Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Time: 12-1:30 pm ET
Format: Livestream Only
Description:
This workshop brings awareness to the resources needed when navigating care for individuals diagnosed with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) or mental health (MH) changes, exploring the barriers families face and how these challenges impact both care and caregivers. It addresses the question many caregivers have: “Where to turn for help and resources?” and emphasizes the importance of being a voice, not an echo, by bridging institutional learning into real-world applications that can effectively support families. With a concentrated focus on Black male caregivers, the workshop examines the effects of socialization within their communities and the impacts on family structures. By highlighting the journey of caregivers and system-of-care approaches, the workshop underscores the importance of resilience, learning, and a continued commitment to the reasons this work began, recognizing that even experts once knew very little at the start.
Trainer: Timothy T. Simmons is a Community Engagement Specialist in the Center for Health Equity Research for the New IDEAS study under the direction of Dr. Peggye Dilworth-Anderson at UNC Chapel Hill. Timothy is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a BS in Sociology. He is married to Joretta Davis Simmons, and they have four wonderful children.
Timothy is an experienced community advocate and trainer in Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention and has worked within the IDD/MH community for more than 12 years. Mr. Simmons has worked with law enforcement and community partners to bring awareness and education on how to engage individuals with memory and mental health challenges. Timothy interest are collaboration and education to help promote awareness and equity for minoritized communities.
Learning Objectives:
By end of the program, participants will be able to
1. Identify at least 2 key resources available to support caregivers of individuals diagnosed with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) or mental health (MH) changes.
2. Analyze common barriers faced by families caring for individuals with IDD or MH changes and their impact on caregiving dynamics.
3. Examine the unique challenges and societal influences on Black male caregivers within their community and family structure.
References:
- Aller, T. B., Russo, R. B., Kelley, H. H., Bates, L., & Fauth, E. B. (2023). Mental health concerns in individuals with developmental disabilities: Improving mental health literacy trainings for caregivers. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 61(1), 49-64. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-61.1.49
- Dreiling, N. G., Cook, M. L., Lamarche, E., & Klinger, L. G. (2022). Mental health project ECHO autism: Increasing access to community mental health services for autistic individuals. Autism : The International Journal of Research and Practice, 26(2), 434-445. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211028000
- Holingue, C., Kalb, L. G., Klein, A., & Beasley, J. B. (2020). Experiences with the mental health service system of family caregivers of individuals with an Intellectual/Developmental disability referred to START. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 58(5), 379-392. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-58.5.379
Additional Resources:
- Easterseals. (n.d.). Black Child Fund. Easterseals. https://www.easterseals.com/ways-to-give/black-child-fund.html
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. (n.d.). Black parents’ ethnic-racial socialization practices among young Black children with disabilities. Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. https://fpg.unc.edu/projects/black-parents-ethnic-racial-socialization-practices-among-young-black-children-disabilities
- Trent, M., Dooley, D. G., Douge, J., Johnson, K., Shakya, H., Crewe, S., & Maahs-Fladung, C. (2024). Collaborative program to support parents of Black children with autism: A pilot study. Pediatrics, 153(2), e2023062712. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/2/e2023062712/196397/Collaborative-Program-to-Support-Parents-of-Black?autologincheck=redirected
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Children and youth with special health care needs. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/child-and-family-well-being/whole-child-health-section/best-practices/children-and-youth-special-health-care-needs
- Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Enabling technology. Tennessee State Government. https://www.tn.gov/disability-and-aging/disability-aging-programs/enabling-technology.html
- The Arc. (2016). Health disparities among racial and ethnic minority adults with disabilities. The Arc. https://www.aahd.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ArcHealthMeetRacialandEthnicDisparitiesPpt09222016.pdf
UNC SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK – Focus on Family and Disability Series