Advocacy

Advocacy by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free

Mothers on the Frontline

Co-creator and co-director of Mothers on the Frontline, a 501(3)(C) non-profit organization that uses feminist methods such as storytelling, ethnography, and participatory research to facilitate caregiver healing, caregiver justice, and children’s mental health justice. Dr. Tammy Nyden, Dr. Dionne Bensonsmith, and Angela Riccio founded the organization in 2017 and since that time have interviewed over 50 mothers, produced a podcast series with global reach, and co-created the Children’s Mental Health Justice and Caregiver Justice Frameworks, on which they facilitate workshops and give public presentations (including 65 events with over 3900 participants to date.)

Public Scholarship

Writing

“Children’s Mental Health, Institutional Gaslighting, and Mother-Blame,” American Philosophical Association Women in Philosophy Blog, February 8, 2023.

“Feeling Anxiety About All-of-a-Sudden Homeschooling: Some Tips From Mothers Who Have Been There.” Co-authors: Dionne Bensonsmith and Angela Riccio. Mothers on The Frontline Blog (March 19, 2021) and shared on TheMighty.com. (March 20, 2021).

Public Speaking

“The School-to-Prison-Pipeline in Iowa City Schools”, invited virtual presentation at the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Committee of Johnson County, June 10, 2021

“Seclusion / Restraint and Exclusionary Disciplinary Practices in Iowa City Community School District”. Co-presented with Heidi Pierce (Psychology Professor at Kirkwood Community College and University of Iowa’s Liberal Arts Beyond Bars Program) to the Iowa City Community School District’s Mental Health, Special Education and Disability Teacher-Parent Organization Meeting (ICCSD MSD PTO), May 13, 2021.

“The Intersection of Race, Mental Health, and the School-to-Prison Pipeline,” Virtual Teacher-Training Workshop at the Iowa City School District co-facilitated and presented with Heidi Pierce (Psychology Professor at Kirkwood College and the University of Iowa’s Liberal Arts Beyond Bars Program) and Dionne Bensonsmith (Adjunct Professor of Applied Gender and Women’s Studies, Claremont Graduate University), April 26, 2021, (virtual presentation).

“Iowa Helping Community Policy Group Presentation to the Iowa Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council,” co-presented with Charles Bruner (Resource Manager, InCK Marks Network and Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Policy and the Rise Institute), March 17, 2021, (virtual presentation).

“Children’s Mental Health Justice and the School-Prison Nexus,” Co-presented with Heidi Pierce (Kirkwood College and University of Iowa Liberal Arts Beyond Bars Program) and Dina Bishara (Big Brothers, Big Sisters). Presented to the Iowa City School District Equity Advisory Committee, February 10, 2021, (virtual presentation).

“Children’s Mental Health Justice 101:Navigating Fractured Systems and Advocating for Justice,” presented with Angela Riccio and Dionne Bensonsmith at the National Foundation of Families for Children’s Mental Health 2020, , November 12, 2020, (virtual presentation).

“The Cradle-to-Prison Pipeline & the Need for Children’s Mental Health Justice,” #Scholarstrike Virtual Teach-In, September 9. 2020, (virtual presentation).

“Children’s Mental Health Justice” part of panel on Mental Health at South District Neighborhood Association, October 2, 2019, Iowa City.

“The Disproportionate use of School Discipline on Children with Autism,” Family and Autism: An Honest Conversation with Andrew Yang, December 14, 2019.

Keynote, “The Cradle to Prison Pipeline,” IJAN (Iowa Justice Action Network) Annual Conference, Coralville, November 7, 2019.

Guest Lecture (teleconference) Claremont Graduate University in Dionne Bensonsmith’s Feminist Research Methods Graduate Seminar, October 22, 2019.

“Children’s Mental Health Justice: What Would it Look Like?” NAMI Johnson County Children’s Mental Health Justice Summit, June 7, Coralville Public Library, June 7, 2019.

Panel member after film screening of, “The Kids We Lose”, Iowa City Public Library, April 10, 2019.

