This section is devoted to announcements and programs available to members of the local community. We hope you find something of interest to your family!

If your child is between the ages of 1-6 years and has autism, loss of communication skills or social interaction, language, communication and/or social skill delays, please call Ms. Maggie Pekar at 301-435-7962 or Email: NIMH-ASD@mail.nih.gov.

Children may be eligible to participate in a treatment study at the NIMH if they are diagnosed with regressive autism and are between the ages of 3-12. Call 301-435-7962 or Email: NIMH-ASD@mail.nih.gov. There is no charge for study related evaluations or for medication during this study.

Healthy children are needed by NIMH to participate in these studies of autism. Participation in the research includes a comprehesive developmental evaluation and physical exam. Results of these assessment will be shared with the parents. Participants must be between the ages of 1-6. Compensation is provided. For more information call Ms. Margaret Pekar 301-435-7962 or Email: NIMH-ASD@mail.nih.gov.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Has OCD medication not worked? The NIMH is studying riluzole for OCD in children and adolescents. Children must be between the ages of 7-17 and have OCD. Call Lorraine Lougee, at 301-435-6652 or 301-496-5323. Email: OCDNIMH@intra.nimh.nih.gov

Study of Children with Developmental Delays between the ages of 2-6. No charge. Comprehensive developmental evaluation, physical examination, and follow-up assessments. For more information, please contact 301-435-7962 or Email NIMH-ASD@mail.nih.gov.

For Parents, Teachers, Daycare Workers, and Family Members
Wednesday Nights 10/15-11/15 7:30-8:45 p.m.
What is ADHD?
How Do We Treat ADHD?
Managing ADHD Behavior - an Explanation, Not An Excuse
Organizing the ADHD Child
ADHD in School
ADHD and Family Harmony
Teaching Social Skills to ADHD Children
Talking to Friends and Family About ADHD
Tuition: $100 Individual/ $150 Couple
Preregistration is required
Contact Sherry Askwith, LCSW-C, PC sherry@askwithmhs.com 301-330-2361

The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council in collaboration with numerous Montgomery County agencies is very pleased to announce the First Annual Fatherhood Conference scheduled for November 8, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It will be a day to recognize how "Dads Make a Difference" in the lives of their children, and to encourage and honor responsible and positive involvement of fathers with their children and families. The conference will be held at Richard Montgomery High School and will feature workshops addressing the challenges that all fathers face and honoring the importance of fathers. The keynote speaker will be Charles Mann, a co-founder of "A Good Samaritan Foundation" which is an organization committed to preparing youth for leadership in the community and workplace. He is also well known as a former Redskins football player. Workshop topics will include:

• raising boys to responsible men,
• the father's role in building self-esteem in their daughters,
• turning "high risk" children into "high promise" children,
• teen dads and new dads,
• healthy parenting and the art of communication, and
• financial management tools.

The conference will also include a Health Fair from 8:00-11:00 a.m. with free cholesterol and diabetes screening to the first 100 participants. There will also be free vision and blood pressure tests for all. Participants will have the opportunity to obtain employment resource information and have their resume evaluated by a Resume Doctor. A continental breakfast, lunch, entertainment, door prizes, and professionally-taken photographs of dads and kids will be available to all participants and their children. While fathers attend the workshops children will enjoy an array of activities coordinated by Montgomery County's Department of Recreation. Montgomery County Public School's Early Child Development Program will provide care for babies and toddlers.

For additional information please call 240-777-7034.

THURSDAY, November 20 - "Executive Function: Looking Ahead" - Only 54% of the students who go to college finish their degree within six years. For students with diagnosed learning difficulties it falls as low as 40%. How does executive functioning relate to attrition in higher education and what can parents do now to prepare their student for success? Landmark College Assistant Professor and Director of Admissions, Ben Mitchell, will discuss the experience of the disabled student in higher education. Participants should leave with a greater understanding of the significant barriers in higher education for students with executive functioning difficulties. Participants will get a clearer idea of the landscape of available higher education support services and the challenges that face students in their move from high school to college. Program will be held in the Walter Johnson HS Cafeteria, Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Dr Bethesda, MD.

Maryland's Medical Assistance provides health insurance coverage to pregnant women, children and now to more parents and other family members caring for children. For Applications or Information, visit www.dhmh.state.md.us/ma4families. You can get many of your questions about this program answered on their FAQ Page. For questions call: 1-800-456-8900.

Familias Trabajadoras: Plan Medico folleto (Espanol)

There is a free support group for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness, sponsored by NAMI of Montgomery County. They meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, from 7:30-9:00 p.m., at Suburban Hospital - Room CR 6,7 (lower level), 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814. Parking is free in the Lincoln Street garage. There is no charge for the support group and there are refreshments. For more information visit the NAMI website at www.namimc.org.

infoMONTGOMERY is Montgomery County Maryland's web site devoted to the inventory of Human Services available in Montgomery County. This website, is an up-to-date resource database designed to connect professionals, residents and their caregivers to programs and services. We hope you will take time to explore this website and the many programs and services offered to county residents.

NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness, a national organization including NAMI organizations in every state and in over 1100 local communities across the country who join together to meet the NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education. Available in both English and Spanish, this web site provides mental health information and resources.

The purpose of AutismConnect is to provide stakeholders in the state of Maryland with an online resource that will assist them in locating and securing resources for individuals with Autism. The website focuses specifically on research, educational resources, and advocacy organizations available to families in Maryland.

If your child needs eye-glasses and you need assistance paying for the eye exam and the glasses, please contact Beth Glad, our health tech. She can arrange to give you a voucher from the Lion's Club Gift of Sight program.

For those families who need assistance in obtaining food for their family, please contact Mrs. Laureno (WLES Counselor). She is able to refer a family in need every 30 days for perishable and non-perishable food items. The food is available for pick-up at the Salvation Army on Aircraft Drive in Germantown on Thursdays between 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Should your family need assistance at any time, please don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Laureno for a referral.

Is your child or family as a whole experiencing a need for counseling? Your child and/or family member(s) can receive support from GUIDE, our local youth mental health agency, at no or low cost. No one is turned away due to lack of finances. This is an excellent resource, right in our own community and the social worker there, Laura Langmore, is excellent. Please feel free to contact her at any time. Laura Langmore, M.A., Youth and Family Counselor
GUIDE Upcounty Youth Services
12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown, MD 20874
Tel 301.972.0307, ext. 202 www.GUIDEProgram.org