Michigan Alliance for Families

I have received a lot of questions in regards to what the Michigan Alliance for Families (MAF) is and how it pertains to the support group. MAF is a resource that the group and/or parents can utilize as needed. MAF does not sponsor, run, nor coordinate the support group; the support group is completely voluntary and parent run.   

Kathleen Helppi (the original founder of the support group) and I were working together as the group leaders for a while. Kathleen has since taken on the role of Parent Mentor with the MAF and she is no longer going to be a group leader.

Elizabeth (Liz) Leach was the previous MAF Parent Mentor and unfortunate life circumstances have taken her out of the area. Liz had a special place in her heart for the support group and she took it upon herself to coordinate many of the groups up until she had to leave. I’m now finding that this has created a great deal of confusion for some parents and professionals. Thus, Kathleen is stepping away from the support group as a leader while she is working for MAF. She will be attending meetings as a parent/professional and offering her support and resources to the group as needed.

As stated above, the group is parent run. I listen to the questions that parents have and take suggestions to help determine the needs of the group. If anyone would ever like to lead a meeting, host a speaker/presentation, plan an event, or have ideas for future meetings, I encourage you to talk with me. This group is for parents and I want all the parents to have and feel ownership of the group.

I hope that this post clears up any confusion. If you’d like more information about MAF, you can contact Kathleen Helppi at: jahelppi@mtu.edu and/or visit the MAF homepage at:  http://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/

March 17th Meeting Recap

The Portage Health Pediatric Rehabilitation Team came and gave a wonderful PowerPoint presentation on Speech and Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, the Sympathetic Nervous System, Sensory Integration Disorder, Apraxia, and more. Dr. Colleen Vallad-Hix also joined the presentation and talked about her practice with Cranial Manipulation and Craniosacral Technique. A few handouts on activities to do at home with your child(ren) were handed out; I will be posting these at a later date.

Next months meeting will be held on April 21, 2010. A speaker was originally scheduled but she will now be speaking at the meeting in May.

April Is Autism Awareness Month

A reminder that April is National Autism Awareness Month and it isn't too late to give me your ideas if you think of something you'd like the group to do, or a speaker you'd like to have.

 
Take care and enjoy this weather, hopefully it will last. :)

March 2010 Group Meeting

Can it be spring already? I hope that all of you have been able to enjoy the beautiful weather and the warm sunshine.

March is upon us, and this month we have the Portage Health Pediatric Rehabilitation Team presenting. You will find the flier below. Please feel free to share and distribute this amongst your friends and peers. This meeting is open to the community and to professionals.

(Click to view the flier, as a PDF document)

I have to ask that if you plan to utilize the childcare to please RSVP. This month we are only going to be able to allow 10 children due to being short handed on Americorps staff. If you RSVP and have to cancel, even at the last minute, please call me and let me know; that space could potentially go to someone else.
Hope to see you there!

February Meeting Follow-up

Reflecting back to last months meeting, you’ll remember that we had Lois Weber come and speak about Students Training to Mentor Peers (S.T.O.M.P). Next month, April 20th, from 1-2:30pm at the Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center, Lois and her students will be doing presentations. Please join me in supporting them.