Families of kids with special needs find help at free health conference

Nicole is like many parents in Allegheny County who often have more questions than answers about caring for their children with special health needs.

As the mom of an 8-year-old son with autism, she needed help but didn’t know where to go to get it.

“You think you’re all by yourself and there’s a stigma about being judged by others,” she says.

Last year, Nicole attended Allegheny Family Network’s free, one-day conference, and came away with a better understanding of her child’s autism spectrum disorder. And she found a renewed strength to deal with its challenges.

“It was phenomenal, very educational and informative,” she says. “It’s important that parents get support to feel confident about what their children need and how to navigate resources and training. This organization really shows you how to do that.”

This year’s eight-annual conference, “Mental Health: A Family Affair,” presented in partnership with State Rep. Dan Miller, will take place on May 11 at Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center in Oakland.

To make it easier for parents to attend, fun-filled childcare and lunch will be offered to those registered in advance.

Parents and professionals are included in “family road map” training, child discipline and mental health awareness.

State Rep. Miller will moderate a Q&A panel of local representatives discussing current and upcoming legislation in Pennsylvania. Community organizations and behavioral health agencies will provide information and networking at the event’s Resource Fair.

Family support partners from Allegheny Family Network will discuss “5 Steps from Parent to Advocate” as one of a variety of workshops led by professionals on topics related to mental health and wellness. Other workshop topics include:

• “Autism, An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder”;
• “ABCs of Mental Health and Wellness”;
• “Bipolar Disorder”;
• “Mom, Get off the Runway”;
• “Parent/Child Interaction Therapy”;
• “Beyond Scolding and Punishing: Skills for Families.”

More than 30 vendors will have information available about their services for families, too.

Click here for the complete list of conference events.

One of the aspects of Allegheny Family Network that makes it an important ally for parents and caregivers is that it is a family-run agency, says Ruth Fox, CEO of the organization.

“Everyone who works at AFN has raised a child with mental health needs,” she says, “so we’re peer-to-peer support. We’re not threatening to the families; we’re strength-based.”

As the mother of a child, now an adult, who suffered from depression and agoraphobia, Fox knows first-hand the emotional challenges parents face.

“We can really support parents from our own experiences,” she says. “We love what we do because we live it.”