Arizona Mad Moms

Welcome to the Arizona Mad Moms' Website

INTEREST FORM

Volunteer Welcome Team Members Wanted & Needed.

In response to recent news coverage, we have been flooded with inquiries. It may take us some time to reach out to everyone that contacts us.

So many families are affected by SMI (Serious Mental Illness) and the completely inadequate system of care for treating the sickest among us.
Please read our FAQ page below, it might help you to be prepared.

Again, we are sorry you are here.

WHY IS SCHIZOPHRENIA, A KNOWN BRAIN DISEASE, HARD TO ACCEPT?

Among individuals with schizophrenia, an estimated 50% to 80% have a partial or even total lack of insight into the presence of their mental disorder. This condition, known as Anosognosia, has also been observed in people with other diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder, major depression with psychotic features, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders.

Click on "Rachel's 42 minute Podcast on Anosognosia" to learn more.

Rachel’s 42 minute Podcast on Anosognosia

YouTube

Bethany Yeiser, Survivor

"My journey through schizophrenia and homelessness."

0:08:23

05/18/2019

On 07/15/24 Mad Moms Zoom - Guest Speaker

~ Thank You Bethany!

CureSZ.org

Andy Arnowitz, Information & Resources Coordinator Copa Health

Advocacy Guidelines for Working With a SMI Clinic 2nd Edition

"How to Achieve the Desired Result"

07/08/2022

On 07/08/24 Mad Moms Zoom - Guest Speaker

~ Thank You Andy!

Slides of the PDF is above in the Section

"Monday Night Mad Moms Zoom Meeting"

OR Click Printable Document

Printable Document

How to cope with Ambiguous Loss from Severe Mental Illness

Ambiguous loss is a loss that occurs without a significant likelihood of reaching emotional closure or a clear understanding. This kind of loss leaves a person searching for answers, and thus complicates and delays the process of grieving, and often results in unresolved grief.

0:31:12

01/17/24 Jerri Clark, TAC's Mission and Me

Treatment Advocacy Center .org

Advocating for the Best Available SMI Care: guest, Rachel Streiff (episode 37)

0:55:05

Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches

02/21/2022

A "4 Moms in the Trenches" episode Rachel Streiff: Mental Health Advocate, Mentor to SMI Caregivers, Data analyst for Team Daniel Running for Recovery from mental illness, (Dr. Robert Laitman’s organization), chemical and biomedical engineer with a legacy six sigma black belt certification - Mother of our guest in episode 22, who is currently a full-time college student. If you enjoyed her son's story in Episode 22, hear his Mom's side of the advocacy and how she insisted on the best available care - a standard some practitioners do not follow.

A very powerful hour.

PODCAST YouTube | SZ: Three Moms in the Trenches

In The News

Mad Moms in the National News & Magazines

KY3 News - Springfield, MO

July 10, 2024

Missouri's #GovernorMikeParsons Responds To Schizophrenia, a recent DOJ report which found Missouri is mistreating thousands of mentally ill citizens.

The report lays out the year-and-a-half investigation ...
Rachel Streiff co-founded an Arizona-based organization called ‘Mad Moms,’ which now has a chapter in Missouri.
“... the sickest patients have been grossly underfunded. I don’t know why, because they’re expensive to society. It’s unfair, it’s highly discriminatory.”

AwareNOW | Issue 51

The World's Official Platform for Causes

MAD MOMS GO NATIONAL!

Our own Crystal Fox (Co-founder of Arizona Mad Moms) shared her son’s story in the Aware Now national publication.

This story is about her son Joshua, and his father John, the inspiration for “John’s Law” recently passed in Arizona.

https://awarenow.us/thrown-to-the-wolves.

Pending

Coming Soon

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach out to us if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is this organization's main objective?

Hello, my name is Crystal Fox, the late Joshua Fox's mom, and one of the co-founders of the grassroots organization, Arizona Mad Moms. The objective is;

To help, to fill gaps in the community-based SMI system, and to educate the public on the need for life saving treatment; including involuntary treatment in hospitals over incarceration.

Provide access to all levels of community treatment which includes inpatient involuntary hospital beds so that dangerous people are not released to the streets, education, and training.

We also provide direct support to families living with serious mental illness.

How is schizophrenia diagnosed?

Diagnosis of schizophrenia involves ruling out other mental health disorders and determining that symptoms are not due to substance abuse, medication, or a medical condition.

What is BHRF?

A Behavioral Health Residential Facility (BHRF) is a non-hospital housing in a residential neighborhood.

BHRF’s do not have nurses or doctors.
BHRF’s do have Behavioral Health Technicians, who are generally high school graduates and not licensed by the state of Arizona.
(Most) BHRF’s are not secured so patients can walk away, even if they are in active psychosis and refusing medication.

