Advocacy

• Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
  COPMI promotes better outcomes for children and families where a parent experiences mental illness.
• The Children’s Defense Fund
  Political advocacy and support to ensure a level playing field for all children. They focus on impacting policies and programs that lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation.
• Mental Health America
  Provides current mental health news, brochures, fact sheets at no cost and other publications for purchase on various mental health topics.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
  NAMI is a grass roots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Behavior

• Behavior Doctor
  Training, workshops, tips, and materials for parents and professionals for how to increase success with children’s behavioral challenges and in school by addressing those behaviors to be used in the home and school. The materials cover an array of mental health challenges.
• The Behavior Home Page
  Focused on providing links to resources for parents and professionals concerning children and youth with behavior challenges. This site, sponsored by the state of Kentucky, covers social skills training, response to intervention (RTI), bullying, and seclusion and restraint.
• Beyond Consequences Institute
  Focus on parenting or teaching children who have experienced trauma whether adopted from another country or from the US. The Institute was created by a therapist to educate and provide the resources for helping children with severe acting out behavior.

Disability and Mental Health

ADD/ADHD

• Children and Adults with ADD/ADHD (CHADD)
  Advocacy organization that provides education, advocacy and support for individuals with ADHD and includes current research advances, medications and treatments.
• National Resource Center on ADHD
  Current information on ADHD from a variety of resources; searchable data base, and FAQs.

Autism

• Autism Society of MN
  Nonprofit organization that is committed to education, advocacy, and support for families and individuals affected by autism.
• Autism Speaks
  Autism science and advocacy organization that supports research into the causes, prevention, treatments, to help find a cure for autism.

Depression

• Teen Depression
  The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines and discusses teen depression, symptoms, steps to take, and how to get help, and provides contact and resource links for teens.

Eating Disorders

• NEDA
  The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care, national helpline at (800) 931-2237.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention
  Minnesota Department of Health page featuring a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Fact Sheet.
• Proof Alliance (formerly Minnesota Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS))
  Offers diagnosis, information and support for families and children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and provides information for professionals.

Tourette’s Syndrome

• Tourette’s Association
  A nonprofit advocacy organization for individuals and families affected by Tourette’s and other tic disorders and includes: relevant science, treatment options, and a search function to find helping professionals by state.

Diversity

• National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC)
  Provides training, assistance, and resources to help health and mental health programs ensure their delivery systems are culturally and linguistically competent. One project is specifically focused on children and youth with special health care needs.

Early Childhood

• Center for Child and Human Development
  National Center hosted at Georgetown University, focused on Trauma Informed Care and Early Interventions for children with mental health challenges. Posts current summaries of effective strategy research.
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
  ECTA is an OSEP funded comprehensive technical assistance center for young children with disabilities. It includes reviews of early childhood interventions, research, information on early childhood programs (619 and early childhood special education), data, outcomes, and more.
• National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI)
  The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs to improve and support the capacity of state systems and local programs to implement an early childhood multi-tiered system of support to improve the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children with, and at risk for, developmental disabilities or delays. 
• Portland Research and Training Center
  Provides updates on research, publications, and other activities as well as information about developments in the field of infant and toddler mental health.

Family Help

• Family Services Collaborative
  Directory - Minnesota children’s mental health collaborative contact information by county
• Fast Tracker: Your Link to Mental Health Resources
  Service Providers - Fast-Tracker is a virtual community and health care connection resource. We connect mental health providers, care coordinators, and consumers with a real-time, searchable directory of mental health resources and their availability within Minnesota Parents
• National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
  Works to develop and implement policies, legislation, funding mechanisms, and service systems that utilize the strengths of families. Its emphasis on advocacy offers families a voice in the formation of national policy, services and supports for children with mental health needs and their families.
• Resource for Transition Age Youth
  A resource sponsored by the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation for families who wish to support their family member in getting and keeping employment. “Let’s Talk Employment: A Family Guide to Employment” provides a narrative and links on 15 major topics related to employment.

Helplines

• JED Foundation
  This foundation supports schools, students, families & communities with mental health concerns. It includes a helpline Get Help Now – to access, text “START” to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-8255
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline
  Person-centered care for suicide prevention. Will connect you with a trained counselor in your area.
• Teen Health and Wellness
  Provides middle school and high school students with nonjudgmental, straightforward self-help support. Topics include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, green living, financial literacy, digital literacy, and more.
• The Trevor Project
  Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.
• Crisis Text Line
  This Minnesota suicide hotline is a direct link to counselors. To access text “MN” to 741741  Many youth today feel more comfortable talking about their issues through text messages instead of over the phone or face-to-face.
• Suicide and Depression Awareness for Students
  Focused on individuals and families struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, and includes: resources, symptoms, and help lines contact information.

Information

• healthyplace.com
  A community of people who provide mental health information, support, and the opportunity to share experiences that are helpful to others.
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIH)
  Provides current research on a wide array of mental health disorders. Also available are definitions, causes, types of treatment, and where to go for help.

Interventions

• PBISWorld.com
  Positive interventions and supports (PBIS) organization’s comprehensive and easy to use website, lists successful interventions for specific behavioral challenges and provides a data tracking tool.
• Positive Supports Minnesota
  Offers ideas about positive supports for behavior and transition that are respectful, supportive and effective for parents, service providers and consumers.

LGBTQ

Advocacy

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network
  Information and links on resilience and childhood stress for parents and professionals and those who are LGBTQ.

