hostile territory helping families impacted by mental illness overcome barriers to attending church
TRANSCRIPT
Stephen Grcevich, MDDirector of Strategic Initiatives, Key Ministry
Presented at An Inclusive Children’s Ministry ConferenceChrist Church United Methodist
Louisville, KentuckyNovember 7, 2015
Hostile TerritoryHelping Families Impacted by Mental Illness Overcome
Barriers to Attending Church
See a different world…
How is the nature of disability different in kids with mental illness?A different paradigm for thinking about disability – mindset vs. program
What are the barriers to church involvement?Seven strategies for overcoming barriersA different model of ministry…
Some guiding principles for mental health inclusion at church…
A mindset…not a programHelping kids, families join what you already doFocus on overcoming barriers to social connection, communicationDesign environments that promote self-regulation, minimize anxietyNo church/school/organization can do everything, but every church can do something!
A very large potential ministry field!
22% identified with at least one mental disorder
11% have been treated with ADHD medication
8-12% of teens experience anxiety disorders
13% identified with developmental disorders
The majority of the 1 in 68 kids diagnosed with autism are of average/superior intelligence!Carter, AS et al. J. Am Acad. Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2010;49(7): 686-698
Visser et al. J Am Acad. Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2014;53(1): 34-46http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders-in-children-and-adolescents/index.shtmlBoulet, SL, Boyle CA, Schieve, LA. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009;163(1):19-26.http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
What comes to mind when you think about “disability?”
What comes to mind when you think of special needs ministry?
Is a disability a disability if someone is disabled some of the time?
Do the environments and culture of the church cause disability?
“It is our culture that disables.”
“When one is disabled, the problem is not really that they have impairments and social skill deficits. The issue at stake is that they live in an ‘ableist’ culture that rarely affords them the space or opportunity to make their unique contribution to society and does not lift up the value of choosing them as friends.”
Ben Conner…Amplifying Our Witness (2012)
Barriers to including kids with mental illness at church…
Church… Where does she fit in?
Social isolation Anxiety/Fear Social communication Capacity for self-regulation Sensory processing Reluctance to self-identify Parents with mental illness
Social isolation…
Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?
Avoidance, withdrawal common symptoms
Kids may be less desirable as friends
Less likely to be involved in youth sports, extracurricular activities
Parents struggle to find child care necessary to maintain social life
Expectations for social interaction…
Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?
Are social skills necessary at church?
Kids may fail to process…or are unable to process social cues
Negotiating large group and small group environments
Challenges greater in unfamiliar situations
When bullies attend church…
The impact of anxiety on social interaction…
Church… Where do they fit in?
Overestimate potential risk in new relationships, situations
Fears persist longer than developmentally appropriate
Avoidance of situations with potential for scrutiny by others
Persistent worry about performance
Prone to perception that anxiety is caused by a lack of faith (See Phil 4:6-7)
Regulating emotions or behavior…
Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?
Capacity to manage impulses, hide observable aspects of behavior
Understanding of “executive functioning”
Why “structure” helps
Sensory Processing…
Church… What they experience…
A trait associated with autism, anxiety, ADHD
Sound, light, touch, taste and smells readily tolerated by others may be aversive
Transition times often present greatest challenge
The reluctance to self-disclose…
Church… Where does he fit in?
Desperate need to not be different!
Kids, families FLEE special education/special needs
How are church staff to know who needs help when disabilities aren’t always evident?
Stigma…
Stigma in church WORSE than school, community…
What then, is wrong with the “mentally ill”? Their problem is autogenic; it is in themselves…
Jay Adams Mental illness defined as sin, or a parenting problem
Widespread perception they’re not welcome at church
If it’s not a disability, why would disability ministry serve them?
Parents with mental illness…
Church… Where do they fit in?
Multigenerational issue Parent who couldn’t go to
church have kids with no experience of church
Kids depend on parents for transportation
Parents struggle with executive functioning too!
Inconsistent attenders?
