We are independent. The Office of Child Advocate is part of the Office of Administration. We operate independently from the Department of Social Services (DSS) Children's Division and other agencies.
We are impartial. The Office of Child Advocate acts as an impartial fact-finder. We step in when an agency action or failure to act is in question.
We protect confidentiality. The Office of Child Advocate will not disclose your identity to the agency without your permission. Our records are confidential.
We work to improve services. The Office of Child Advocate examines laws, policies, procedures, and practices regarding effective delivery of services to families and children. We identify issues and offer appropriate recommendations.
The Office of Child Advocate investigates complaints about an agency action or failure to act and is authorized to make recommendations in cases involving:
The Office of Child Advocate can provide or coordinate mediation services between school districts and parents when allegations of child abuse arise in a school setting. A link to a list of mediators can be found in the mediators section of this website.
MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPIONS BANQUET
DONATION CHALLENGE
DONATIONS NEEDED:
New children’s items for children’s themed baskets for the auction.
PROCEEDS SUPPORT:
The Mental Health Foundation:
The mission of the Foundation is to educate the public about mental health and eliminate the stigma against people who have mental health challenges.
(Children's Office is collecting items for Kids Baskets)
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
Donations need to be at:
DMH Central Office
By June 12, 2012
The Banquet is on
June 19th, 2012.
Click Here for the Mental Health Champions Donation Challenge Flyer
Contact Lisa Martin at DMH Central Office
573-751-8917, Email: Lisa.Martin2@dmh.mo.gov
February 12-18, 2012 is Children of Alcoholics Week – A Celebration of Hope and Healing – Across Generations. The week calls attention to the one in four children under the age of 18 who are exposed to a family alcohol problem, and the many others affected by parental drug abuse.
Children of Alcoholics Week “celebrates the recovery of the many thousands of children (of all ages) who have received the help they needed to recover from the pain and loss suffered in their childhood, and it offers hope to those still suffering,” according to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), which sponsors the week.
NACoA states that preschool children of alcoholics have poorer language skills. School-age children of alcoholics are at risk for being worried, distracted and absent, the group says. These children may be at greater risk of both mental and physical health risks.
For materials and resources on Children of Alcoholics Week, visit www.nacoa.org.
Everyone who cares for a baby needs to know about:
Never Shake & Safe Sleep for Your Baby
Shaken Baby Syndrome
The Children’s Trust Fund’s primary public education campaign is “Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome” and is designed to heighten the awareness of the dangers of shaking a baby and encourage a plan of prevention.
Safe Crib Safe Sleep
The safest place for an infant to sleep is in a standard crib, on his or her back without soft bedding or toys of any kind.
Circle of HOPE
A Resource Guide to Behavioral Health Services
The Circle of HOPE, a children’s mental health system of care in Buchanan and Andrew Counties, developed the We’ve Been in Your Shoes, A Resource Guide to Behavioral Health Services as a resource for families to understand and learn how to access the behavioral health services. This guide supports the following Circle of HOPE goal to improve access: Families, youth and professionals partnering to improve access and outcomes for youth and families experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges in home, school or community.
This guide will be distributed to families through the system of care partners.
To review the complete Resource Guide click here
Barnes & Noble Partners with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) for the Second Year to Raise Awareness on Bullying
New York, New York – January 4, 2011 –Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced plans to once again recognize January as “No Name-Calling Month” in its stores and online at Barnes & Noble.com. Now in its second year, the month-long campaign is aimed at bringing attention to the national problem of name-calling and bullying of all kinds. Barnes & Noble stores across the country will bring awareness to “No Name-Calling Month” by placing “No Name-Calling” signage in various locations, and hosting a national Storytime event and other activities. Barnes & Noble.com will feature exclusive video content from bestselling children’s, young adult and adult authors discussing their thoughts and experiences on bullying. Barnes & Noble has partnered with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), creators of No Name-Calling Week in schools, in this effort to stop bullying.
Barnes & Noble.com will feature:
Simon & Schuster has created a No-Name Calling page (http://pages.simonandschuster.com/nonamecalling/) for parents, teachers, and librarians featuring recommended books, discussion guides, anti-bullying videos from bestselling authors, and a chat board.
Video link (Simon & Schuster's Authors Speak Out Against Bullying) http://www.simonandschuster.com/multimedia?video=1363242801001
Additional Resources about the No Name-Calling Week campaign can be found at www.nonamecallingweek.org and in Barnes & Noble stores
Children of the Storm
By Josh Letner news@joplinglobe.com
JOPLIN, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon, area mental health professionals and the family of a Joplin teen who was killed in the May 22 tornado gathered Tuesday to dedicate the Ozark Center’s new children’s trauma center in honor of Will Norton.
Mark Norton, father of the teen who was killed on the way home from his high school graduation ceremony, told the gathering that he was filled with a sense of pride in his son and the building that bears his name.
“We really feel honored that his name is associated with this place of healing because if he could give anything back, it would be to take care of children and their needs,” Norton said. “We’re so proud of him and we’re proud of this facility, and we really truly feel like there will be an angel looking over this facility.”
Paula Baker, Freeman Health System president and CEO, said that as the community physically rebuilds, it is important to focus on the emotional and psychological recovery of Joplin’s children. The Ozark Center is a Freeman Health System operation.
Website Resource
Preparing Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) for Adulthood
This website was developed with funding from The Rapid Response Project: Implementing Missouri’s ASD Roadmap, a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to the University of Missouri Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders [grant number H6MMC11059].
