News from the Field Related to Wraparound

Teens With Mental Health Conditions Use Social Media Differently

May 30, 2025

Adolescents with mental health conditions report distinct and often more negative experiences on social media compared to their peers. Those with internalizing conditions like anxiety and depression were more likely to compare themselves to others, struggle with self-control, and experience mood changes tied to likes and comments. On average, teens with any mental health condition spent about 50 minutes more daily on social media than those without. While causality is unclear, these patterns suggest social media may amplify emotional challenges.

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A Framework for Authentic Engagement of Youth in Creating Policy

May 30, 2025

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.

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Education Department Halts Funding for School Mental Health

May 30, 2025

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.

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Recommendations to Center Young People and Families in Youth Probation

April 27, 2025

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.

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

April 27, 2025

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.

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How Social Platforms Can Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis

April 27, 2025

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.

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Positive Results from Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

April 27, 2025

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

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

April 27, 2025

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

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

April 27, 2025

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

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Beyond Psychotropics: Critical Strategies for Supporting Youth in Foster Care

March 22, 2025

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.

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