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OUR HISTORY

MSPCAN began in 1993 as a small group of parents of children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges gathering at the Federation of Families Conference in Key Bridge VA. Since then, MSPCAN has grown into a statewide organization actively involved in public education for parents and professionals, advocacy for children with emotional problems, a support and referral system for families and an active partner in a variety of collaborative efforts across the state of West Virginia.

• November 1993 - Office of Behavioral Health Services-Children's Mental Health Services invited five parents of children with mental health issues, from different geographic areas of the state to attend the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health Conference in Key Bridge, VA.



• March 1994 - Office of Behavioral Health Services-Children's Mental Health Services invited the five parents who attended the Federation Conference in November to attend the NAMI-WV Conference in Morgantown. Four of the original parents accept the invitation. OBHS also invited Sue and Norm Smith of the Georgia Parent Support Network to meet with the four parents as well as representatives from NAMI, OBHS, and the Mountain State Project to discuss the formation of a statewide family organization. After three intensive days of discussion, Mountain State Parents Children and Adolescent Network was born. Three of the four parents agreed to become founding board members and the fourth parent agreed to become the director. OBHS agreed to allocate start up funds to aid in the development of the organization with NAMI-WV acting as the fiscal agent.



• May 1, 1994 - MSPCAN took its first phone call in the sunroom of the founding director.



• July 1995 - MSPCAN opens its first bank account with NAMI WV still acting as the fiscal agent. Steps were being taken to become a free standing 501©3 non-profit statewide family organization.



• January 1996 - By-laws were developed calling for 51% parents of children with mental health issues represented on the Board. MSPCAN submitted an application to the Internal Revenue Service to obtain 501©3 status.



• March 1996 - MSPCAN received 501©3 status from Internal Revenue Service.



• March 1996 - MSPCAN held its first family conference in Flatwoods with Barbara Huff, Executive Director of National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health and Barbara Pryor, Legislative Assistant to Senator Jay Rockefeller, delivering keynote speeches. There were 110 families and professionals in attendance. Funding was made available through the Governor's Cabinet on Children and Families-Child Abuse Prevention Fund. All Families whose children had mental health issues were given full scholarships to facilitate their attendance.



• July 1996 - MSPCAN received first state contract. NAMI WV was no longer fiscal agent.



• August 1996 - Office moved from director's sunroom to 1143 Main Street, Wheeling, WV. Funding allowed employment of our first secretary.



• August 1996 - Board grew from 4 to 12 members. Parents affiliated with MSPCAN were invited to sit on Families First Council, WV Mental Health Planning Council, Child Placement Alternative Corporation Board of Directors, as well as several committees within OBHS and the Office of Social Services pertaining to children's mental health issues.



• April 1997 - MSPCAN held its second statewide Family Conference at Oglebay Park with Karl Dennis of Kaleidoscope delivering the keynote speech. There were 135 parents and professionals in attendance. Funding for conference was provided by the Office of Behavioral Health Services.



• July 1997 - MSPCAN's contract with OBHS continues to grow. Funding was also received to develop statewide family satisfaction survey, implement a pilot family support program for families and the development of the "Parent to "Parent" newsletter. Mailing list grew to 458 parents and professionals.



• November 1997 - MSPCAN took 45 parents to the Federation of Families Conference via bus donated by Wheeling Jesuit University.



• February 1998 - Director made a motion at Child Placement Alternative Corporation Board Meeting to convert Colin Anderson in St. Mary's to a geriatric prison in lieu of a 150-bed residential treatment center for children with mental health needs. This motion set the wheels turning on developing a comprehensive balanced system of care in WV.



• April 1998- MSPCAN applied for Statewide Family Network Grant through the Center for Mental Health Services to develop and implement a "Parents as Advocates" curriculum. MSPCAN was involved in the writing of a "Comprehensive Balanced System of Care for Children" grant within Region II.



• October 1998 - MSPCAN was notified that they had received the SFN grant and that the System of Care grant was not awarded.



• January 1999 - First "Parents as Advocates" class was held with 25 parents in attendance.



• March 1999 - "Parents as Advocates" graduation was held with representatives from OBHS and Gary DeCarolis, Chief of the Child and Adolescent Branch delivering the keynote.



• July 1999 - 400 phone calls statewide received from families during the previous 12 months. MSPCAN gained 15 active volunteer parent liaisons who offer support and advocacy to parents in all 55 counties.



• October 1999 - MSPCAN entered into contract with OBHS to provide family involvement component within Region II for Comprehensive Balanced System of Care for Children grant.



• May 2001 - MSPCAN staff grew to ten with coverage in all four regions. MSPCAN received the SFN grant for the second time with a component to develop a youth network. We started a reorganization program to keep up with the growing needs of our families and increased responsibilities within our organization.



• August 2001 - Relocated MSPCAN office from Wheeling to McMechen,



• 2002 - MSPCAN continued to grown as the only statewide family run organization in WV dealing with children's mental health issues.



• July 2002 - Transition grant received to help youth ages 14-21 with mental health issues transition from youth to adulthood. Transition specialist hired.



• June 2003 - MSPCAN holds first Youth Summit at WV Northern Community College with 20 youth in attendance.



• August 2003 - MSPCAN Tenth Anniversary celebration held in Mineral Wells WV with 100 participants.



• November 2003 - Began scheduling monthly youth meetings to work on building self- esteem, social skills and other topics requested by participating youth.



• June 2004 - Second annual Youth Summit held in Mineral Wells, WV.



• July 2004 - Grant received to hire Marketing Director/Executive Assistant.



• January 2005 - Foundation funding received to provide job development skills to our youth adults. Full time Job Development Director hired to work with WV Vocational Rehab in securing and maintaining employment for youth with mental health issues.