Information related to managed care, behavioral health, Medicare, sustainability, and other administrative issues

Congressional Foster Youth Internship Program Accepting Applications

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is once again sponsoring it’s Foster Youth Internship program to bring 16 college students formerly in foster care to Washington, DC, in summer 2007 to work in Congressional offices. The program raises awareness on Capitol Hill about the needs and unique perspectives of young adults in the United States aging out of foster care. For eight weeks each summer, 16 academically successful college students participate in the program full-time. They work directly with legislative assistants, attend Congressional hearings, and work on small legislative projects. Eligible applicants were in foster care at age 18 or were adopted from the foster care system after age 14. The CCAI internship program pays the interns a small stipend and covers other major expenses, such as housing and transportation to Washington, DC.

Applications are due January 5, 2007, and are available online.

For more information, go to http://www.ccainstitute.org/youth_internship.php

If you have additional questions about the program, please contact Chelsea Buffington at (703) 288-9700 or chelsea@ccainstitute.org

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SAMHSA Launches Anti-Stigmatization Campaign

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the Ad Council, is launching a national public service advertising campaign designed to decrease stigmatization of people with mental illness. The campaign highlights the critical role that friendship plays in recovery—especially among young people. While the rate of serious psychological distress is higher among 18-25 year olds than among other adults, that group shows the lowest rate of help-seeking behaviors.

To learn more, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/25953/
To view the ads go to: http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov

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The Office of Justice Programs Announces New Tribal Justice and Safety Web Site

The Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) today announced the launch of a new Tribal Justice and Safety Web site, http://www.usdoj.gov/tribaljusticeandsafety. The Internet home page will be a resource for American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments and communities, and will help the general public and other federal agencies to better understand the resources available for improving safety in Native American communities.

To view the website, go to http://www.usdoj.gov/tribaljusticeandsafety

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States Likely to Lead Health Care Reform

In response to debates over whether more or less government involvement is better for health care systems, a bipartisan group of Congressional lawmakers and policy analysts wants to use states as testing grounds to analyze new approaches for expanding coverage, boosting quality and controlling costs. While they acknowledge that these models would not be equally effective across states, they say that state governments will learn through trial and error what works best.

To learn more, go to http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=132&id=4614&c=EMC-ND132

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New PSAs Say Parents Don't Need to be "Perfect" to Adopt

A new series of public service announcements (PSAs) are encouraging the adoption of older children and teens currently in the foster care system. Created by the Advertising Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families, the Adoption Exchange Association, and the Collaboration to AdoptUsKids, the PSAs are designed to help prospective parents realize "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who would love to put up with you."

The PSAs are an extension of the previously successful campaign, launched in 2004, which focused on the adoption of children ages 8 and older. In the first 18 months following the launch, calls to the AdoptUsKids toll-free number increased 236%.

For more information on adoption from foster care visit the AdoptUsKids website or call toll-free 1-888-200-4005

The television, radio, and newspaper ads and related posters are downloadable from the AdoptUsKids website

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Federal Drug-Test Grant Rejected by Florida School Board

The school board in Citrus County, FL, has turned down a four-year, $317,000 drug-testing grant from the U.S. Department of Education, saying that students should not be subjected to random drug testing if they want to play school sports. The school district has applied for and won the grant, but school Superintendent Sandra Himmell later questioned some of the conditions attached to the grant. Parents also showed up to a forum to protest against testing as intrusive and a waste of tax money, although others said drug testing would discourage drug use.

To read more, go to http://www.sptimes.com/2006/11/22/Citrus/School_Board_rejects_.shtml

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Alcohol involved in One-third of Suicide Cases

A study from 13 states found that one-third of suicide victims had alcohol in their system and 10 percent tested positive for other drugs, such as opiates, cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines. Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used data from the National Violent Death Reporting System which did not test the level of alcohol or drugs in the suicide victims. Not all of the suicide victims were tested for drug or alcohol.

For more information, visit http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2006/alcohol-involved-in-one-third.html