Seven strategies for promoting mental health inclusion (TEACHER)
Team: Build an inclusion team
Environments: Establish welcoming ministry environments
Activities with high impact: Prioritize inclusion in activities most essential to spiritual growth
Communicate: Implement a church/ministry-wide communication strategy
Help: Meet heartfelt needs of families outside the church
Education and support
Responsibility: Ministry is owned by everyone in the church
Who needs a seat at the table?Building an inclusion team
Senior leadership must endorse, recruit
Ministry directors on church-wide implementation team
Departments may have their own inclusion team
Consider mental health professionals, advocates, family members, occupational therapists, interior designers, social workers, educators, media specialists, anyone passionate for the ministry
Welcoming ministry environments for persons with mental health diagnoses
Help attendees maintain focus and attention.
Help attendees prioritize most important takeaways
Support those with difficulty processing directions.
Provides engaging, but not overwhelming sensory stimulation
Help kids maintain self-control
Inclusion in high-impact ministry activities
What do you MOST want people to do to grow in faith in Jesus?
What help do they need to get there?
Weekend worship? Small groups? Prayer/family
devotions/serving
Components of a church-wide communication strategy
Preach it from the pulpit! What NOT to say Pictures, video Bulletins, printed
materials E-communication Social media Online church inclusion Inclusion “concierge?”
Help that promotes relationships…
Casseroles Respite Referral services Counseling Special worship services After-school programs Parent advocates for kids
on 504 plans, in special education
Tutoring at-risk kids
Education and supportAdvancing the Kingdom through coffee and donuts
“Grace Groups” – individual, family, PTSD curriculums
NAMI Family to Family, Peer to Peer
Fresh Hope Diagnosis-specific
groups (CHADD)
Responsibility for inclusion ministry is owned by everyone!
Responding to needs wherever they’re planted
Grabbing a mop Relational respite Distribute business cards
with respite invitations 1:1 discipleship Parent mentors “Ministry of presence”
Overcoming social isolation…
Church Go and tell!
Include “neurotypical” siblings at respite events
Provide food or transportation assistance to a neighbor in need
Invite a kid for a play date Advertise online worship
services to families with mental illness in your community
Including those who struggle with social communication…
Church… Where do they fit in?
Partner with parents Address physical environments
where ministry takes place Let them use precocious gifts to
serve others Identify “friendly” small groups Opportunity to rehearse new
experiences Promote disability awareness,
address bullying Alternative paths of discipleship
(mentoring)
Overcoming the anxiety barrier…
Church… Where do they fit in?
Prepare them for first visit
Lots of pictures, video of your ministry environments
Avoid drawing attention to self-conscious kids
Don’t shame them Pathway for introverts?
Helping kids who struggle to regulate emotions and behavior…
Church Helping them fit in?
Friendly physical environments
Sequence of activities? (high-energy last?)
Supervise transition times Developmentally-
appropriate content Some may be better with
physical activity, movement
Helping kids who struggle with sensory processing…
Church… What they experience…
Sensory-friendly entrances
Review your ministry environments (lighting, sound, use of color)
Alternative activities for kids with sensory issues
Monitor transition times closely
Overcoming stigma in the church…
Stigma in church WORSE than school, community…
Talk about it on Sunday morning
Encourage families in the church to share their stories
Start or host a support group Share helpful links, articles,
sermons through social media Value kids, adults with mental
illness by serving them
Helping those who won’t self-disclose…
Church… Helping them fit in
Consider interventions to help all kids, families
Review registration materials
Communicating with parents
Floating support in your children’s, student ministries
Including kids…when parents have mental health concerns
Church… Helping them fit in
Parents of kids who are inconsistent attenders?
They may need more reminders to come
Watch for folks who haven’t attended for some time
Community helps with accountability
Takeaway points…
Kids with mental illness and their families represent one of your church’s greatest outreach opportunities. Mental health inclusion is a mindset…not a programFocus on barriers to connection, communicationDesign ministry environments that promote self-regulation, engaging vs. overwhelming
No church can do everything, but every church can do something!
Key Ministry promotes meaningful connection between churches and families of kids with disabilities for the purpose of making disciples of
Jesus Christ.
Free training, consultation, support and resources
What Does Key Ministry Do?
Stay in Touch!
Key Ministry Website: http://www.keyministry.org
Church4EveryChild…Key Ministry Blog: http://www.church4everychild.org
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