News from the Field Archives - Page 2 of 49 - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)

A Framework for Authentic Engagement of Youth in Creating Policy

May 30, 2025 | NWI

The Authentic Youth Engagement in Policy Framework builds on prior research and has been refined via the lived experiences of young people and the day-to-day practices of youth-serving organizations. It outlines four interrelated components that are essential to meaningful youth engagement and shows how these components are associated with outcomes for youth, organizations and the community.

Read the article »

Education Department Halts Funding for School Mental Health

May 30, 2025 | NWI

The Trump administration says it will stop paying out $1 billion in federal grants that school districts across the country have been using to hire mental health professionals, including counselors and social workers.

Read the article »

Recommendations to Center Young People and Families in Youth Probation

April 27, 2025 | NWI

In this report, young people and their families who have experienced probation offer insights into the youth probation system’s strengths and areas for improvement. They share recommendations for transforming probation into a model focused on accountability, personal growth, positive behavior change, and long-term success.

Read the article »

Not-For-Profit Foster Care Agencies Are Being Forced to Close Due to a Lack of Liability Insurance

April 27, 2025 | NWI

Lawsuits, regulations, social inflation and policy failure have made it more difficult for not-for-profit agencies to obtain liability insurance, leading to closures and placing further stress on the child welfare system. This report describes the problem, and offers policy solutions.

Read the report »

How Social Platforms Can Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis

April 27, 2025 | NWI

While social media platforms may contribute to harm for some youth, they also can provide an avenue for positive social connection and/or direct young people to helpful – even life-saving – resources. This article explores steps social media platforms can take to increase their positive impact.

Read the article »

Positive Results from Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

April 27, 2025 | NWI

A new study provides evidence that equine-assisted therapy and traditional psychotherapy provide similar benefits to youth struggling with emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Read the abstract »

Do Smartphones and Social Media Really Harm Teens’ Mental Health?

April 27, 2025 | NWI

Researchers are debating the strength of evidence connecting technology to surging rates of adolescent mental illness. But they have some clear advice for parents.

Read the article »

Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong?

April 27, 2025 | NWI

With ADHD diagnoses at a record high, some experts have begun to question our assumptions about the condition – and how to treat it.

Read the article »

Beyond Psychotropics: Critical Strategies for Supporting Youth in Foster Care

March 22, 2025 | NWI

This article provides an overview of four clinical features that can be particularly burdensome for foster children and interfere with delivery of effective psychiatric care, as well as guidance on how the child psychiatrist can most appropriately respond to the foster youth’s needs in each scenario.

Read the article »

Strong Friendships Matter More Than Social Media Use

March 22, 2025 | NWI

Teens who report strong, high-quality friendships tend to have better mental health – an influence that appears nearly three times stronger than the link between social media use and mental health challenges, according to a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Read the article »