Prevention Archives - Page 2 of 7 - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
‘Anti-Dopamine Parenting’ Can Curb Children’s Cravings
July 23, 2023 | NWI
Parents are constantly being told they have to limit how much junk food their children can eat or how long they allow them to use their devices. This can be a struggle, but neuroscientists now know what’s happening in a child’s brain that drives this overconsumption, and what parents can do to counteract the cravings that lead children to overconsume.
Predict, Prevent, Plan: A New Tool from John VanDenBerg
April 21, 2023 | NWI
Wraparound pioneer John VanDenBerg co-authored this article and accompanying video describing a new tool for dealing with traumatic events. The article also recounts how the authors used the tool in their own professions, lives, and family.
Engagement in Enjoyable Activities Promotes Mental Health
March 10, 2023 | NWI
A new systematic research review finds that interventions that promote youth and young adult participation in pleasurable activities has positive impacts on symptoms of depression and anxiety; and that such interventions may be developmentally well-suited to address young people’s mental health problems.
Tablet-Based Screening Doubles Detection of Youth Psychosis
March 10, 2023 | NWI
Asking young people to take a short survey on a tablet before their appointments may help mental health providers identify those at risk of psychosis. A new study found that when patients took a 21-question pre-visit survey, more than twice as many were identified at risk of psychosis compared to those who did not complete the survey.
Exercise Effective Against Depression
January 27, 2023 | NWI
Intervening with physical activity appears to mitigate depressive symptoms in children and adolescents, a systematic review and meta-analysis of almost 2,500 participants found.
Connecticut Reduces Foster Care by a Third
October 24, 2022 | NWI
Connecticut has shrunk its foster care population by nearly a third in the past three years, signaling a shift toward keeping families together whenever possible – a strategy implemented by Vannessa Dorantes, the first African American commissioner in the agency’s history.
Winning Youth Essays on Mental Health
October 24, 2022 | NWI
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces 15 awardees for the 2022 Speaking Up about Mental Health! This Is My Story Essay Contest. The contest seeks to start conversations about mental health and encourage young people to access help for mental health issues. Read the winning essays now!
New Program Successfully Supports Foster Youth in College
September 23, 2022 | NWI
This study is the first identified randomized experiment to evaluate a post-secondary support program for enrolled college students with foster care backgrounds and mental health challenges. Analysis showed evidence of intervention impact on important targeted outcomes at post-intervention and/or 6-month follow-up, including self-determination, career-related self-efficacy and career exploration activities, and mental health self-efficacy and empowerment.
Youth Depression Screening Does Not Prevent Hospitalizations or Suicide Attempts
August 7, 2022 | NWI
Guidelines in the US advocate for depression screening in adolescents in the hopes that mental health struggles can be identified early and that this will prevent them from becoming more problematic over time. But a new study found that there was no difference in outcomes between those who were screened and those who were not.
Impact on Behavioral Health of Cash Transfers to Families of Children in Poverty
June 13, 2022 | NWI
New research asks whether direct cash payments to people living in poverty, particularly for households with children, effectively improve child development outcomes into adulthood. About 20% of U.S. American children grow up in poverty, and family income during early childhood is strongly associated with educational attainment and other social and economic outcomes. A cash transfer during infancy can have profound and long-lasting effects, including educational, behavioral, and economic or labor market advantages.