“Getting a Conversation Started: Advocating for Change When No One Seems to Be Listening,” Webinar Presentation for the Iowa Family Leadership Program, University of Iowa, March 28, 2019.

Presented on our work on the Digital Story Archive and Data Archive for the Innovation Grant on the School-to-Prison Pipeline at the Obermann Center “Archievs & Social Justice” Working Group, University of Iowa, March 28. 2019.

“NAMI Johnson County Children’s Coalition,” Obermann Conversation on Local Disability Initiatives, Iowa City Public Library, March 27, 2019.

“Talking About Mental Health Justice,” co-presented with Dionne Bensonsmith at the Civil Liberties and Public Policy conference, Hampshire College, March 13, 2019.

“The School-to-Prison-Pipeline,” University of Iowa, Iowa City, “American Dream: A Theme Semester”, February 26, 2019.

Keynote, “Sharing Perspectives on: Anger, Aggression, and Violence! Can we create civility in schools?” Annual Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders, Kansas City, February 22, 2019.

Co-facilitated the Digital Stories for Social Justice Workshop: The School-to-Prison Pipeline Archive, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, October 26-27, 2018.

“The School-to-Prison Pipeline,” Keynote address at the Iowa City Human Rights Commission Award Breakfast, Iowa City, October 24, 2018.

Panel Participant, “Careers Connection Science and the Social Good,” Grinnell Prize Week, Grinnell College, October 4, 2018.

Panel Participant, “Engaging in the Election Process,” Make Your Mark Conference, Rathbun Lake, Iowa, September 27-28, 2018.

Panel Participant, “Digital Projects Panel,” Grinnell College, August 16, 2018.

Panel Participant, “Using Digital Stories in our Teaching,” Digital Bridges Summer Institute, University of Iowa, May 29-June 2, 2018.

“Storytelling for Healing,” Ask Resources Together we Can Conference, Des Moines, Iowa, May 5, 2018.

“Children’s Mental Health Care Legislation in the State of Iowa,” Mental Health Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Grinnell Iowa, April 5, 2018.

“What is Happening with Advocacy for Kids? Or Whey we can no longer wait? NAMI Iowa Day on the Hill, Des Moines, February 21, 2018.

“The Status of Children’s Mental Health in Iowa,” Speaker at Community Connections, NAMI Greater Des Moines, January 16, 2018.

“The State of Children’s Mental Health in Iowa,” NAMI Iowa Annual Conference, Des Moines, November 2017.

Co-Presented with Dionne Bensonsmith: “Mothers on the Frontline: Storytelling for Advocacy,” Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health National Annual Conference, Orlando, Floriday, November 10, 2017.

“Mental Health and Special Education: A Parent’s Perspective,” Guest Speaker at Grinnell College Education Class, October 25, 2017.

“The Power of Our Stories: Achieving Mental Health and Criminal Justice Transformation Through Women’s Stories,” Grinnell Prize Week Panel with Mothers on the Frontline and the Essie Foundation, October 3, 2017.

“Making our Stories Count: Advocating for Children’s Mental Health in Iowa,” The 2017 Iowa Parents of Children with Behavioral Health Conference by Please Pass the Love, September 9, 2017.

“Advocacy: Mother’s Stories,” Guest Speaker at meeting of University of Iowa Children’s Specialty Clinics Family Advisory Council, June 15, 2017.

“Never Underestimate the Power of Your Voice,” at the “Go There, Lean In – How to Lobby Your Legislators”, University of Iowa Teach-In, School of Social Work, March 22, 2017.

“We Are All in this Together: Positive Systems Change for Iowa’s Children,” 3^rd Annual Iowa School-Based Mental Health Conference, Des Moines, October 16, 2015.

“What Works: School Programs for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance,” Member of Parent Panel. 3^rd Annual Iowa School-Based Mental Health Conference, Des Moines, October 16, 2015.

