NEWS YOU CAN USE
A New Technical Assistance Center for Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children
The Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior (CEBP) recently became the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI). TACSEI serves as a continuation and extension of the CEBP. TACSEI will perform a major change: collecting the large amount of research that was conducted and synthesized by CEBP on effective practices and transform them into actual everyday practices. TACSEI will enhance the awareness and understanding of decision-makers, caregivers and service providers.
» Learn More about this TA Center.
Senate Approves Bill to Address Increased Rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide Among Veterans
In the wake of tragic events such as Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Crisis and many others, Medical News Today asserts that there is the increase of children, youth and families facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To address this issue, the U.S. Senate has recently approved a new bill for veterans and their families. The Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 would expand research and health care facilities for veterans who have PTSD, substance abuse problems, and chronic pain, as well as extend mental health resources to the family members of veterans.
» Read this article.
Increased Juvenile Crime Rates in Daytona, Florida Exemplify Frustrations for Some Communities
According to a new report from CNN.com, nationally, youth under 15 commit only 5 percent of violent crimes, 7 percent of robberies, and 9 percent of burglaries. In Daytona, Florida as well as some other cities, however, chronically high juvenile crime rates frustrate law enforcement, judges, and politicians and lead many to wonder what it will take to keep these increasingly younger offenders out of the juvenile justice system. The frustration of failed efforts in Daytona and elsewhere exemplify the complexity of dealing with this troubling issue.
» Read this article.
American Academy of Pediatrics Releases Online Version of Bright Futures Guidelines
Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents–Third Edition provides information to help pediatricians provide better health care, save time, and keep up with changes in families, communities, and society that impact infant, child, and adolescent health. The guidelines, recently made available for download from the American Academy of Pediatrics' Bright Futures Web site, are organized into 10 themes common to all stages of development, followed by specific guidance for each of 31 recommended health supervision visits from infancy through late adolescence. Growth charts and the newly revised periodicity schedule are included.
» View the Guidelines.
» View slides and handouts.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commits Millions to Improve Quality U.S. Health Care
On June 5, the Robert Wood Foundation announced that they are committing $300 million to improve the quality of US health care by addressing disparities. The grants are being given to 14 cities, States, or regions, with mental health as a major area being addressed.
» Read this article.
The World Health Organization to Campaign Against Harmful Drinking
The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes to develop an international plan to address issues such as binge drinking and alcohol marketing. WHO reports that 3.7 percent of mortality worldwide is due to alcohol problems.
» Read this article.
U.S. Congress Announces 'Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act'
Representative George Miller (D-CA) has recently introduced to the U.S. House H.R. 5876—Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008. This bill is designed to protect youth from disciplinary techniques that involve withholding food, water, clothing, shelter or medical care, physical and mechanical restraints that are inconsistent with the well-being of the child, and acts of physical or mental abuse designed to humiliate, degrade, or undermine a child's self-respect. The bill also provides for reasonable access to a telephone, the training of staff members as to the definitions of child abuse and how to report it, and the disclosure of staff qualifications and criminal background checks for such staff. Finally, the bill offers policies and procedures for emergency medical care and parental notification of changes in care as well as for the notification of parents of violations of applicable laws and licensing standards.
» Read about this bill.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Presents Honors at 2008 Voice Awards
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) honored television and film writers and producers at the 2008 Voice Awards, hosted by award-winning actor and mental health advocate Joe Pantoliano and Hairspray film star Nikki Blonsky, at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. Winners were recognized for incorporating dignified, respectful, and accurate depictions of people living with mental health problems into their programs and films. Awards were also given to outstanding community leaders, themselves individuals with mental illnesses, who have had a positive impact on the acceptance of people with mental health problems in our society.
» Read more about the awards.
National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health's Web Discussion Page Now Easier Than Ever to Use
The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health (FFCMH) has made it even easier for users to join a discussion, share their thoughts, add their ideas, or pose a question on their online discussion boards. FFCMH encourages users to register and to become frequent visitors to the forums. Users can choose a discussion thread and join a conversation, continue a conversation, or start a new conversation.
» Visit the discussion boards.