and participate in developing a Family Action Plan.

Referral to the Local Care Team:

Families interested in the LCT can either refer themselves or be referred by a participating agency. 

  • For family self-referrals, please call the Local Care Team Coordinator at 410-386-3615 or 410-386-3614.

 

Get Connected Family Resource Center 

Provides navigation to families accessing the behavioral health system, 410-871-0008

Behavioral Health Resource Directory  – Compiled by The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County to help Carroll County residents locate and access the behavioral health services they need. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid 

Sponsored by Carroll County Health Department and Carroll Community College. A free 8 hour class that teaches an action plan for helping someone experiencing a mental health crisis. This class is designed for individuals 18 and over who have children or work with children.

Click here to enroll in Youth Mental Health First Aid

Flyer: 2018-2019 May-Jan MHFA Brochure

 

Family/Parent Support

Get connected with other families in your area for fun and learning!

Human Services Programs Carroll County Family Support Center

The Carroll County Family Support Center is one of 25 Family Support Centers in the state of Maryland.  The Center provides child health and development, parenting and adult education, family enrichment, service coordination, and home visiting. This program is designed for expecting parents and parents with children under four.  410-857-0629

 

Carroll County Health Department and Carroll County Public Schools Infants and Toddlers Program

Registered nurses visit high-risk babies and toddlers in their homes to assess development and health. Children will be screened and must present a 25% delay in development to receive services.  This delay could be in one or multiple developmental domains. High-risk babies and toddlers include premature babies, babies exposed to alcohol and drugs, and others at risk of developmental problems.

 

Carroll County Public Schools Judy Center Partnership

The Judy Center Partnership provides home and school based child development and parent education to families with children Birth-Kindergarten.  Their Come Learn with Me Playgroups run the duration of the school year at Cranberry Station Elementary School, Elmer Wolfe Elementary School, Taneytown Elementary School, and Robert Moton Elementary School.  Call or visit their website for more information!

410-751-3613

 

Carroll County Public Library

The library has something for everyone!  Join the summer reading program, get lost in a good book or join an interesting class.