Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health

This booklet introduces parents to the "big ideas" contained in school improvement efforts under NCLB and IDEA, and provides them with the information they need to help ensure that their children can benefit from these efforts. The end of this booklet identifies suggested sources of additional information that parents can use to help their children benefit from the nationwide education reform and accountability efforts intended to ensure high expectations for all children.

Important Grant Opportunity for Your Schools and Community

The Federal Register recently released new information concerning the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program, including Notice of Final Priorities, Requirements, Selection Criteria, and Definitions; and Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007.

The following information was provided by the Center for School Mental Health Analysis and Action (CSMHA). To subscribe to their listserv, visit: http://cf.umaryland.edu/csmha/emailList.cfm

NOMINATIONS FOR SAMHSA ADMINISTRATOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AWARD-2007

Nominations are now being accepted for the SAMHSA 2007 Recognition Award. The 2007 SAMHSA Administrator’s Award will be made for the nominee who best exemplifies Goal 4, Objective 2 of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Achieving the Promise Report, “Improve and expand school mental health programs.” This annual award acknowledges the work of an outstanding school-based program that advances mental health programs in schools and promotes mental health.

Nominations should be sent to: SAMHSA, Sixth Annual Recognition Award Committee, Attn: Patrick Weld, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rm 6-114, Rockville, MD 20857 and be post-marked by July 30, 2007. The awardee will receive a free conference registration to the 12th Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health in ChampionsGate, Florida, October 25-27, 2007, and a stipend of $250. Nominations for this award should be external (i.e., no self-nominations) and should include no more than a two-page (single-spaced, one inch margins) description of the nominee’s contributions. Please include a cover letter with contact information for the person or persons nominating the award candidate. For more information and for the format of the nomination, http://csmha.umaryland.edu/conf_meet/AnnualConference/conference_awards.html

A three person panel will review the nominations and notification should be no later than the week of August 27th. The award will be presented by a representative of SAMHSA at the 12th Annual Conference.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2007 JUANITA CUNNINGHAM EVANS MEMORIAL AWARD

Juanita Cunningham Evans was instrumental in the development of the Center for School Mental Health Assistance, now called the Center for School Mental Health Analysis and Action (CSMHA). As an ongoing memorial to Juanita Evans, the CSMHA has established an annual award for contributions (policy, knowledge development and/or prevention/intervention) made to advance mental health programs in schools. The awardee will receive a free conference registration and stipend ($250) to attend our 12th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Nominations for this award should be external (i.e., no self-nominations and no employee of the CSMHA) and should include a one page (single-spaced) description of the nominee’s contributions to enhance policy/knowledge development and/or practice in school mental health. Please include a cover letter with contact information for the individual nominating the candidate. Nominations should be sent to the CSMHA, Juanita Evans Memorial Award Committee, University of Maryland, 737 West Lombard Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201 and be postmarked by September 14, 2007.

BUILDING SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH-SYSTEM OF CARE CONNECTIONS

The CSMHA is committed to strengthening school mental health (SMH) system of care (SOC) connections. In that spirit, several briefs which were developed by Macro International Inc. as a part of the SAMHSA-funded National Evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program are being cross-posted on the CSMHA website. Our goal in sharing these briefs now is to promote ongoing dialogue and collaboration about building SMH-SOC connections. The briefs can be found on the CSMHA website using the following link:
http://csmha.umaryland.edu/resources.html/soc/index.html

LEGISLATION UPDATE: SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CLINIC ACT OF 2007

The School-Based Health Clinic Act was introduced on February 14, 2007, sponsored by Sen. Chris Dodd and Sen. Gordon Smith. The purpose of this act is to provide children and adolescents with comprehensive school-based primary care medical and mental health services which are necessary for good health and academic success. The act is intended to amend the Public Health Service Act by authorizing grant funds for the operation and development of school-based health clinics to prsive health care services to medically underserved youth and families and work in unison with schools to integrate health into the overall school context. To learn more about this legislation, http://csmha.umaryland.edu/resources.html/policylegis/index.html

SCHOOL HEALTH INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM

Please mark your calendars for the Annual School Health Interdisciplinary Program (SHIP) to be held July 23 -26, 2007, Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center in Ellicott City, Maryland. SHIP provides intensive professional development on topics vital to enhancing health and wellness in children and adolescents in school settings. The conference aims to provide training for a diverse array of individuals invested in enhancing health, mental health, and overall functioning of children through school-based efforts. For more information or to register, please visit the CSMHA website,
http://csmha.umaryland.edu/conf_meet/ship/index.html

12TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCING SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH

Please mark your calendars for the 12th Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health sponsored by the CSMHA in partnership with the IDEA Partnership to be held October 25-27, 2007, Omni Orlando Resort in ChampionsGate, Florida. With the energy and support of the National Community of Practice on School Mental Health, this conference promises to be a wonderful opportunity to learn more and to work together to advance school mental health. For more information or to register, please visit the CSMHA website,
http://csmha.umaryland.edu/conf_meet/AnnualConference/register.html

Drafting a Blueprint for School-based Mental Health Service Systems

The new monograph from the Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health, "School-Based Mental Health: An Empirical Guide for Decision-Makers", provides practical information and advice for those engaged in developing and implementing effective evidence-based services in the school setting.

The monograph’s chapters discuss:
* The search for common definitions for prevention and intervention in school-based mental health, and how universal, selective, and indicated approaches are now conceptualized;
* Today’s influential models for school-based mental health service delivery;
* Programs and approaches endorsed in the literature and in primary directories of evidence-based mental health services;
* Major federal policies that have supported--and in some cases mandated--school-based mental health, with the implications;
* The state of the science on organizational structures and financing mechanisms for school-based mental health programs;
* Reflections on the current status of school-based mental health, future research needs, and how the public health model can be employed to support extensive implementation of effective services.

For additional information, contact Nancy Lynn at 813-974-7204.

*The text included above is taken from the Research and Training Center's listserv, RTCKids-News@fmhi.usf.edu.

New Autism Resource for Educators: The Puzzle of Autism

The following information is taken from a National Education Association announcment:

Across the country, the number of children diagnosed as having autism has increased substantially and many of these students are primarily educated in general education classrooms. How can general education teachers and other education professionals who are unfamiliar with autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) address the complex communication, social and learning needs of these children?

To assist educators in their daily work with children who have autism, NEA has produced a new resource in collaboration with the Autism Society of America, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Association of School Psychologists.

Teachers and related service providers need this resource. The Puzzle of Autism is a succinct informational guide for all education personnel who work with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This 38-page guide explains common autistic characteristics and suggests effective classroom strategies for improving communication, sensory, social, and behavioral skills.

To receive your complimentary copy email gapsinfo@nea.org or go to the NEA website at www.nea.org/specialed to download a copy. And, please let your colleagues and professional contacts know how they can get their copies of "The Puzzle of Autism."

IDEA Resource for Schools and Parents

Troy R. Justesen, deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education, is pleased to share with you news of the release of some helpful information about students with disabilities placed by their parents in private schools.

A useful online resource for school districts and parents about how the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides for students with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private elementary schools and secondary schools is now available on the Department's Web site. Titled Questions and Answers on Serving Children With Disabilities Placed by Their Parents at Private Schools, this resource was developed in response to queries from state officials, elected representatives and parents since a change to IDEA became effective on July 1, 2005. This resource is posted to the IDEA 2004 Resources Web page at http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html,

The statutory revisions to the IDEA in 2004 significantly changed the obligation of states and local education agencies (LEAs) to children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private elementary and secondary schools. While previously it was the responsibility of the LEAs in which the parents resided to conduct child find and provide equitable services to these students, that responsibility has now shifted to the LEAs in which the private schools are located.

Questions and Answers address such topics as child find and individual evaluations for parentally placed private school children, the provision of equitable services, and preschool and out-of-state parentally placed private school children with disabilities.

Questions and Answers is the latest resource added to the IDEA 2004 Resources Web page, intended to assist educators, students and families.

Archived Teleconference on "Expanding Partnerships in System of Care: Education and Mental Health, and Families Working Together"

This teleconference, which took place on Thursday, September 15, is part of a national topical telephone conference call series sponsored by The National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health. These conference calls cover important and emerging trends in the mental health field. Presentations from expert resource persons are followed by open discussion in order for all participants to ask questions and enrich the conversation.

Please visit the National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health website at: http://gucchd.georgetown.edu/programs/ta_center/tacalls.html for information on how to access the call recording, as well as for registration information for the rest of the conference calls in 2005.

