News from the Field Related to Wraparound
Expanded Safety Net Drives Drop in Child Poverty
October 24, 2022
With little public notice and accelerating speed, child poverty fell by 59 percent from 1993 to 2019, according to a comprehensive new analysis that shows the critical role of increased government aid.
Connecticut Reduces Foster Care by a Third
October 24, 2022
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
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!
Can Digital Tools Alleviate the Mental Health Crisis?
October 24, 2022
Mental health services are under an unprecedented strain. Virtual therapy sessions and mental health apps are emerging to fill the gap.
Parental Trauma Leaves Biological Traces in Children
September 23, 2022
Parental adverse experiences may influence the next generation through multiple pathways. The most apparent route runs through parental behavior, but influences during gestation and even changes in eggs and sperm may also play a role. And all these channels seem to involve epigenetics: alterations in the way that genes function. This article from Scientific American reviews research and implications.
How to Address the Child Therapist Shortage
September 23, 2022
There is a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals, but it’s especially acute for children and teenagers. What are some proven strategies for addressing it?
New Program Successfully Supports Foster Youth in College
September 23, 2022
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.
Research Update: Peer Support for Youth and Young Adults
September 23, 2022
This brief report summarizes recently-published research relevant to peer support for youth and young adults who experience serious mental health conditions.
Youth Depression Screening Does Not Prevent Hospitalizations or Suicide Attempts
August 7, 2022
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.
Challenges for Families of Special-Needs Children Adopted from Overseas
August 7, 2022
For years, evangelical Christians were enthusiastic supporters of adoption by sponsoring conferences, targeting adoption-friendly Sundays and staging adoption fairs in parish halls. Thousands of overseas children got new homes. Leading the way were evangelical luminaries such as recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman (three daughters from China) and then-Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore (two sons from Russia). Enthusiastic parents took up the challenge, traveling overseas for one or more children, even adopting special needs kids whose home countries were not interested in their care. More than a decade after this movement peaked, many families who went overseas are in crisis mode.