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Listen to thisMay 2010
Focus on physical, emotional and social needs can result in complete cessation of self-injurious behaviors
Parents, teachers, and healthcare providers are among those most concerned by an alarming increase in self-injurious behaviors (SIB) among young people. Indeed, it has been estimated that the trend has doubled in the past three years and continues to climb as the seemingly bizarre behavior reaches into the middle schools. Despite this emerging epidemic, effective treatment for this challenging anomaly remains elusive.
Mary Askew, DNP, APN, an expert in SIB, will speak at the annual NJSNA joint meeting of the Society of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses and FORUM for Nurses in Advanced Practice on June 6th at the NJSNA headquarters. Dr. Askew will present a comprehensive model for understanding the complex nature of self-harm, and for guiding clinical care. She will demonstrate how utilizing multiple treatment approaches that focus on physical, emotional and social needs can result in complete cessation of SIB.
Dr. Askew, a Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse is Director of two intensive residential treatment programs serving children and adolescents at Youth Consultation Services. In addition, she is a clinician at the World of Wellness in East Orange and has a private practice in Ramsey. Dr. Askew has published and lectured extensively on the topic of self-injurious behavior. She is currently Vice President of the Society of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses.
SOURCE Society of Psychiatric Advanced
Practice Nurses
28 May 2010
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100528/Focus-on-physical-emotional-and-social-needs-can-result-in-complete-cessation-of-SIB.aspx
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CALIFORNIA
Sixteen students from Olive Crest’s NOVA Academy Early College High School visited PIMCO in Newport Beach this week as the finale of the 10-week-long “Tools for Tomorrow” class created and taught by a team of 30 dedicated PIMCO executives at NOVA’s Santa Ana-based campus.
Students at NOVA are at-risk teens, many of whom are currently in foster care; NOVA is the only Early College High School in the country specializing in the particular needs of at-risk and foster teens. “Tools for Tomorrow,” which was led by PIMCO’s Howard Chan, Chris Kemp, Erika Lowe, Sarah Middleton, Nishant Upadhyay and Matt Woods, is a life skills class that teaches students the value of smart financial habits, including banking, saving, investing, and buying insurance.
As a special finale to the course, PIMCO invited the NOVA students, along with NOVA principal Dennis Eastman and business teacher Brad Barber, to visit its Newport Beach headquarters to see an international investment management firm in action. Students were welcomed by managing director and head of human resources Jay Jacobs and presented with certificates of completion; they also enjoyed the opportunity to network with PIMCO employees, heard a talk on legal and compliance issues by PIMCO global compliance specialist Ginny Preston, and were given a tour of the trade floor before meeting PIMCO managing director and co-CIO Bill Gross and CEO and co-CIO Mohamed El-Erian.
During the afternoon, NOVA students also spoke about what they learned from the “Tools for Tomorrow” course.
“PIMCO firmly believes in empowering young people with the practical financial knowledge and skills necessary to lead responsible and rewarding adult lives,” said managing director Curtis Mewbourne. “The educators at Olive Crest’s NOVA Academy share our philosophy and nowhere is that more evident than with these highly motivated students participating in our course this semester. They may come from humble beginnings but they possess the drive and the determination to better themselves and their world.”
Two NOVA students with outstanding achievement in the course, Donovan Lopez and Tanya Tellez, were selected to shadow PIMCO executives prior to the NOVA visit.
“It was really exciting to meet the people at PIMCO and see the business in action—it was pretty cool to know that all that money was being invested right while we were watching!” said junior Donovan Lopez. “I learned so much from the Tools for Tomorrow course, and feel much better prepared for living on my own.”
“The people at PIMCO were really great—they took the time to show us around their offices and let us see the kind of work they do during an average day,” said junior Tanya Tellez. “The Tools for Tomorrow course taught me a lot about how to be smart about money. I hadn’t really thought about investing or insurance before, so now I know what to do once I’m out in the world.”
This was the second semester that the PIMCO course was taught at NOVA. The company will be honored at NOVA’s graduation ceremony on June 16 for their generous life-changing contributions to the lives of NOVA students.