“Ways to Advocate for Children’s Mental Health,” Guest Lecture for Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp’s Graduate-level Practicum for Clinical Mental Health, Clinical Rehabilitation, and School Counseling Students, Drake University, September 30, 2015.

Webinar Speaker, Prevention of Disability Webinar, January 30, 2015.

“The State of Children’s Mental Health in Iowa”, presented at Iowa Health and Disability Advisory Board Meeting, January 27, 2015.

Keynote speaker at NAMI Iowa Walk, October 4, 2014.

Media Coverage

Interviewed on “I Am Iowa” Radio Show on KHOI Community Radio regarding Mothers on the Frontline’s Children’s Mental Health Justice Framework and the need for care infrastructure.

Interviewed on “Local Talk” Radio Show on KHOI Community Radio with Charlie Bruner and Alex Waters to discuss the Iowa Helping Community Policy Group, March 25, 2021.

Covered in “Student seclusion reports kept secret by Cedar Rapids, Iowa City School Districts,” by Erin Jordan, The Gazette, January 19, 2020.

Covered in, “Andrew Yang Makes Autism, Disability Policy a Key Campaign Issue,” by Skyler Romero, Parentology: Parenting in the digital age, January 7, 2020.

Interviewed for “Iowa City school board hits pause on police offices in schools,” by Molly Duffy, The Gazette, April 23, 2019.

Interviewed for “Idea to put police officers on campuses gets cold reception from Iowa City School Board,” by Aimee Breaux, Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 23, 2019.

Interviewed for “I’m going to help some kids’ Cedar Rapids school resource officers look to be positive influence: But some worry if officers in schools is a good idea,” by Molly Duffy, The Gazette, April 20, 2019.

Covered in “Mental Health Advocates Applaud Progress But Raise Concerns About Proposed Children’s System,” by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio, February, 27, 2019.

Interviewed on River to River by Ben Kieffer, Iowa Public Radio, “New Plan for Children’s Mental Health Needs Funding,” November 20, 2018.

Interviewed for “Iowa tries to help families ‘hunting in the dark’ for mental health care in children.” By Tony Leys, Des Moines Register, September 12, 2018.

Interviewed for “Jones, Nyden, and Scott to Pursue Innovation Fund Project,” The Scarlet and Black, February 2, 2018.

Interviewed for “Iowans are talking about mental illness, but who will act”? by Kathie Obradovich, Des Moines Register, November 17, 2017.

Interviewed for “Schools Punished Kids by Putting Them in Solitary Boxes,” by Angelica Lai, MSN.com, October 13, 2017.

Letter to the Editor: “Community mental health services are less expensive than incarceration,” by Tammy Nyden, Des Moines Register, June 27, 2017.

Covered in “Political Activism: March 20-26, 2017.” By Eleanore Taft. Little Village: Iowa City / Cedar Rapids, March 20, 2017.

Interviewed for “After Mentally Ill Son Throws Computer at His Teacher, Mom Reaches Out to Families with Disabilities…” by Angie McPherson, Independent Journal Review, January 27, 2017.

Interviewed for “She foresaw disaster when her young son threw a computer at his teacher. How she helped him and other mentally ill kids,” by Sara Maraniss Vander Schaaff in The Answer Sheet Blog: The Washington Post, January 11, 2017.

Interviewed for “Nyden Wins Award for Children’s Mental Health Activism” by Megan Tcheng, The Scarlet and Black, November 11, 2016.

Interviewed for “Violence usually triggers use of seclusion rooms – but not always,” by Erin Jordan, The Cedar Rapids Gazette, September 18, 2016.

Interviewed on River to River by Ben Kieffer, Iowa Public Radio, June 9, 2016.

Guest Columnist, “Fix Iowa’s broken mental health system for children,” The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, May 21, 2015.

Interviewed for “State mental hospital ends pediatric program, cuts jobs,” by Tony Leys, June 3, 2016.

Interviewed for “New state committee to look at children’s mental healthcare,” by Erin Murphy, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, April 24, 2015.

