There are many websites that provide information regarding mental illnesses and developmental disabilities including the following national and federal websites:

MHCA

NAMI

NADD

NIMH

SAMHSA

Frontier Health Educational Opportunities:

Tennessee:
American Sign Language
  The Communication Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will teach several classes in American Sign Language, including Level I, Level II, Level III, and Level IV. When scheduled, the six-week classes are usually held on Tuesdays at the Victory Center, Johnson City.
    Each Level class is $75 and will be taught by CCDHH instructors. For more information or to register, call 434-0447. The Communication Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a division of Frontier Health.
    The Communication Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing provides communication between people who are hearing and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

    CCDHH is a community service center providing a range of services for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Services are provided under contract with Federal and State Government Agencies, Businesses, Industries, Hospitals, Service Agencies, Courts and Individuals who are in need of assistance in communicating with people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Services are available in the following 11 counties of Northeast Tennessee: Carter, Claibourne, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. This program is funded in part by the Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services.

Linking Interfaith Network for Kids
  The LINK program is working to build a better network and a stronger working relationship between community mental health, child service providers, and the faith based community leaders who work with kids. The program is designed to provide assistance to children and families who have very serious emotional and mental health problems that may require help. LINK's belief is that by working together to build a relationship, the nees of these families can be met. For more information about upcoming meetings, or being a part of LINK call (423) 989-4538.

TRACES Foster Care

  TRACES Foster Care and Adoption Program offers training for potential foster parents, as part of the requirements to become a foster parent. It includes Parents as Tender Healers (PATH), behavior modification Parent Skills Training, and Juvenile Justice Training. As part of the TRACES system, foster parents receive free training, 24-hour support services, and tax-free reimbursement for care. Call (423) 224-1043 for more information on becoming a foster parent.
  TRACES, an acronym for Tennessee Regional Alternative Care Environments, is a program of Frontier Health and was created in 1992 based on the needs for foster care in East Tennessee.

Virginia:

Alcohol and the Family

  Alcohol and the Family is a three-hour training held periodically at Developmental Services Training Center in Big Stone Gap. Alcohol and the Family stresses the need for intervention and address the difficulties families face. The program offers tools to help families get help and enter recovery as individuals, and as a family. Anyone from a family where alcohol is a problem, or who may work with families who have that issue should attend the seminar. “After learning the effects that alcohol dependency has on a family, we hope it will help empower people to avoid the patterns of alcohol addiction and live a healthy, strong, alcohol-free future."

  Alcohol and the Family is free of charge and open to the general public. For more information, call Frontier Health’s Prevention Services, funded in partnership with Planning District One Behavioral Health Services, at (276) 431-4370.

ASIST Suicide Prevention Training

  A two-day ASIST Suicide Prevention training is scheduled twice a year at Developmental Services in Big Stone Gap. The workshop emphasizes suicide first aid, helping a person at risk stay safe and how to seek further help.
   During the training, you will learn to: recognize opportunities for help; how to reach out and offer support; estimate the risk of suicide; apply a model for suicide intervention; and link people with community resources. Evaluations have shown the workshop increases caregivers’ knowledge and confidence to respond to a person at risk of suicide.
   After more than 19 years of development through feedback from its 250,000 participants and 1,000 active trainers, the Living Works program is one of the most widely used, acclaimed and researched suicide intervention skills training in the world. ASIST is a competency-based program and participants who complete the requirements will receive a certificate of completion.
   Registration is limited to 20 participants; additional ASIST trainings will be offered later. Pre-registration is required; call (276) 523-4357.

Children in the Middle

  Frontier Health offers a SAMSHA Model divorce education program titled CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE. This program is a skills-based curriculum that helps parents deal with their children's reactions to divorce. Classes are offered each month in Lee, Scott and Wise Counties. The registration fee is $15 and participants will receive a workbook, guidebook and a certificate of completion. For more information, call 1-888-443-1804.

Didactic Training Requirement for the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

   Frontier Health and Planning District One Behavioral Health Services is presenting a 10-month comprehensive training for people seeking to fulfill the 220 hours of Didactic Training Requirement for the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Credential offered by the Virginia Department of Health Professions. The training covers all 10 required areas of study and meets from 8:30am-4:30pm on the second Wednesday of each month. The CSAC and CSAC-A are the baseline credentials for individuals seeking to enter the field of addictions treatment in Virginia. For more information, call Eric Greene at (276) 523-8300.

Moral Reconation Therapy

    Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) Group is an ongoing group for juveniles ages 13-17, who may join any time. Pre-registration is required by calling (276) 523-8370. MRT is a group designed to help juveniles on probation or who have a criminal or substance abuse history to make good choices by doing what is right.

Parenting Classes

    Free parenting classes for parents and guardians of children aged 5 and under are being offered by Frontier Health/Planning District One Behavioral health Services. Siblings are welcome to attend any class. Classes will cover basic parenting skills. For more information or to register for the course, call (276) 523-8360.

Parenting Wisely

   Frontier Health is offering a program for parents of children ages (8-18), titled Parenting Wisely. There is no charge for this program, pre-registration is encouraged. For more information, call 1-888-443-1804.

Parents as Tender Healers

    Children in foster care need adults who are willing to look out for their best interests and put them on the road to healing. Adults who think they may want to be foster parents can explore that option through "Parents As Tender Healers" (PATH), an intensive training program for prospective foster parents. PATH is designed to help potential foster parents decide whether or not providing foster care is appropriate for them. Frontier Health, Planning District One Behavioral Health Services and VALUES Therapeutic Foster Care sponsor this event. The program is free; participants' interest will determine location and time. For more information, call Jon Holmes at 1-888-443-1804.

Tobacco Education programs
    Tobacco Education Group (TEG) - a program that offers a positive alternative to suspension from school for students in trouble because they have violated their school's policy on tobacco use. Within eight week sessions this program is intended to motivate students to reduce their tobacco use, make healthier choices, quit tobacco use on their own, or join a voluntary tobacco cessation program.     The classes are designed to move teenage tobacco users toward wanting to quit using tobacco. Tobacco Awareness Program (TAP) - this is an eight session program for students who are ready and willing to stop using tobacco.

    This program provides students with information, motivation, and support to quit using tobacco. Each student designs his or her approach to quitting by choosing a quit date and cessation methods that best suits him or her.
    Both programs are available to Lee, Scott, & Wise Counties, and the City of Norton. The programs are fully funded by the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (VTSF), Planning District 1, and Frontier Health. For more information, call (276) 523-8360.


For more, see the following:

Affiliations/Partners

Frontier Health Education & Prevention Programs

Support Groups