News from the Field Related to Wraparound
Resource for Schools: After a Suicide
April 24, 2018
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) has published the 2nd edition of its After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools to assist middle and high schools in implementing a coordinated response to the suicide death of a student. The toolkit was developed in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and in consultation with national experts, including school-based administrators and staff, clinicians, researchers, and crisis response professionals. It is designed primarily for administrators and staff but can also be useful for parents and communities.
STUDIES TAKE CLOSER LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH
April 24, 2018
This news story summarizes results of a few recent studies looking at the instance of mental health challenges among LGBTQ youth. One study that examined medical records found mental health diagnoses were more common for transgender and gender-nonconforming youth. A second study
of survey data from almost 82,000 high school students in Minnesota found LGBTQ adolescents were more likely to experience abuse and victimization than heterosexual teens. Notably, the majority of youth didn’t experience any abuse, bullying or victimization.
In his commentary on the studies, Dr. Stanley Ray Vance of the Child and Adolescent Gender Center at the University of California, San Francisco noted: “It should be emphasized that LGBTQ youth are incredibly resilient, but they unfortunately face poor mental health outcomes and adversity. Their childhood environment and experiences matter and reducing rejection, abuse and other adverse events could potentially make a difference.”
Study of first-graders shows fetal alcohol spectrum disorders prevalent in U.S. communities
March 21, 2018
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), funded a study of more than 6,000 first-graders across four U.S. communities and found rates of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) from 1 to 5 percent in community samples. The effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the brain can result in a range of neurobiological deficits that contribute to physical, cognitive, behavioral, and social challenges throughout life.
New ways of working and learning can grow resilient children’s social workers
March 21, 2018
This recent article from The Guardian looks at research done by the UK’s Department of Education on England’s children and family social workforce. The study found that “a third of social workers leave the profession within two years, and the average career span is just eight years”. The article discusses related research and potential solutions, including implementing “reflective supervision” techniques and improved training for the social workforce.
April 26 Webinar: Measuring Wraparound Fidelity in Systems of Care
March 21, 2018
Part of the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) National Evaluation Web Event Training Series, this webinar will feature presenters from NWI providing an overview of the processes and technologies associated with ensuring quality and accountability in Wraparound care coordination. Topics covered will include the Wraparound Fidelity Assessment System (WFAS), WrapSTAR and the new Wraparound Implementation Practice Standards (WIPS), as well as strategies for incorporating fidelity assessments into already existing data collection procedures and timelines.
PRESENTERS
- Eric Bruns, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
- Spencer Hensley, BA, Technical Assistance Specialist, University of Washington
- April Sather. MPH, Research Project Director,
University of Washington
MODERATOR
- Abram Rosenblatt, PhD, Project Director, CMHI National Evaluation, Westat
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»