1 Metro EMBRACING KIDS Meeting The Need from page 11 friends, teachers and administrators. It's a nationwide problem that mental health experts say is leading to increasing num- bers of teens self-medicating by ingesting drugs, attempting to relieve their anxiety by injuring or cutting themselves or, at worst, committing suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, teen suicide is the third leading cause of death, behind accidents and homicide, of people aged 15 to 24. Even more disturbing, it is the fourth lead- ing cause of death for children between the ages of 10 and 14. "If you are hurting enough, you will turn to something;' Nyman said. "There are not adequate services in the communi- ty for kids with emotional and behavioral disorders. This program is so badly need- ed. We want these kids to feel successful, to be a part of the community" A Nightmare If only the program had been up and run- ning two years ago, wishes a local father of two whose son has been through the behavioral disorder mill. What began with behavioral issues at school, elevated to serious issues at home and with friends. The parents quickly sought help from their pediatrician, psy- chiatrists, psychologists, neurologists and a battery of other "experts." The family spent thousands of dollars trying to find out what was wrong with their son. They got just about every diagnosis. "They just kept throwing all these medications at him; we were lost:' said the father, who turned to Kadima because he didn't know where else to go. The parents found they were not alone. Four years ago, Kadima launched an advocacy and support group for parents of kids with emotional disorders led by licensed counselor Lisa Kaufman. Today, 20 families meet monthly to learn coping skills, how to advocate for appropriate services and to share their stories with parents with similar challenges. "Kadima's Family Advocacy and Support Group continues to fill a growing need in the community:' Kaufman said. "Our group provides a safe and supportive venue to discuss the challenges that fami- lies with an emotionally or behaviorally diagnosed child face. "As a therapist, I help the families advo- cate for appropriate care for their children and, as a group, each member has one another to lean on for support, encourage- ment and understanding." Until now, Kadima could not offer much else. "Families feel that Kadima is their advocate; it is a place for direction on how to navigate the system, on how to get the 12 2olo proper help — medical, mental health and judicial;' said Shallal. Her own professional support system includes Nyman; Nancy Stein, LMSW, clinical director; Judith Shewach, LMSW, administrative director; and Paula Schonberg, event planner. Their guess is that once word gets out, they won't have a problem finding 45 young people — the number they hope to assist in the program's first year — who need their help. "We know that the sooner the interven- tion, the better the outcome Shewach said. Nowhere Else To Turn Usually, parents of children exhibit- ing behavioral and emotional disorders rely on their pediatrician, the schools or friends for direction. But, with no cen- tral agency managing children's mental health services, where to turn becomes a real mystery. The lack of comprehen- sive resources for parents trying to get an essential early diagnosis, and then treatment, is startling. Shallal estimates that around 6 percent of Michigan's com- munity mental health budget, and only 4 percent of Oakland County's, is allocated directly to children and adolescents. "Parents are new at this; it's a puzzle said Shallal. An intricate labyrinth is more accurate. Schools — already stretched thin — cannot adequately diagnose these diseases that often manifest in subtle ways, like kids having a hard time making friends or being withdrawn. Conduct dis- orders and anxiety can easily be misun- derstood. Then, there is the stigma. "It was so humiliating;' remembered one father. "Imagine walking into your child's school and everyone looking down at you like you've done something wrong. We're a normal family; we have good val- ues. But our son's problems were beyond our control:' Today, his son is off nearly all his medications, is back in school and doing fantastically. The father credits his family's association with Kadima for helping them navigate the system. For this family and hundreds of oth- ers throughout Metro Detroit caring for a loved one with a mental or emotional illness, Kadima is a refuge, a much-needed respite from the world of normal. 25 Years Of Caring Established in 1984, Kadima's roots trace back to the recession of the 1980s and the exodus of the Jewish population from Detroit to the suburbs. It was at this time, when the synagogues, agencies and Jewish people had vanished from the city, that many noticed who had been left behind — Jewish adults with mental illness. And not just a few, said Shallal. Hundreds of forgot- ten individuals lived without community support in cheap motels, group homes that were barely habitable, and on the streets. It did not take much convincing to gath- er a large group of Jewish leaders to com- mit themselves to ensuring that this popu- lation would have access to an improved quality of life, reconnect them to Judaism and to the community, and provide access to critical services and appropriate shelter. It was a lost population that found a family. Five families funded the purchase of the first group home in 1984, a residence that Artwork done by Kadima clients continues to provide housing for six clients. A few years later, in 1989, Kadima expanded its housing services through funding from Oakland County Community Mental Health (OCCMH) and, in partnership with Jewish Vocational Services, launched the groundbreaking supported employment program, the first of its kind in the state. JVS staff accom- panies Kadima clients to the workplace, guiding them through training and orien- tation so that each client can experience important independence and contribute to his/her own sustenance. More than 200 individuals have gained employment through this hands-on program. In the years since its founding, Kadima's focus has not wavered but only been bolstered. The agency, which receives 60 percent of its funding from OCCMH and the balance from donations and grants, provides residential, therapeutic and sup- port programs, and recreational activities for adults with mental illness. Today, 200-plus clients are tended to by Kadima's passionate, dedicated staff who oversee the operation of 25 group homes, employment preparedness and coaching, counseling and community education. Recreational activities have become one of the agency's most important programs. In 2005, Kadima opened the Lois and Milton Y. Zussman Activity Center, located on the lower level of the organization's Henrietta and Herbert Charfoos Kadima Center on 12 Mile Road in Southfield. Every day, clients come to hang out and dabble in arts and crafts projects, to sing and play music, enjoy board games and cards, read and take various self-improve- ment classes. For the clients, it's a club of their own; for the families and caregivers, the Zussman center is a much-needed safety net. Sadly, though not surprisingly, over the last few years as budgets continue to be slashed, Kadima has seen an increase in the number of clients seeking assis- tance. Still, Shallal, Nyman and the board of trustees knew the time had come to expand services from adults only to begin offering the same caliber of help to children and adolescents. They approached the new initiative carefully. Among the studies undertaken was the execution of a survey to 200 Southeast Michigan mental health professionals asking them to assess the need. They overwhelmingly agreed the area lacked proper resources for kids. For the most seriously ill children who require hospital- ization, only a few options exist. Hawthorn Center in Northville, with 118 beds, is the only state institution available for chil- dren. Havenwyck Hospital in Auburn Hills and Henry Ford's Kingswood Hospital in Ferndale, in addition to their adult pro- grams, have in-patient beds for children. If appropriate, Kadima will refer children to these hospitals. For the most part, what is needed most are comprehensive diagnostic and out-patient therapeutic services, and a reliable resource for parents. "We only start a program when the community asks for it:' said Shallal. "We're here for the lifetime of the individual so people never have to feel alone' Kadima has never shut down a pro- gram because of lack of funding. Staff has never been laid off staff, even in these hard times, and not once has any of its programs stopped because of a lack of interest. Shallal expects the Child and Adolescent Program will be the same. "If we're too successful, somehow we'll meet the need:' she said. "We'll serve as many as need us:' ❑ If you believe your child is suffering from an emotional or behavioral disorder such as ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, an eating disorder or drug abuse, you can contact Kadima at (248) 559-8235. Donations to support the Child and Adolescent Program also are being accepted.