About Olive Crest
Since 1973, Olive Crest has transformed the lives of over
50,000 abused, neglected, and at-risk children and their families. We
work tirelessly to meet the individual needs of kids in crisis by
providing safe homes, counseling, and education for both youth and
parents. Our many innovative programs reflect our conviction that
strengthening the family is one of the most powerful ways to help heal
children. With unwavering compassion, the Olive Crest family maintains a
lifelong commitment to the youth and families we serve even after they
have graduated from our programs.
Olive Crest serves nearly 1,000 children and families each day throughout California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest. For information call 1-800-550-CHILD (2445) or visit www.olivecrest.org.
Press release: Business Wire
26 May 2010
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/olive-crestrsquos-nova-academy-students,1318341.shtml
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An SOS Children's Village opens in Japan!
The first SOS Children's Village has been opened in Japan, in the historic city of Fukuoka. It was officially opened by the mayor of the city in late April 2010.
Situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu, Fukuoka is the capital of Fukuoka Prefecture, some 1,100 km southwest from Tokyo. The Village consists of five family houses for up to 25 children in total. The first three SOS mothers – after the completion of two years of training – have already moved in together with the first children.
The need for alternative care with a family-based approach such as is offered by SOS Children's Villages, has been felt for a long time in Japan. About 40,000 children in Japan are in protective custody due to abuse and other reasons, with 90 percent of them living in infant homes and orphanages, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
The guests of honour were the Deputy Governor of Fukuoka, the Austrian Ambassador to Japan Dr. Jutta Stefan-Bastl, and Siddhartha Kaul, Deputy Secretary-General of SOS Children's Villages International. Friends, supporters and people from the neighbouring community took part in the opening ceremony. "The SOS Children's Village is a place where children grow with security, dignity and protection. A good beginning has been made and with friends and supporters extending their helping hand, I'm sure the future is full of promises for children here," said Mr. Kaul on behalf of SOS Children's Villages.
The family houses were constructed thanks to donations from companies, private donors and other supporters from Japan.
SOS Chidren's Villages
24 May 2010
http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/charity-news/first-sos-childrens-village-opens-in-japan
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PENNSYLVANIA
PA State Resource Family Assn. and PA Family Support Alliance mark May as National Foster Care Month
May is National Foster Care Month, and the Pennsylvania State Resource Family Association (PSRFA) and the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA) are reminding Pennsylvanians that foster parents – also known as resource families – play an important role in the child welfare system.
More than 31,500 children lived in Pennsylvania's foster care system last year, according to PSRFA Executive Director Kathy Ramper and PFSA Executive Director Angela Liddle. Foster care exists as a temporary intervention when parents are not able to care for their children.
"Often, the need for foster care arises when parents are incarcerated or in treatment for chemical addiction, as well as when parents abuse or neglect their children for a variety of reasons," Ramper said. "The child welfare system – collectively our county Children and Youth Services offices – works to reunite children with their birth families whenever possible and provides services to children, foster families and birth families to reach this goal."
Liddle said, "Our two organizations often provide training and publications aimed at helping foster parents, birth parents, and family service professionals to work together in support of children who are in foster care. The growing number of families who provide kinship care to children – family members who step forward to care for a child when parents are unable or unwilling to – also need our assistance and support. We believe, as the state Department of Public Welfare does, that every child deserves the love of as many people as possible, regardless of the child's living situation."
Ramper added, "Every one of us, whether we are employed in the child welfare arena or not, has a responsibility to Pennsylvania's children."
Liddle said, "We can all help and support a struggling family and we can all applaud the difficult work done by our state's foster parents. Together, we can provide families for all children."
Those interested in learning more can contact the Pennsylvania State Resource Family Association at www.psrfa.org or the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance at www.pa-fsa.org.
PFSA works with affiliated member agencies across Pennsylvania to provide information, educational materials, and programs that teach and support good parenting practices. The organization also works through schools, early childhood education centers, religious institutions, and social service agencies to teach "mandated reporters" to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect and how to appropriately report such cases. Mandated reporters are people who frequently come into contact with children in the course of performing their jobs and are required by law to report abuse and neglect.
