Stephen Grcevich, MD

Director of Strategic Initiatives, Key Ministry

Global Access Conference presented by Joni and Friends

Calvary Community Church, Westlake Village, CA

February 20, 2015

Including Kids and Teens With Mental Illness in the

Church & Community

See a different world…

Mental illnesses as “hidden disabilities”

A different paradigm for thinking about disability

Barriers to church/community inclusion?

Strategies for overcoming barriers

Next steps…

What comes to mind when you think

about “disability?”

How we view disability ministry…

How we view special needs ministry…

Most childhood disabilities are

“hidden disabilities”

Significant emotional, behavioral, developmental or neurologic conditions lacking outwardly apparent physical symptoms.

You can’t spot “hidden disabilities” in a still photograph.

Common “hidden disabilities”

ADHD

Anxiety Disorders

Attachment (RAD, Disinhibited Social Engagement) Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders

Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Learning disorders

PTSD

Social pragmatic language disorder

Sensory processing disorder

How common is mental illness in U.S. kids?

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): 34-46

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders-in-children-and-adolescents/index.shtml

Boulet, SL, Boyle CA, Schieve, LA. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009;163(1):19-26.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

Kids with mental illness are disabled in some, but not

all environments…

“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)

Inclusion barriers are different for kids with mental illness

What are the barriers?

Church, school, community… Where does she fit in?

Social isolation

Social communication

Self-regulation capacity

Sensory processing

Stigma

Fear of being singled out

Parents with disabilities

Social isolation…

Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?

Difficulty making,

keeping friends

Fewer extracurricular

activities

Child care for “parent

nights out”

Social communication…

Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?

Are social skills

important at church?

The role of anxiety

Transitions between

age-grouped

ministries, activities

Emotional self-regulation…

Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?

Capacity to hide

observable aspects

of

behavior…executive

function

Why “structure”

helps

Sensory Processing…

Church, school, community… What they experience…

Common in ADHD,

anxiety, OCD, autism

More not always better

Transition times

difficult

Stigma…

Church, school, community…What then, is wrong with the

“mentally ill”? Their problem is

autogenic; it is in themselves…

Jay Adams Mental illness as sin, a

parenting problem

Cultural perception that

they’re not welcome at

church

Bullying worse for kids with

more subtle disabilities

If it’s not a disability, why

would disability ministry

serve them?

The fear of being singled out…

Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?

Desperate need to not be

different!

Kids, families FLEE

special education/special

needs

Parents with mental illness…

Church, school, community… Where do they fit in?

The apple doesn’t fall far

from the tree!

Parents who struggle

with executive

functioning?

Kids depend on parents

for transportation

Inconsistent attenders?

Solutions?

Mindset vs. program

“Go and tell” vs. “come and

see”

Serve their families

Key…personal relationships

Welcoming environments

Role for technology

Individualized discipleship

Online church?

Meet the Phillips Family…

Jennifer is raising Aidan (age 9) and Emma (age

6). Aiden was invited to your VBS by a school

friend and wants to come to church every Sunday

and Wednesday night.

Aidan takes medication for ADHD and receivers special

education services for dyslexia.

Emma struggles with separation anxiety

Jennifer has social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia

What barriers might they face in regularly attending

church?

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

An inclusion exercise…

Obstacles to “doing church”…

Jennifer:

What might her initial fears about visiting be?

How many people does she need to speak with?

What if it’s crowded?

Is she expected to join a small group?

Emma:

What if kids are discouraged from entering the worship center?

What if she melts down at children’s ministry drop-off?

Aidan:

When might he experience challenges with self-control?

Will any activity embarrass him?

How might his needs differ on Wednesday night?

Takeaway points…

Kids with mental illness and their families represent disability ministry’s greatest outreach opportunity.

A mindset…not a program

Focus on overcoming barriers to social connection, communication

Design environments that promote self-regulation, minimize anxiety

No church/school/organization can do everything, but every church can do something!

Key Ministry provides knowledge,

innovation and experience to the

worldwide church as it ministers to

and with families of children

impacted by mental illness, trauma

and developmental disabilities.

What Does Key Ministry Do?

Stay in Touch!

Key Ministry Website: http://www.keyministry.org

Church4EveryChild…Key Ministry Blog: http://www.church4everychild.org

Key Training Channel/Front Door Online Church Platform: http://www.keyministry.tv

www

http://www.facebook.com/keyministry

http://www.pinterest.com/keyministry/

http://twitter.com/#!/drgrcevich

http://twitter.com/#!/KeyMinistry

Additional Resources:

Resource page on ADHD and spiritual development (includes video from Dr. Russ

Barkley) http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/teaching-series-adhd-and-spiritual-

development/

Resource page on anxiety and spiritual development

http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/resource-page-anxiety-and-spiritual-development/

Resource page on Asperger’s Disorder and spiritual development (includes video of

2012 Children’s Ministry Web Summit presentation)

http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/resource-page-anxiety-and-spiritual-development/

Resource page on Pediatric Bipolar Disorder (includes link to 2010 Grand Rounds

presentation at Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron)

http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/pediatric-bipolar-disorder-a-guide-for-childrens-and-

youth-pastors-and-volunteers/

The Mission Field Next Door (2011 Inclusion Fusion presentation with Katie

Wetherbee) http://youtu.be/PshzmYircCo