SAMHSA MFP Scholars Attend 24th Annual Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Symposium
24th Annual Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Symposium
I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the 24th Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on November 24th, 2008. The symposium was a gathering of policy makers, researchers, practitioners, and child development organizations who came together to discuss the progress in addressing children’s mental health needs. We heard from several noted speakers on the challenges that families face when accessing services for children, parent advocates and their personal experiences as well as participants who briefly shared their experiences working with children and families. Time was allocated for questions and answers.
Participants were placed into six work groups and charged with looking at ways to improve access to care for children. The group I was placed in looked at integrating mental health across the developmental lifespan in non mental healthcare settings. At the end of the second day, all participants met in conference, and one spokesperson from each group gave a summary of their groups’ findings. All were charged with becoming more involved with mental health issues at the community, state and national level. This exercise was truly a rewarding experience. The conference provided an opportunity to network with mental health professionals who are at the forefront of this issue. I am indeed grateful to SAMHSA for providing this and the many other invaluable opportunities to enhance my professional growth and development.
Kim Jolly, PhDc, RN
SAMHSA MFP Fellow
Florida Atlantic University