Press release: PR-Canada
Source: PA Family Support Alliance
22 May 2010
http://pr-canada.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=203329&Itemid=59
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National Foster Care Month and the SOS Children’s Villages alternative
May 18, 2010: The nearly half a million U.S. children in foster care are being honored this month, which President Obama has declared National Foster Care Month. SOS Children's Villages agrees with the President that, as he noted, every foster child deserves a loving home offering “unconditional love, stability, trust, and the support to grow into healthy, productive adults.”
But providing stable home settings for these children is not easy. Children in foster care are three to six times more likely than other children to have emotional, behavioral, and developmental problems, according to the Child Welfare League. These difficulties include depression, problems in school, and impaired social relationships.
Even when foster parents are plentiful, public payments to foster care parents in some states are not keeping up with costs, a situation that can inhibit placements.
SOS Children's Villages and foster
children
Well known for its work overseas, SOS Children's Villages also provides
stable, nurturing homes in the United States. These are the kind of
homes that foster children dream of.
SOS Children's Villages had several decades of experience raising needy children around the world before it opened three villages in the United States in 1993 and 2004. These Villages -- SOS-Coconut Creek, Florida; SOS-Chicago, Illinois; and SOS-Lockport, Illinois (outside of Chicago) -- were set up with the aim of supplementing the traditional U.S. traditional foster family system. These U.S.-based SOS Children's Villages offer an alternative to foster care that works in conjunction with respective state foster care systems. In both Florida and Illinois, SOS mothers and fathers are trained and certified as foster care parents in accordance with local regulations and often far surpass the states' requirements.
At SOS Children's Villages in the U.S., foster kids find a haven – an end to neglect and abuse, to multiple placements, and to separation from siblings. In Illinois and Florida, SOS offers family-based care and a host of special services to over 250 foster children. SOS also provides vital services to their families with the aim of family reunification.
Promising results
Together with state child welfare officials, SOS Children's Villages
works hard to reunite families. In 2009, 28 SOS-Illinois children were
successfully reunited with their biological parent or were placed in a
relative's home or a pre-adoptive home. SOS also puts a lot of effort
into seeing that its youth graduate high school and go on to higher
education. All senior-year SOS-Illinois high school students graduated
in 2009 and, as of today, 77% of former SOS-Florida residents are
enrolled in post-secondary education and numerous others have completed
college, with some in graduate school.
And at a time when states across the country are finding it challenging to find foster parents who can communicate in foster children's native languages, the SOS-Illinois' Hispanic Foster Parenting initiative is bearing fruit. One-third of SOS-Lockport, Illinois, homes are staffed by Spanish-speaking parents. Because of that success, Illinois's Department of Children and Family Services has asked SOS to partner with it to recruit more Spanish-speaking foster parents statewide.
Press release: SOS Children's Villages
18 May 2010
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Mental Illness: Healing children's minds
These days, when children act up in school, it may be there are circumstances beyond their control. Often, that circumstance is a mental disorder. The National Center for Children in Poverty recently released a sobering report that details how widespread mental health problems are in children. It found that one in five children from birth to 18 years old has a diagnosable mental disorder.
One in 10 youngsters struggle with mental health problems that are so severe it disrupts how they function at home, in the community and, not surprisingly, at school.
Great impact
In the course of a school year, children with mental health
issues may miss as many as 22 days, according to the report. Their rates
of suspension and expulsion are three times higher than those of their
peers. Up to 44 percent of them drop out of school, and more than 10
percent of dropouts did so because of a mental disorder.
The report also found that poverty, and the conditions that are related to it, fuel the problem. Children born in families that receive public assistance, or who have unemployed parents or teenage mothers, have a higher risk of developing a mental health disorder, as do children who are in the foster care system.
On top of that, some 75 to 80 percent of children who need mental health services do not receive them.
There are a number of things that can be improved to help children gain better access to mental health services. Among them are better use and availability of electronic health records, as well as increasing the numbers of mental health care providers, the report notes.
Recent legislation also holds promise: Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization 2009 requires that mental health and substance benefits are equal to other medical benefits in medical insurance.
Still, much work remains to be done – because all children deserve to have a chance to learn how education can give them control of their lives. But they can't do that if mental disorders won't let them control their own minds.