Interviewed for “Supporters want more mental health support for kids,” by Mark Newman, Ottumwa Courier, September 4, 2015.

Covered in “Parents: Iowa needs children’s mental health care system,” by Erin Murphy, Quad City Times, September 17, 2015.

Interviewed for “Parents rally for more help in dealing with mental illness,” by Pat Curtis, Radio Iowa, December 4, 2014.

Interviewed for “Mentally ill kids need state help, families say,” by Tony Leys, Des Moines Register, December 3, 2014.

Interviewed for “Parents of Mentally Ill Children Rally Iowa Capital,” by Sarah Boden, December 3, 2014.

Interviewed on Talk of Iowa by Charity Nebbe and Lindsey Moon for “Iowa’s Children’s Mental Health Care Crisis”, Iowa Public Radio, May 21, 2014.

Covered in, “Tammy Nyden Named 2014 ID Action Advocate of the Year,” idaction.org.

Committees

Member of Iowa Helping Community Policy Group, July 2020-present.

Member of Iowa City School District Disability Sub-committee on Equity Advisory Committee, Spring 2021.

Participant in Roundtables and Facebook Live discussions with presidential candidates as part of the Caucus for Kids Coalition, 2019 caucus season.

Organized Children’s Mental Health Justice Summit for NAMI Johnson County, June 7, 2019.

Spoke at Iowa Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee on the proposed legislation for a Children’s Mental Health System in Iowa, February 27, 2019.

Co-founder and President of Mothers on the Frontline, 2017-present.

Founder and Chair of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Johnson County Children’s Coalition, May 2018-present.

Member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Iowa Legislative and Advocacy Committee, January 2018-present.

Appointed member of the Iowa Children’s Mental Health and Well-being Advisory Committee, September 2017-2018.

Appointed member of the Iowa Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council. The council is charged to 1) review and make recommendations for the Mental Health Block Grant Plan (this is a federal grant to states); 2) advocate for children and adults with mental illness; 3) monitor, review, and evaluate the allocation and adequacy of Iowa’s mental health services. October 2014-2018.

Appointed member of the Iowa Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Workgroup. The workgroup is charged to provide governor with recommendation on December 15, 2015. September-December 2015.

Founder and co-chair of the Coalition for a Children’s Mental Health Redesign in Iowa. The coalition consists of over 45 member organizations and over 90 mental health professionals, advocates, and stakeholders. October 2014-August 2015.

Produced “Statewide Call for Action: A Strategic Plan for a Children’s Mental Health Redesign in Iowa”: http://dhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/Childrens_MH_Redesign_Strategic_Plan.pdf

Appointed Family Advisor for the RAP (Regional Autism Assistance Program) Advisory Committee, March 2015-2018.

Founding Member and chair of NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Iowa Children’s Mental Health Committee, May 2014-2017).

Organize statewide advocacy and education events, interview with media, provide information tables at mental health professional conferences and community events, and have training to teach NAMI Basics (a course for parents and guardians of children with mental illness.) In 2018 children’s mental health was integrated into every NAMI Iowa committee, removing the need for a separate committee.

Founding Member of Parents Creating Change in Iowa, March 2014-present.

Founding Member of Ethics Committee, Mayflower Retirement Community, 2008-present.

Trainings Completed

Anti-Bias Training, Grinnell College Workshop, September 7, 2021.

Humanize My Hoodie Ally Training, DEI training, July 13, 2021.

Designing Powerful Solutions, online course at the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at Eastern Mennonite University, February 16 – March 18, 2021.

Charting the “How”: Coalition Building and Policy Change in the Age of Anti-Racism, Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Faculty & Staff Workshop, September 24, 2020

Inclusion, Equity, and Mitigating Bias in Hiring, Summer Workshop, Grinnell College, July 27-30, 2020

Racial Equity Institute’s Groundwater Workshop, University of Iowa February 22, 2020.

Equity by Design, 8-hour workshop by Creative Reaction Lab, Grinnell College, February 29, 2020.