Prevention Archives - Page 2 of 8 - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)

What’s the Best Way to Praise Children?

September 24, 2023 | NWI

Research shows that calling kids gifted and talented isn’t the best way to praise them. Certain types of praise can inadvertently stunt a child’s performance. This blog and video describe how to praise children in a way that helps them develop a growth mindset.

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Navigating SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) with Older Youth

September 24, 2023 | NWI

While many SEL programs and much of the research to date have focused on elementary school-aged children, more recent research shows that middle and high school-aged youth can also show substantial benefits from explicit opportunities for social and emotional development. This blog explores the benefits of and enabling conditions for high-quality SEL programs for young people in middle and high school.

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‘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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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