Editorial Opinion
18 May 2010
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2010-05-18/story/mental-illness-healing-childrens-minds
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Duane Kelly calls for a grassroots approach to education
Throughout his 40-plus year career in education, Duane Kelly has been criticized for many things – his sometimes unkempt appearance, his policy of no-holds-barred honesty and a tendency to stray off topic. Yet, as the elected representative of Sub-District Three on the Kansas City, Missouri School District School Board, Kelly has proven to be an invaluable resource. One of the few board members with practical classroom experience, Kelly brings something new to the table (besides, of course, his long, silver beard). He brings the first-hand account of a teacher.
For a pioneer in his field, Kelly adopts a surprisingly simple, grassroots approach to education. Wielding a business card with a quote written in lieu of an E-mail address, he maintains: "The kids come first, teachers are a close second, because if anything happens in education it happens in a classroom between a teacher and the kid." In a school district that has experienced its share of ups, downs and ongoing debate, Kelly has stood firm in his belief that successful school administration is built upon communication and first-hand experience. During an interview with KCTribune, he noted "I keep trying to get the board members to go to the classrooms to see what [they're] like...If you have never been there and you don't know what the problems are, and you don't know how the problems came about, how can you ever hope to solve them? And I get no answer."
At the time of interview with KCTribune, tension in teacher-district relations had peaked with the expiration of the teachers' union contract. Refusing to renew the contract, the district subsequently implemented changes that the union complained silenced teachers and eliminated their independent decision making in the classroom, thereby exacerbating disciplinary problems within some schools. In fact, as recently as January of this year, the Kansas City Federation of Teachers & School-Related Personnel reported the resignation of several district principals due to safety and disciplinary concerns. Kelly understands this dilemma all too well and advocates for the institution of alternative schools for children demonstrating patterns of socio-economically driven, problematic behavior. He has also served as a steadfast supporter of the teachers' contract. "Schools are organized [for the convenience of] administration rather than education...That is why there is a contract. There is a reason for every item in that contract. Every single item," he stated, referring specifically to instances in which principals scolded teachers in front of students and teachers were obligated without respite to a slew of before- and after-school activities at the will of school principals.
Slowly but surely, Kelly is determined to bring about positive change in the way education is administered in Kansas City, Missouri "for the sake of the children." In fact, his promise is backed by decades of demonstrated dedication. After earning both bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education at the University of Missouri and completing over 60 class credits in the field of ecology in 1960, he went on to teach for the Kansas City Missouri School District for 33 years. During this time, he pioneered the field of secondary ecology education, becoming one of the first ever to introduce the science to high school curriculum. In 1994, his efforts were recognized with the Missouri's Conservation Educator of the Year Award. He was also honored by Cambridge Who's Who as the Professional of the Year in Environmental Education in 2008 and in its "Top 101 Industry Experts" in 2009. Each honor is reserved for Cambridge's most esteemed members who demonstrate professional integrity and excellence. Today, Kelly continues to be a proactive environmentalist, supporting such organizations as The Nature Conservancy, the National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, the Sierra Club, National Audubon Society and Redwoods Protection. An avid outdoorsman, he spends his free time studying nature, bird watching and canoeing.
Duane Kelly would like to dedicate this recognition to his family and students.
24/7 Press Release
20 May 200
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CANADA
Benefits for children in care incomplete and unfair
A new report says children not living with their parents are denied financial benefits that other children get.
Not so Easy to Navigate, a report written by social policy experts John Stapleton and Anne Tweddle for the Laidlaw Foundation, reveals that the most vulnerable children in Ontario – those living in state care – don't benefit from federal programs like the Canada Learning Bond and Canada Education Savings Grant the same way that children living with their families do. The report recommends that the federal government fund the matching payments that they do not allow at the present. The cost would be $8 million in Ontario.
Parents with children living at home often use their federal child benefits to open RESPs for their children, triggering contributions from the federal Canada Learning Bond and Canada Education Savings Grant. When a child goes into the care of a Children's Aid Society (CAS), the basic child benefits are transferred to the CAS to help cover the cost of raising the child.
