News from the Field Archives - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
Youth Perspectives on Designing Equitable Out-of-School-Time Programs
December 1, 2023 | NWI
A youth-led research project provides an indication of how young people from marginalized communities may experience out-of-school-time programming, including that they are sometimes treated differently because of race, gender identity, or other factors.
Research Documents the Importance of “Enduring Relationships” for Foster Youth
December 1, 2023 | NWI
Enduring relationships have real consequences for foster youth, reducing the risk of negative outcomes in early adulthood, such as food insecurity, economic hardship, and homelessness. They were also more likely to experience positive outcomes, such as having greater earnings and finishing some college. Surprisingly, the number of individuals the youth said they had in their network was not a key factor. What mattered was the enduring quality of the relationships – people that stuck with them, through thick and thin, over a period of time.
Child Mental Health Resources in Spanish
December 1, 2023 | NWI
Mental Health America has updated its resource Para Los Padres y Los Jovenes, which includes a variety of information and tip sheets.
When to Adapt: Evidence-Based Treatments for Children of Diverse Cultural Backgrounds
December 1, 2023 | NWI
This Issue Brief describes what is known about making adaptations to behavioral health evidence-based treatments for diverse populations or children, and provides recommendations for clinicians on when and how to make these decisions.
Bike Riding in Middle School May Boost Mental Health
October 30, 2023 | NWI
Teaching middle schoolers bike riding skills as part of physical education classes may help improve their mental health. That’s according to a new study that looked at the effects of a 6-8 week cycling class taught in schools across the U.S.
Youth Detention: Reversing Widening Gaps by Race and Place
October 30, 2023 | NWI
This report discusses what the post-pandemic juvenile justice system looks like, how a young person’s racial identity affects their odds of being detained, how the risk of detainment for youth varies by location, and what juvenile justice systems can do to make better, safer and fairer decisions.
Behavioral Threat Assessment in Schools: Evidence, Fit, and Appropriateness
October 30, 2023 | NWI
School violence, including school-based gun violence, is a major public health issue that has negative consequences for students, families, schools, and communities. One approach that schools have adopted to address school violence is behavioral threat assessment (BTA). This report describes the current state of BTA implementation and its effectiveness, and provides recommendations for schools, policymakers, funders, and researchers on addressing BTA use in schools.
Misdiagnosis of Mood Disorders in Black Teenagers
October 30, 2023 | NWI
Research shows that kids of color, specifically Black kids, may be more likely than white kids to get the wrong diagnosis when they show signs of a mood disorder. They might get written off as misbehaving. Or they might be wrongly diagnosed with a different disorder like conduct disorder. This article discusses why this might be happening and what can be done to ensure proper diagnosis.
Kinship Navigator Programs in Child Welfare
October 30, 2023 | NWI
Kinship Navigator programs support the ongoing stabilization of kinship families by helping caregivers learn about and access resources that meet their evolving needs and those of the children they are raising. This report discusses the evidence for positive impacts from these programs, and envisions their future.
Research Suggests Racism Contributes to Childhood Obesity
September 24, 2023 | NWI
A large body of research connects racial discrimination to poor health outcomes, and a new study confirms these findings among children. The study found that children as young as 9 were more likely to meet the definition of obesity if they faced racism a year earlier.