Resources

• GLSEN
  Championing LGBTQ issues in K-12 education (since 1990) to create safe and affirming schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression with research, action, and support.
• Like Walking Through a Hailstorm
  Information about the history of discrimination of LGBTQ youth and personal stories.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Parents and Caregivers
  Information and links to resources for LGBQ students.

School Policy

• Toolkit for Safe and Supportive Schools for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students
  This MDE produced Toolkit covers rights for LGBTQ students in school and suggests policies for resolving them. Includes a parent section.

Military Families

• Branch Military Technical Assistance Center
  Collection of resources related to unique aspects of education, including special education, for students with disabilities in military families

• U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
  The DODEA has published 10 brochures on topics related to special education for military families

Political Action

• State Advisory Council - Children’s Subcommittee on Mental Health
  Recommends policies, laws, regulations, and services relating to children’s mental health. There are four work groups: Schools and Mental Health; Outreach to Culturally Diverse Families; and Juvenile Justice and Children’s Mental Health.

Seclusion and Restraint

• Stop Hurting Kids
  This site provides recent information on restraint and seclusion, FAQs, Resources, and Legislation.

Prevention

Suicide Prevention

• Suicide and Depression Awareness for Students
  Focused on individuals and families struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, and includes: resources, symptoms, and help lines contact information.

Professional Development

• Mental Health in Schools
  A UCLA website geared toward teaching techniques, philosophies, research, and reform in the field of children’s mental health in schools.
• SAMHSA: Supported Education Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) KIT
  Professional Development (Professional and Parent) - features a downloadable toolkit on how to use, evaluate, and train staff on using evidence based practices in for children with mental health challenges and links to other toolkits of interest.
• Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
  SAVE was one of the nation’s first organizations dedicated to the prevention of suicide and this site includes facts, warnings and FAQs about suicide prevention.

• Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Interventions for Young Children (TACSEI)
  The goal of the State/TACSEI Partnership is to plan, implement and sustain a professional development system to enhance the knowledge and skills of the early childhood work force in meeting the social emotional needs of young children, particularly those with or at risk for delays or disabilities in inclusive and natural environments.

Research

• Beach Center on Disability
  The Beach Center on Disability is a multidisciplinary research and training center committed to making a significant and sustainable positive difference in the quality of life of individuals and families affected by disability and the professionals who support them.
• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
  Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, one of the world's leading research centers in addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.
• Pathways 2 Positive Futures
  Promotes research on serious mental illness, and currently has six active projects.
• RTC for Pathways to Positive Futures
  Research - This project aims to improve the lives of youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions through rigorous research and effective training and dissemination. Our work is guided by the perspectives of young people and their families, and based in a positive development framework.

Research to Practice

• University of Minnesota Children, Youth and Family Consortium
  This consortium creates programs to bridge gaps between research, practice, and policy.

Resources

• PACER Center - Children’s Mental Health or Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Project
  A PACER Center sponsored website focuses on the families of children with mental health, emotional, and behavioral disorders to help navigate multiple systems necessary to access supports and services. Individual assistance, trainings for parents and professionals, and ways to promote change are featured on the innovative site.
• Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH)
  MACMH promotes positive mental health for all infants, children, adolescents, and their families.
• Mental Health Minnesota
  Advocacy organization for increasing services and positive outcomes for those with mental health challenges.
• Minnesota Department of Education
  Find information on how to develop goals and related services to meet mental health needs on an IEP.
• Minnesota Department of Health – Children’s Mental Health
  Mental health matters at every stage of life and requires an integrated continuum of services ranging from prevention to recovery. These efforts will result in better outcomes and reduce health care disparities among children.
• Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN)
  Goal is to develop public health policies that will provide more positive health outcomes and better serve children and youth with special health needs and their families throughout Minnesota.
• Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Children’s Mental Health Division
  Minnesota Department of Health website for Family-to-Family support groups. Family health history and resources, financial and other services and more.
• MN Disability Law Center
  Provides representation for persons with disabilities who live in Minnesota through direct legal representation, advocacy, education, and legislative analysis. MDLC pursues administrative and other appropriate remedies to ensure the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.
• Minnesota State Advisory Council - Children’s Subcommittee on Mental Health
  Recommends policies, laws, regulations, and services relating to children’s mental health. There are four work groups: Schools and Mental Health; Outreach to Culturally Diverse Families; and Juvenile Justice and Children’s Mental Health.
• Managing a Mental Health Condition in College
  Information and support for a successful college experience –produced by NAMI, this site includes symptoms, prevention, and how to seek support for mental health concerns.

• Youth Move
  Devoted to improving services and systems that support positive growth and development by uniting the voices of individuals who have personal experience in various systems including mental health, juvenile justice, education, and child welfare.
• Department of Human Service’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division
  Offers recommendations for technology to improve access for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and have depression or other mental health issues. Contact: Voice or preferred relay service: 800-657-3663, Videophone: 651-964-1514, or Email: [email protected].

Self Determination

• Brazelon Center for Mental Health Law
  A political action group working to protect the autonomy of individuals with mental health challenges, including their right to vote, participate in community life, and make choices about the care they receive.

Technical Assistance

• NCWD/Youth
  A comprehensive technical assistance center for youth with disabilities. The site covers topics affecting them in employment, disability in the workplace, education, and workforce development. Posts on up-to-date research and policy news.
• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support
  OSEP sponsored center regarding positive behavioral intervention strategies (PBIS) programs in school, families, and the community. It includes a comprehensive look at research, current issues and related subjects such as school discipline and juvenile justice