"Because of the way the system is designed, only children under the age of 6 can have these funds used to establish an Educational Grant or RESP. Older children may receive provincial supports for post-secondary education but they don't get the same benefit from the Federal programs. It's complicated and inequitable." says John Stapleton, co-author of the report.
The report shows that two entirely different sets of child benefits are paid in Ontario: one set to children living with their parents and another set for children living in state care. "It's hard enough for most parents to navigate the maze of child and educational benefits available to them. It is doubly hard to wade through the morass of benefits paid under two different systems, especially when a child's parents run into difficulties."
Laidlaw Foundation Executive Director Nathan Gilbert said "We think that governments need to work together to place children in care on at least an equal footing with other children. It is unacceptable that our most vulnerable children have less access to educational benefits. It is unfair and it does not make sense."
Young people taken into state care report that the most difficult issue they face when leaving care is the lack of emotional, financial and educational support. A change in federal policy would enable all children in care to save for a post-secondary education.
Nearly 18,000 children in Ontario are in the care of Children's Aid Societies. Often they move in and out of care. Children cannot be expected to understand the range of benefits available, let alone apply for any of them.
The report also recommends that governments do a better job of explaining and delivering these programs and make changes to improve the financial situation of youth leaving care.
There are two companion pieces to the report: a fact sheet that outlines benefits for children who are in the care of a Children's Aid Society and a brochure on what every mother in Ontario should know about collecting child benefits of up to $8,400 and more every year.
Press release: CNW
17 May 2010
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2010/17/c4183.html
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AUSTRALIA
Social Services professional joins the community of Stanford Who's Who
Steven King has been accepted among the ranks of leading professionals with Stanford Who's Who as a result of his incredible work in the Social Services Industry. As Executive Director of Mercy Family Services he has consistently demonstrated the passion, vision and dedication required to be among the best.
Mercy Family Services was established in 1996 following the amalgamation of three formerly separate Sisters of Mercy programs providing services for children and young people at St. Vincent's, Nudgee; Fatima, Toowoomba and The Peace Centre, Goodna. Sponsored by the Brisbane Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, their purpose is to deliver quality; innovative services so that children, young people and families feel valued, connected, strengthened and have hope for the future.
Mercy Family Services offers residential care, foster care for children and youth, family support and counseling, and counseling for sexually abused children. They are focused on building a strong identity, promoting community relationships and strengthening partnerships with funding bodies to enable the delivery of high-quality services to clients.
Steven is responsible for managing the organization. During his educational career, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Sunders University, graduating with honors. He is a member of Peakcare, an association of child protection.
To view more information on Steven King click here http://www.stanfordwhoswho.com/Steven.King.7124788.html
Press release: Stanford Who's Who
15 May 2010
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California: From foster children to homeless adults
State fails to prepare foster youth for adulthood
California is creating homeless adults by failing to ensure that youth in foster care are given the support to live independently as adults and by ending state support abruptly, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch said that the state should provide financial support, connections with adults, shelter, and other safety nets for young people as they make the transition toward independence.
The 70-page report, My So-Called Emancipation: From Foster Care to Homelessness for California Youth, (see http://www.hrw.org/node/90219) documents the struggles of foster care youth who become homeless after turning 18, or "aging out" of the state's care, without sufficient preparation or support for adulthood. California's foster care system serves 65,000 children and youth, far more than any other single state. Of the 4,000 who age out of the system each year, research suggests, 20 percent or more become homeless.
"By failing to prepare youth in foster care for adulthood and cutting them off from support abruptly as they become adults, California is failing in its duty to these young people," said Elizabeth Calvin, senior advocate for children's rights at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. "These young people are capable of making the transition successfully, but they cannot do it without the state's help."
This month the state is considering dramatic cuts to child welfare services, which would eliminate an existing transitional living program, over 400 social workers, and other programs for foster youth preparing for adulthood. "These proposed budget cuts would undermine foster youth's main defense against living on the streets," Calvin said. "The state will bear the costs of the predictable result – increased homelessness."
