News from the Field Related to Wraparound
New NCTSN Resource: Training Toolkit for Providers
March 20, 2018
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has released The Road to Recovery: Supporting Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Have Experienced Trauma (IDD Toolkit) . Available for free download, the training has information for providers on how to work with children and families who are living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who have experienced trauma. The IDD toolkit includes six modules designed to be completed in a single day or in a series.
Create a free account on the NCTSN Learning Center site to access the training»
Child Trends Research: The Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Nationally, by State, and by Race or Ethnicity
March 15, 2018
Using data from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) and U.S. Census Bureau data on race/ethnicity, this Child Trends brief compares the prevalence of eight specific ACEs across states.
Research: Impact of School-Based Mental Health Services
February 2, 2018
Research published recently in Evaluation and Program Planning looked at the impact of school-based mental health services on academic outcomes. The study include 755 children in 1st to 8th grade in Philadelphia schools from September 2010 to June 2011. School Therapeutic Services (STS) have been offered in Philadelphia since 2007. The study compared the impact of the services offered in school with the use of out-of-school mental health services. Results showed that in school mental health services may help reduce absences and suspensions, but further research is needed.
Issue Brief: Critical Role of Pediatric Primary Care in Addressing ADHD
January 31, 2018
The latest in a series of issue briefs from the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut (CHDI) focuses on the benefit of having pediatric primary care practices screen and treat children for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a national guideline on early identification and treatment of ADHD. CHDI is one of five groups working with the AAP on ways to increase providers use of the guideline. The CHDI pilot project started in 2017 includes 11 pediatric practices in Connecticut whose staff participate in a schedule of training and assessment.
New CHDI Report on Mid-Level Development Assessment
January 22, 2018
The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) has published a new report on the use of Mid-level Development Assessment (MLDA) to identify mild to moderate behavioral and developmental concerns in children younger than 6. This assessment tool is intended to ensure that children who don’t meet the criteria for pubicly funded interventions are still connected to services to address their needs.
Read the announcement about the report»
Access the full report»
NCTSN Policy Brief: Intimate Partner Violence and Child Trauma
January 19, 2018
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has published a policy brief on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and its impact on children. The brief summarizes research on the subject, including a study published in 2011 that showed one in 15 children reported witnessing violence in the home between parents in the last year. The brief also details the negative short and long term impact this exposure can have on children, and outlines recommendations for policy makers on supporting early intervention programs.
Transitioning Back to School and After-school Programs After a Mental Health Crisis
January 12, 2018
In a post on Youthtoday.org, Kamala Joy, program manager for family and youth at Via Hope in Austin, Texas, offers recommendations for supporting positive re-entry for youth transitioning back to school following an extended absence for mental health treatment. As an example, she describes Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (BRYT), an approach used in Massachusetts. BRYT includes meeting with the student, parents, student’s psychologist along with the school nurse and and a school administrator to plan and prepare for the transition and support the student during and after the transition.
Research: Mental Health Intervention Tied to Decreased Cortisol Levels
January 11, 2018
Research published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology claims to be the first to use a biological measurement – hair cortisol in this case – to measure the impact of a mental health intervention in war-affected youth. The study included 733 war-affected youth from Syria and Jordan aged 12-18 who participated in a Mercy Corps. program, Advancing Adolescents, that is “designed to reduce the effects of profound stress and build strong ties to family and community”. Results showed cortisol levels were reduced by about 38 percent over time.
Pediatricians screen more kids for mental health issues if they receive hands-on support
January 10, 2018
Recent research by Children’s National Health System published in Pediatrics this month found pediatricians included mental health screenings in patients’ annual check up when the pediatricians were given training and support. The 15-month study included 10 pediatric practices and 107 individual providers in the Washington, D.C. area.
Why foster care students in Seattle are beating the odds
January 4, 2018
NPR recently profiled the success of Treehouse, a nonprofit dedicated to improving lives of foster youth, in their efforts to increase high school graduation rates. In 2010, the high school graduation rate for youth in foster care in Seattle and King County, Washington was 36 percent. In 2012, Treehouse started assigning “education specialists” who work with students to support them in identifying and reaching their goals. Last year, 89 percent of the eligible students in the Treehouse program graduated within five years.