What is BHRFCO?

Behavioral Health Resident Facility including Co-occurring conditions, such as drug and/or alcohol addictions.

Co-occurring conditions are very common in people with SMI diseases, such as bipolar or schizophrenia. This is known as self-medication.

My friend who has a serious mental illness is difficult to be around, will they ever hit 'rock bottom'?

It is a myth that individuals with Serious Mental Illness will hit rock bottom and then ask for help.

With serious brain disorders like schizoaffective disorder, the only rock bottom is death.
It is medically established that the region of the brain that recognizes its own illness has become damaged, similar to Alzheimer’s patients.

In this state when a child is going to turn 18, the child needs to be evaluated by a provider to get the SMI diagnosis at 18.

1. An application can begin at 17.5 years old, while your child is still a minor.

Because, at age 18; as a parent, you have no legal say, unless you are the legal guardian of course.
The SMI system is an Arizona entitlement program; therefor expect to be denied,
unless there is a long history. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts.

2. Pre-plan to hand over to the provider (the doctor or nurse practitioner)

a written history,
any school records that apply to behavior and medical records, as much information as you can get to them, which can include journals and witness's written accounts.
Keep your original copies! And have it available to add an on-going history.

3. You need to be proactive! Providers will not ask you to be.

Why doesn't Arizona recognize serious mental illness (SMI) in children or what they call it, "Emotional Disturbance"?

SMI is for adults, 18 and over. Whereas typically it is DDD (or department of developmental disability) that is for younger kids.

Sometimes *emotionally disabled children do **qualify as SMI; especially if there is a long history. [Parents or caregivers, keep an on-going history.]
All must have functional impairment which means inability to care for themselves.

*Emotional disability can qualify especially borderline personality, self-harm, etc. It just needs that
functional impairment.

**Qualifying diagnosis or typically: Bipolar 1 Disorder, Schizophrenia, or severe depression.

What does HB 2744 do in regard to helping parents with children with SMI?

HB 2744 helps parents or guardians to;

1. Learn if the individual is released from a screening facility.

[Known history.] Often the individual goes into a hospital or facility for mental illness, the guardian drops them off to the facility, but the facility lets them out to the streets without notifying anyone of the discharge.

2. Also, if a person has a guardian, is living at home with the parent (or friend) and is under court ordered treatment, now the family can petition the courts to continue that level of care.

[Known history.] Often the clinics are unwilling to update that court ordered treatment which provides needed oversight for the individual and safety for the family.

Are you trying to help children/adolescents or just adults?

We are trying to help anyone with serious mental illness. Most serious mental
illness begins in adolescents but on rare occasions it is seen in children.

Do you have a map of each state’s SMI Resources?

No. However, TAC does, and here’s the link:

Treatment Advocacy Center

“. . . the map to find state-specific resources for severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.“ - TAC

The information on this website is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained on or available through this website, is for general information purposes only.

This website makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information on or available through this website,

and such information is subject to change without notice.

You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this website

with other sources and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician.

We are sorry you are here.

MISSION STATEMENT

INVITATION from The Angry Moms

Save The Date

It’s a wrap!

A New Arizona Law, After Family Tragedy

SB 1309 - John's Law

If you have an immediate psychiatric problem in your home or family, please call 988 to be connected to local crisis services. If you must call for the police, be sure to let dispatch know you are dealing with a psychiatric situation and ask for crisis-trained officers.

IN MEMORIAM

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU

2002 - 2024 Joshua Sterling

Welcome to the Arizona Mad Moms' Website

What is Schizophrenia?

Mad Moms have Questions

Monday Night Mad Moms Zoom Meeting

Highlights at the Arizona State Capitol

Mad Moms in Washington DC

YouTube

Bethany Yeiser, Survivor

Andy Arnowitz, Information & Resources Coordinator Copa Health

How to cope with Ambiguous Loss from Severe Mental Illness

Sponsored by TEAM DANIEL Running for Recovery from Mental Illness, a 501c3 charity.

Advocating for the Best Available SMI Care: guest, Rachel Streiff (episode 37)

In The News

Arizona's Family

Alexis Dominguez, Anchor

Pending

12News

Erica Stapleton, I-Team Reporter

Coming Soon

12News

Joe Dana, Reporter/Anchor

Erica Stapleton, I-Team Reporter

Arizona Capital Times

Senator Catherine Miranda, reported by Hannah Elsmore

Pending

azcentral.com

Stephanie Innes, azcentral Health Reporter

Pending

Mad Moms in the National News & Magazines

KY3 News - Springfield, MO

AwareNOW | Issue 51

Pending

KJZZ

Department of Justice says Phoenix discriminates against mental illnesses

4 new mental health laws are cause for hope, AZ group says

Frequently Asked Questions

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