Most children enter foster care because abuse or neglect at home triggers the duty of the state to step in and protect them. The state becomes their parent and must ensure that children have adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education. But the responsibility to provide the guidance and support necessary for children in foster care to grow into independent adults is no less important, Human Rights Watch said. Human Rights Watch interviewed 63 young people who became homeless after they left foster care in California. Their stories shed light on the complex array of factors that led to their homelessness: missed opportunities to learn skills, lack of ability to support themselves, a shortage of second chances, and the fact that no one cared what happened to them.
Of those interviewed, 65 percent had not graduated from high school when they were forced out of state care; 90 percent had no source of income. These young people were expected to survive on their own, though the state had provided little training for adult living skills and was providing no support during the transition. In these cases, homelessness is a predictable outcome.
California state law requires child welfare agencies to develop, in conjunction with each youth in foster care, an "emancipation plan" for what the young adult will do when leaving foster care. But in practice, plans are often not made or are unrealistic and unlikely to prevent a youth from becoming homeless, Human Rights Watch said. Young people described to Human Rights Watch emancipation plans that lacked arrangements for housing or the income to afford it.
Human Rights Watch called on California to provide foster youth with a variety of options as they make the transition to adulthood, like their peers in family homes enjoy. These could include more time at home before moving out on their own, or somewhere to stay for certain periods, such as during college vacations. The state should also maintain a spectrum of other options for housing, mentoring, and support for former foster youth, including transitional housing programs, mental health services, services for those with learning disabilities, and services for pregnant and parenting youth, Human Rights Watch said.
"The science of adolescent development shows that childhood does not end abruptly at a certain age," Calvin said. "In most US families, young people continue to receive a spectrum of support – emotional and financial – as they make the transition to adulthood, and the youth in California's care deserve no less. "
Selected testimony
The day I graduated from high school my foster mom told me,
"You've been emancipated. You can't live here anymore." My social worker
showed up – I was still in my little graduation dress and heels, my
flowers, my cap on. My social worker had never talked with me. [She
just] told me, "I've called around and found a shelter for you. You have
a bed for four months."
- Karen D., age 21, San Francisco.
On the day of my so-called emancipation, I
didn't have a high school diploma, a place to live, a job, nothing...The
day I emancipated – it was a happy day for me. But I didn't know what
was in store. Now that I'm on the streets, I honestly feel I would have
been better off in an abusive home with a father who beat me; at least
he would have taught me how to get a job and pay the bills.
- Roberta E., age 24, Los Angeles
"I wish I could have had ... someone to care
about me ... like show me how to separate the whites from the darks [for
laundry.] I would have hated it at the time, but I wish I'd had that.
They never even asked me, ‘Is something wrong? Talk to me."
- Nikki B., age 18, Sacramento
"If you're going to put kids in group homes,
in foster care – at least give them what they need to survive and take
care of themselves. [When I aged out of care] I was expected to know how
to get a job, buy a car, all that stuff, but ... I didn't have any idea
how to go about doing things. So, I ended up on the street."
- Tony D., age 20, Berkeley
Press release: Human Rights Watch
12 May 2010
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/05/12-17
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Tics common in orphanages, disappear in foster care
Behavioral tics such as head banging, hand flapping, and body rocking are more common in toddlers living in orphanages, but often disappear after children are placed in foster homes, a new Romanian study shows.
The earlier the children were removed from the orphanage and the longer they lived with their foster family, the larger the reduction in tics. Such tics are common in children with autism, but it is unclear whether they are related to brain damage, the authors note. "These results underscore the need for early placement in home-based care for abandoned children," they write in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Dr. Charles Nelson, of Children's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues turned to data from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, a study conducted at the invitation of the Romanian government by American investigators of 187 current and formerly institutionalized children. The study assigned 68 children to closely monitored quality foster care, and 68 to remain in an orphanage. The average age was about 23 months.
At the start of the study, more than 60 percent of the children exhibited some or many behavioral tics. (For comparison, only about 20 percent of a group of children raised with their families in the Bucharest area and studied separately by the same group had any such tics.) While the behaviors declined over time in the children who stayed in the orphanage as well as those who went to foster homes, the latter had fewer tics. At four and a half years into the study, just under half of the institutionalized children still had some or many tics, while just under a third of the foster care kids did. Age at placement made a big difference; the older the child at placement in foster care the more likely to exhibit tics at each follow-up assessment. At 54 months, none of the children placed before they turned one exhibited any of the studied behaviors, compared to 43 percent of the children placed after the age of two. Most children placed in foster homes, the authors write, experience a drop in tic activity, "suggesting recovery is possible."
