News from the Field Related to Wraparound
One in Six U.S. Kids Has Mental Health Disorder
February 15, 2019
According to a recent study of data from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, one in six kids has at least one mental health disorder and only half receive mental health treatment.
Research on Benefits of Mindfulness Education in School
February 1, 2019
A recent study compared groups of sixth graders in a Boston-area school: one group participated in an eight week mindfulness curriculum taught by Calmer Choice, a Massachusetts nonprofit, and the other group took computer coding during that time.The mindfulness group reported being less stressed and and having better self control after the program. About half of the participants agreed to brain scans as well. The results indicate that the mindfulness group responded less to negative stimuli after the course.
Youth Suicide Screening
January 16, 2019
A report published online in September 2018 in Psychosomatics, “Suicide Risk Screening in Pediatric Hospitals: Clinical Pathways to Address a Global Health Crisis,” authored in part by researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), offers guidance on implementation of suicide risk screening in medical settings. According to an NIMH news release about the report, “studies have found that a majority of youth who died by suicide visited a health care provider or medical setting in the month prior” to their deaths. The report outlines a clinical pathway model, which includes using an NIMH-IRP screening tool with all youth.
Federal Commission on School Safety Resource Guide
January 16, 2019
The Federal Commission on School Safety issued a 177-page report on school safety in December. Based on months of research including site visits to successful programs and expert testimony, the report offers findings and recommendations in three sections: Prevent; Protect & Mitigate, and Respond & Recover. The Prevent section includes recommendations on incorporating mental health programs in schools with details on existing programs and research based practices.
Rate of Children in Foster Care Increased in 39 States in 2017
January 3, 2019
A new Child Trends post on the 2017 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data shows that in 2017 the number of children and youth in foster care in the U.S. rose for the 5th consecutive year, to 443,000, with 39 states experiencing an increase in the rate of children in foster care.
Prevalence and Treatment of Depression, Anxiety, and Conduct Problems in US Children
December 12, 2018
Research published recently in the Journal of Pediatrics analyzed data from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), in which parents provided information on whether their children aged 3-17 years old had ever been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and/or conduct problems. Survey results show that among children aged 3-17 years, 7.1% had current anxiety problems, 7.4% had a current behavioral/conduct problem, and 3.2% had current depression. Treatment rates were higher for those with depression diagnoses (nearly 80% of those with depression received treatment in the previous year) and lower for those with anxiety and behavioral/conduct diagnoses (59.3% of those with anxiety diagnoses, and 53.5% of those with behavioral/conduct problems had received treatment in the previous year).The researchers concluded the results indicate a prevalence of these conditions and existing treatment gaps to be addressed.
When low-income families can meet their basic needs, children are healthier
December 12, 2018
Children’s HealthWatch published reports based on survey data of 18,000 low-income families with children under four years old, in five cities (Baltimore, Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Little Rock). They found that “young children and their parents are healthier when they are able to afford basic needs, such as food, shelter, utilities, medical care, prescription medicines and childcare”. This study, however, examined the differences between children living in hardship-free families versus those in families with any or multiple hardships. The report authors support policies to better support low-income families.
SOAR Online Course Available
December 5, 2018
The SOAR Online Course: Child Curriculum, launched by SAMHSA and Policy Research Associates, Inc., is designed to train case managers to assist children and youth who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder to apply for the Social Security Administration’s disability program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Parent Survey Shows One in 40 Children in U.S. Receive Autism Diagnoses
November 27, 2018
An analysis of parent survey data for about 43,000 children aged 3-17 from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health showed that 2.5 percent of parents reported their child had received a diagnosis of autism. In addition, parents of children with autism were 44 percent more likely to report difficulty getting their children needed mental health treatment.
Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families
November 20, 2018
This resource from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child outlines three core principles that can be used as guides for policy and practice when looking at how to best design and provide social supports.The principles: 1) Support Responsive Relationships, 2) Strengthen Core Life Skills and 3) Reduce Sources of Stress are detailed and examples of policies and practices that support each principle are provided.