In this presentation from the 2015 Global Access Summit, Dr. Steve Grcevich discusses how including kids with mental illness at church represents a mindset as opposed to a program, examines barriers to inclusion and principles for designing ministry environments that promote capacity for self-regulation while minimizing anxiety.

1. 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

2. 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…

3. What comes to mind when you think
about “disability?”

4. How we view disability ministry…

5. How we view special needs ministry…

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. Inclusion barriers are different for kids with mental illness

11. 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

12. Social isolation…
Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?
 Difficulty making,
keeping friends
 Fewer extracurricular
activities
 Child care for “parent
nights out”

13. 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

14. Emotional self-regulation…
Church, school, community… Where does he fit in?
 Capacity to hide
observable aspects
of
behavior…executive
function
 Why “structure”
helps

15. Sensory Processing…
Church, school, community… What they experience…
 Common in ADHD,
anxiety, OCD, autism
 More not always better
 Transition times
difficult

16. 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?

17. 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

18. 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?

19. Solutions?
 Mindset vs. program
 Go where they are
 Serve their families
 Community…on their terms
 Welcoming environments
 Opportunity for individual
discipleship
 Online church?

20. 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…

21. 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?

22. 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!

23. 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?

24. 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

25. 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