While most orphanages in the US were closed in favor of foster care by 1970, Nelson said his team's findings are relevant to poorly chosen and monitored foster care settings that should be considered a form of neglect. "Institutionalization is just a more severe form of neglect," he told Reuters Health.
The study of Romanian children helps illustrate the need to better understand the role "secure and functional caregiver relationships" plays in creating healthy and resilient children, Dr. David Rubin and Kathleen Noonan, co-directors of the Policy Lab at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, write in an editorial accompanying the study.
Researchers aren't sure about the best way to prevent or treat such tics, which can disrupt daycare, school, and family life, Rubin told Reuters Health. Medications are often the only treatments available, even when talk therapy might work better. "Our public health systems lag behind in the adoption of these promising interventions," they write.
SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine, May, 2010.
Rachael Myers Lowe
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64B5EZ20100512
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Studies reveal at-risk children have better quality of life away from home
Children at risk who are removed from their home have a higher quality of life than those left at home, studies show – contrary to the policy of the Social Affairs Ministry, which prefers to leave children at home. The research was carried out by Dr. Bilha Davidson-Arad, of Tel Aviv University's School of Social Work. She compared the quality of life of neglected or abused children who were removed from their homes, with that of peers who had remained at home.
The first study was carried out by social workers, who assessed the children's quality of life based on physical, psychological, social and cultural measures. The assessments were made before the decision to take the children, half a year later, and a year and a half later.
The findings showed that the quality of life of children who remained home did not change, while those who were taken away had a better quality of life immediately afterward, and even more so a year later.
Davidson-Arad carried out two more studies in which professionals, the children's parents and the children themselves assessed the children's quality of life. The picture was similar. "The studies' findings do not mean I support taking children from their homes on a large scale," Davidson-Arad says. "It is true that the findings are not popular, but they show that when a child in a bad situation is left at home, this is a fateful decision, and he and his family need appropriate treatment in order to improve his quality of life. We cannot delude ourselves in thinking that if the child remains at home, he'll be well off," he explains.
'Day-to-day dilemma'
Davidson-Arad's studies were presented yesterday at a seminar entitled
"Taking a child out of the house – opportunity or risk?" at the
university's Adler Institute, as part of the university's annual board
meeting. "The study shows social workers' day-to-day dilemma," says
Itzik Perry, the chairman of the social workers' association. "There is
a belief among the public that the worst house is better than the best
boarding school. The research shows that taking a child out of the house
is not necessarily the worst solution."
"In recent years, there has been a policy of leaving children within the community, but this approach is accompanied by developing community services," says Dalia Lev Sadeh, who heads the child and youth service division in the Social Affairs Ministry. "Millions of shekels are being spent developing community services for children at risk, and this is the rationale behind our program of leaving the children in the community," he continues. "We understand that it is good for the child to stay with his family so long as he receives additional services to ensure his quality of life. We constantly examine the situation of the children versus those who were removed from their homes, and we track their cases in order to see whether this is the best solution."
Another study by Dr. Yuta Shechter examined how families adjusted to the fact that their children had been taken. She examined 86 families whose children were sent to boarding schools or foster families, and compared them with 47 families whose children were sent to treatment facilities like day care centers and after-school care. The families were examined immediately after the children were taken from their homes and again a year later.
The study found fewer family problems in the families where the children were removed than in the families where the children remained at home. Another finding of the research was that families whose daughters were taken felt more distress than families whose sons were taken. The families in the first group initially felt relief when the girls were removed, but later understood the risks facing the girls outside the home. Another factor was the child's age. The younger the child, the greater the family's relief when he or she was taken. The explanation was that when parents had older children taken, this created the impression that they could not get along.
"My recommendation to social services considering taking a child is not to consider only the welfare of the child, but also the family," says Shechter. "Sometimes there are siblings who will feel threatened if their brother or sister is taken. Taking a child creates a crisis. During the crisis significant changes may be made, so that treatment at this point will be more effective," she adds.
