Debbie Myricks, Respite Supervisor

Family Support Services has a new offering in its mix thanks to funding made possible through the agency’s Best from Within internal grants program (see page 3). The new initiative, All About Me, is designed for the siblings of children with mental health challenges.

Often, the brothers and sisters of children with disabilities, including mental illness, do not enjoy the same degree of parental and family attention as their siblings because so much energy is focused on the child with the diagnosis. This situation can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, and resentment in the non-challenged siblings and problems of their own, including behavioral issues and poor performance in the classroom.

All About Me is designed to help children, ages 8 – 13 having a sibling or family member with a mental health diagnosis, change their thinking when dealing with their perceptions of themselves and the world around them. It offers these children opportunities for respite, time away from the family and the identified sibling or family member, and opportunities to network with children who have like life experiences. All About Me focuses on these children and their need for nurturing and attention in a safe and supportive environment that promotes self-confidence and enjoyment of childhood experiences.

Debbie Myricks, Family Support Services Respite Supervisor, expects All About Me to engage at least ten children each month over the course of one year for a total of 120 children served. Sessions focus on coping and communication skills and include bi-annual sessions, allowing parents and children to have opportunities for open communication. Facilitators provide networking opportunities and create natural supports as children learn skills to lessen the incidence of family or individual crises. “This model takes the wellness approach and delivers content in a fun and recreational format that is engaging and supportive,” explains Myricks. “The wellness approach involves working with the families to set goals and work toward a level of improvement that is acceptable to them and representative of what they consider to be well or an improvement in wellness.”

All About Me incorporates fun activities into the learning, including puzzles, games, arts and crafts, and field trips. Sessions are currently scheduled the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Enrollment is free although pre-registration is required. For more information or to register a child or children, call 585-325-3145, ext. 134.