Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - Mental Health

Youth with Disabilities in the Foster Care System: Barriers to Success and Proposed Policy Solutions

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:54:32 -0500

At least one-third of children in foster care have physical or mental disabilities and are at higher risk for poor educational, employment and well-being outcomes. This report from the National Council on Disability finds that federal investments are undercut by lack of coordination across programs and agencies.

On the Move: Helping Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Needs Transition into Adulthood

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:29:07 -0500

Young people with emotional or mental illness risk an abrupt interruption in or loss of services when they age out of the child mental health system at age 18 or 21. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Partnerships for Youth Transition Initiative brought together systems and resources in five sites to serve transition-age youth.

“Stop the Silence” to End Child Sexual Abuse: a Small Nonprofit takes on a Big Issue

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:45:21 -0500

Seven years ago, a piece of paper on a desk started Pamela Pine on a quest to understand and spread the word about child sexual abuse. In this column, Pine shares how she turned her concern into a vibrant, dynamic nonprofit organization—with an annual international awareness-raising foot race in Washington, DC, every April.

Using the Arts to Tame Katrina�s Emotional Force

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 09:21:43 -0500

Building kites, drawing, creating an on-line community � these are some of the ways that young survivors of Hurricane Katrina are expressing themselves as part of their healing process. Martha Pitts reports on art therapy programs that are helping kids rebound.

Oversight Hearing on Suicide Prevention Programs and their Application in Indian Country

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:40:01 -0500

CFK Reports From: Oversight Hearing on Suicide Prevention Programs and their Application in Indian Country
Event: Hearing
Organized By: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Where/When: 485 Russell Senate Office Building; May 17, 2006

The statistics are grim: American Indian youth have the highest suicide rate among all ethnic groups, a rate that is almost twice the national average, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To address this issue, youth suicide prevention programs have been created to better serve the community. Two panels presented written testimony about their experiences, findings, and goals on suicide prevention programs to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Children's Mental Health Week

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 12:16:05 -0500

Start: May 7 2006 - 12:00am

End: May 13 2006 - 11:59pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT+5

Families Together in New York State encourages everyone to wear a green ribbon during Children's Mental health Month.

Schools Face New Mandate on "Wellness"

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:23:20 -0500

While the federal government has played a role in regulating school feeding programs for low-income children for about 40 years now, school districts are now working to comply with a new, much broader federal requirement calling for the development of local �wellness policies� that address issues of all the foods and drinks made available to all students during the school day, along with nutrition education, physical education, and the encouragement of healthy habits. Roshin Mathew explains.

Will�s Choice: A Suicidal Teen, a Desperate Mother, and a Chronicle of Recovery

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 08:41:33 -0500

Gail Griffith tells an unsparing tale of her son Will�s attempt to kill himself, and the complicated road to recovery.

The Trevor Project: Help for Suicidal Gay Teens

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 08:41:24 -0500

State and national surveys indicate that gay and lesbian teens are at a significantly higher risk of attempting suicide than their heterosexual peers. But there is help available, geared especially towards the needs of this group: The Trevor Project. Letitia L. Star reports.

Anorexia Might Have Genetic Link

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 09:41:00 -0600

New research on Swedish twins—published in the March issue of the U.S. journal, Archives of General Psychiatry—suggests that anorexia nervosa may be inherited, and linked with anxiety and/or depression early in life.

Child Trends Indicator: Depressive Symptoms Among Young Adults

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 08:35:13 -0600

Data indicate the incidence of depressive symptoms in youth increases during adolescence and peaks during young adulthood. Depression affects physiological and social functioning, interpersonal relationships, employment, substance abuse, and indicates a "more dissatisfied life.� Young people ages 18-24 living below the poverty line were more likely (8 percent) to report suffering from two or more symptoms of depression in the past 30 days than their peers living at or above poverty (5 percent).

Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children with Mental Health Needs. (In English and Spanish.)

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 14:24:47 -0600

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also offers a Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children with Mental Health Needs. (In English and Spanish.)

School Mental Health Services in the United States 2002 � 2003

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 08:34:08 -0600

Increasingly, K-12 students can access mental health help in the place where they spend a lot of their time: school. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one-fifth of U.S.

Depression and Role Impairment among Adolescents in Primary Care Clinics

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 14:20:42 -0600

It will come as no surprise to anyone who has seen someone through depression � but a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health offers evidence that teens who struggle with depression are at risk of poorer school/work performance and educational attainment. The findings emphasize the importance of primary care clinicians� attention to depression and its accompanying limitations.

EMQ Children & Family Services

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:45:46 -0600

We serve children who are struggling with mental illness or emotional disorders. Our mission is to work with children and their families to transform their lives, build emotional, social and familial well-being, and to transform the systems that serve them.