News from the Field Related to Wraparound
RWJF Issue Brief: Applying an Equity Lens to Social, Emotional, and Academic Development
July 20, 2018
A new issue brief from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, “Applying an Equity Lens to Social, Emotional, and Academic Development,” addresses the need for grounding Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs in a larger context of equity and justice efforts within public education. The brief outlines the barriers that may prevent students of color and other and other marginalized youth from developing social and emotional competencies, and several initiatives that can help. The authors also include recommendations for research, policy and practice.
Research: Impact of Parental Incarceration
July 19, 2018
Results of a study recently published in the journal Pediatrics showed that young adults whose parents had been incarcerated are less likely to use health care and more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors compared to peers whose parents had not been incarcerated. Researchers looked at data of 13,000 young adults aged 24-32 and found that 10 percent had a parent incarcerated during their childhood. According to the researchers, more than 5 million American children have had an incarcerated parent, making this an important area for further research.
Read more about the study on the impact of parental incarceration»
Casey Foundation’s 2018 Kids Count Data Book
July 9, 2018
The Casey Foundation has published its 2018 Kids Count Data Book, with the latest data national and state data measuring key indicators of children’s well-being: economic well-being, education, health, and family / community. Nationally, the results from 2016 were improved compared to the results from 2010 in the areas of economic and education well-being, while the results were more mixed in the health and family/community areas.
Learn more about the results and order your free copy of the 2018 Kids Count Data Book»
Research: Only 22 Percent of Youths Treated for Anxiety Disorders Stay Anxiety-Free
June 28, 2018
A study published in the July 2018 issue of the Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry evaluated youths and young adults after they had completed 12-week treatment for anxiety. The annual evaluations over a period of 5 years with more than 300 youths/young adults, showed that 22 percent remained anxiety-free, while 30 percent remained chronically ill and 48 percent showed signs of anxiety disorder in at least some of the follow-up evaluations.
Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents & Educators
June 21, 2018
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has a tip sheet designed to help parents and educators recognize suicide risk factors and warning signs. The tip sheet outlines recommended immediate actions to take to keep youth safe, if these risk factors or warning signs are observed. Links to additional resources are also provided.
School-Based Mental Health Centers Play Vital Role For Hispanic And Black Students
June 13, 2018
This recent article highlights the impact of the 120 school-based health centers in Connecticut. According to recent research, Hispanic and black students may continue with school-based counseling longer than with providers in the community. In addition to one-on-one counseling, some Connecticut schools also offer group therapy as part of the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools program. In the state, this 10-session group therapy program 70 percent of participants are typically Hispanic, and 20 percent black participants, and roughly 50 percent of participants are males.
The Atlantic: Children Who Are Cleared to Leave Psychiatric Hospitals – But Can’t
June 7, 2018
This article in The Atlantic by ProPublica Illinois reporter, Duaa Eldeib, investigates the complex factors leading to children staying in psychiatric hospitals long after they are cleared for release because of the challenges the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has in finding appropriate placements. Although psychiatric hospitals are designed for short-term stays, the reporter found that “Eighty percent of the more than 800 children whose stays became medically unnecessary between 2015 and 2017 were held for 10 days or more beyond when they should have been released. More than 40 percent were confined for a month or longer; 15 percent had to wait two months or longer.”
Read the article»
New Brief: Preparing for Effective SEL Implementation
May 30, 2018
Part of a series commissioned by the Wallace Foundation, this brief written by members of the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s EASEL Lab, provides information on effective implementation of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs. It describes the common features of the most effective SEL programs based on research findings, and provides specific implementation guidelines for schools and other organizations to consider when planning the introduction of a new SEL program.
New York Times: Children’s Suicide-Related Hospital Visits Rise Sharply
May 22, 2018
This New York Times article reports on a study published in the May 2018 issue of Pediatrics on the increase in suicide-related hospital visits by children and teens between 2008 and 2015. The article also discusses the ongoing lack of mental health care resources for this age group.
Kaiser Family Foundation Issue Brief on Impact of Medicaid Expansion
May 18, 2018
The Kaiser Family Foundation has published an issue brief reporting on the effects of the Medicaid expansion. “Implications of the ACA Medicaid Expansion: A Look at the Data and Evidence” shows that states that expanded Medicaid had greater reductions in their rate of uninsurance, increased affordability of health care, and overall there has been a net fiscal benefit for states.