Youth, Family, and Community Engagement

RCCMHC supports youth, family and community

engagement in the following areas:

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  1. Caregiver and Youth Leadership

  2. Family Education & Whole Family Support

  3. Community Outreach and Trainings

  4. Family Wellbeing & Respite Events

 

For more information, contact our Director of Family & Community Engagement, Marika Reese marika@rccmhc.org

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Activites are open to ALL Ramsey County families with a child who is experiencing emotional/behavioral challenges. Some activites with limited space are offered with a first-come first-served registration.  

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Providers can refer a familiy or families can self-refer. REFERAL FORM

Our Approach
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Our approach to youth, family and community engagement was developed by local families/community.

 

It is grounded in 7 foundational ideas developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy: 1) the two-generation approach, 2) consideration of culture, 3) the strengths-based perspective, 4) the biology of stress, 5) resilience theory, 6) a focus on well-being, and 7) the nature of risk and protective factors. Strengthening Families Framework

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It also builds on the concept of empowering families and communities to recognize their own ability to make change and create spaces for healing, belonging, and hope.

Self Healing Communities Model

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The concept is simple.

LISTEN. UNDERSTAND. RESPOND.

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Our Family and Community Engagement has grown from approx. 5 parents in 2013 to 700+ families in 2019.

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CAREGIVER & YOUTH LEADERSHIP

RCCMHC is committed to engaging family and community members as invested stakeholders and systems builders. We value youth and caregivers as equal partners with providers and policy makers. We value the wisdom that each person brings to the table. 

 

  • Our 2019 Governing Board Chair is a parent

  • Our 2019 Vice Chair is a young person

  • Our Family Services Committee is a diverse group of 75 caregivers and youth 

  • We offer leadership trainings and opportunities for youth and caregiver

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FAMILY EDUCATION & WHOLE-FAMILY SUPPORT

IN 2013, our family leadership group was bursting at the seams with parents and kids. The group decided to split into a policy group (Family Services Committee) and a learning/sharing group (monthly Family Trainings.) 

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  • Our FCE Director offers resource connections and support to families & providers

  • Bi-Monthly family trainings 

    • Approx. 40 adults and their ​children attend each training

    • Each training has a different focus (curriculum developed with families/community)

    • Each training connects families with eachother and with local resources

    • Families can choose which trainings to attend.

    • Training topics apply to many ages and diagnoses

Community Outreach & Trainings

RCCMHC collaborates with local partners to provide mental health/wellbeing outreach and resources in our community. 

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  • ​2 Resource Fairs in 2018 welcomed more than 700 visitors  (see more here)

  • Hosted trainigs & workshops such as Understanding ACEs: Building Self-Healing Communities (MCCC), Introduction to Restorative Practices (Koinonia Leadership Academy, LLC), Fidgety Fairytales (MACMH)

  • Care Binders, Calm Down Kits etc.

  • ​Online resource library and searchable resources

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FAMILY WELLBEING & RESPITE EVENTS

RCCMHC works with our families and community partners to develop opportunites for family wellbeing and respite.

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  • Family Wellbeing Retreat (campground)

  • Riverboat Respite for Caregivers

  • Showcase Our Strengths

  • Family BBQ and Swim, Bowling, Skating etc. 

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Sign Up for Updates
We will email you about upcoming trainings, resource fairs, respite events etc!