If you have trouble accessing this Web site, you can also contact call or e-mail Tina Ruby at 202/687-5016 or rubycm@georgetown.edu so that the National TA Center may arrange to mail or fax you the information. Should you have any questions about the telephone conference series, please contact Marisa Irvine by e-mail at marisairvine13@hotmail.com or by leaving a message at (202) 687-5000.

Positive Behavior Supports

School Discipline Techniques and Positive Behavior Supports

This series of articles from the Council for Exceptional Children’s Online Journal offers information and guides on effective discipline and social skill techniques. One strategy explored is positive behavioral support. Positive behavior supports can help prevent discipline problems, minimize students' resistance to academic instruction, and can be used without disrupting classroom routines. Other articles focus on topics such as mentoring and family involvement in and out of the classroom. Read about these and other effective techniques in the Sept./Oct. issue of TEACHING Exceptional Children (TEC).

To view these articles, visit:
http://journals.sped.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=tec_toc

School-Based Mental Health Programs: Information and Recommendations

Increasing evidence of the widespread prevalence of mental health problems in children and adolescents has made improving mental health access and care a growing concern. School-based programs offer increased opportunities for diagnosis and treatment of young people’s mental health problems. This policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics outlines how pediatric health care professionals, educators, and mental health specialists can work in collaboration to develop and implement effective school-based mental health services. It describes common challenges to implementing programs and offers recommendations to schools and pediatricians for overcoming barriers and establishing effective service networks.

To view this resource, click here

Transition

Education and Transition Supports for Youth with Disabilities

Take a look at the resources offered by the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition’s (NCSET) e-Newsletter. This includes conference announcements, guides, funding information, and news items on topics relevant to the education and transition of youth with disabilities. The NCSET website, www.ncset.org, provides further information on educational and transition supports for youth with disabilities.

To view this resource, visit:
http://www.ncset.org/enews/current.asp

Using Interagency Transition Teams to Achieve Successful Post-school Outcomes
National Center for Secondary Education and Transition
Archived Teleconference Call
December 1, 2004

This teleconference discussed the value of forming and using interagency transition teams at the state, district, and local school level as a means of supporting youth with disabilities to link with and obtain positive post-school outcomes. Dr. Robert Stodden of the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa discussed steps used to formulate an interagency transition team, typical team membership, characteristics of an effective team, and typical issues addressed by teams. This discussion included plans for preparing and supporting State Interagency Transition Teams for work at the National Center for Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)-sponsored National Leadership Summit scheduled for June 2005.

To view a transcript of this call, visit:
http://www.ncset.org/teleconferences/default.asp

Special Education

Curricula and Resources for Teaching Students with Disabilities

One of the most difficult challenges for teachers is tailoring teaching to all the different ways that children learn. In a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) has established the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum to provide a vision of how new curricula, teaching practices, and policies can be woven together to create practical approaches for improved access to the general curriculum by students with disabilities. This site provides information about the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), current projects for students with disabilities, research on effective practices, and links to software and tools.

For more information, visit:
http://www.cast.org/ncac/

Legislation

New Parent Guide: No Child Left Behind
The National Center for Learning Disabilities and Schwab Learning, October 2004

The National Center for Learning Disabilities and Schwab Learning have developed a handbook to help parents navigate and coordinate the federal No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. No Child Left Behind requires schools to have a plan to help low-achieving children, including the almost 3 million children with learning disabilities, meet higher academic standards. The new 22-page guide addresses the law's emphasis on accountability, an explanation of the requirement of schools to improve test scores in math, science and reading over the next decade, and what happens if a school doesn't meet its goals. Making the No Child Left Behind Act Work For Children Who Struggle to Learn: A Parent's Guide is available free of charge at www.LD.org/NCLB and www.SchwabLearning.org/NCLB.

Changes for IDEA in New Reauthorization
National Center for Secondary Education and Transition

Congress recently reauthorized the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), so take a look at the ways that the new IDEA 2004 differs from the 1997 authorization. The National Center for Secondary Education and Transition has identified the major changes between IDEA 1997 and H.R. 1350 (IDEA 2004) concerning transition services and other requirements, and have attached a side-by-side visualization of the changes.

For more information, visit:
http://ncset.org/publications/related/ideatransition.asp