Dana Weiler-Polak
Tel Aviv University
10 May 2010
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US
Child Trends, Search Institute, and nFocus Software form groundbreaking team to support community youth initiatives nation-wide
Today three leaders in the youth service field announced their intent to integrate their products and services in order to empower communities to better serve their children, youth and families. The collaboration will provide community leaders with access to the critical information they need to better allocate resources while improving programs and services. This innovative partnership is comprised of Child Trends, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research center whose mission is to improve outcomes for children and youth; Search Institute®, an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization committed to helping create healthy communities for every young person; and nFocus Software, an Independent Software Vendor whose TraxSolutions Suite is used by over 4,000 youth-serving organizations world-wide.
Community challenges have never been
greater
Communities around the country are struggling to keep up with
the challenges their youth and families are facing. While nearly every
community is facing severe budget cuts for youth and family services,
the needs within those communities remain high. Right now, millions of
our children and young people lack the prerequisites for success, such
as strong education and adequate health care and nutrition.
The challenges posed by decreasing budgets are intensified by the lack of data regarding which programs and services are effective in improving child and youth outcomes, leaving many communities without a reliable roadmap for addressing such urgent problems as school dropouts, teen childbearing, and substance abuse. In many cases communities lack three key components needed to accurately analyze the effectiveness of community-based programs and organizations:
Lack of aggregate data regarding the actual strengths and needs of children and youth in their communities;
A lack of focused expertise about evidence-based approaches to issues facing youth and families, and
Lack of information on how to implement effective community-based solutions
"Our nation's communities are facing a crisis," said Dave Sikes, director of allocations with Lake Area United Way, the largest United Way in Indiana. "It's not that we don't know what needs to be done; it's that the problems are so large. We need to be able to focus on the actions we can take at the community level that can significantly impact the lives of our youth and families."
An integrated approach leads to
evidence-based decisions
`The collaboration will provide an integrated approach to
addressing the three key needs of communities with regard to their
programs for children, youth, and families. First, Search Institute will
provide their Developmental Assets Profile as an integrated component of
nFocus Software's Participant Management and Outcome Measurement
Software. "We are thrilled to offer the Developmental Assets Profile
through nFocus Software's TraxSolutions. Rather than assessing the
deficits of young people as most assessments do, the Developmental
Assets Profile reports the strengths of teenagers," said Dr. Peter
Benson, CEO of Search Institute.
The Developmental Assets Profile provides a quick, flexible, 360 degree self-report of how a young person is faring personally, socially, and within the family, school, and community contexts. Through this strength-based focus, the assessment helps communities engage young people in an educational and constructive process.
With access to accurate data regarding the youth and families in their communities, Child Trends will assist community leaders in analyzing project data at all levels, identify evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches to address a community's critical issues, and work with community-based programs to implement proven and promising interventions effectively. "Child Trends is delighted to work with nFocus Software and Search Institute to help communities use data and research to understand and meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth," said Carol Emig, president of Child Trends. "This is an exciting opportunity for us to advance our mission of improving outcomes for children, and we look forward to working closely with our partners and with communities to do so."
Ananda Roberts, president of nFocus Software, called this new alliance "groundbreaking." She said, "This will completely change the way communities collect and analyze performance data. This partnership is a unique blend of research, software, and analysis that will produce real change for our nation's children and families."
PR Newswire
10 May 2010
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CANADA
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada National Conference coming to Calgary
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada (BGCC), one of the country's leading children's charitable organizations, is holding its 2010 National Conference in Calgary from May 19 to 22 at the Calgary Hyatt Regency. This event, themed, "Changing With Our Communities: Innovation, Collaboration, Inspiration", will bring together more than 300 Boys and Girls Club leaders, staff and volunteers to find innovative solutions for improving the lives of 200,000 children and families in 700 communities across Canada.
"The National Conference is an opportunity for everyone involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to come together, learn from our successes and share our plans for helping even more children and youth in underserved communities," said Pam Jolliffe, President and CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. "Young people today face many challenges and barriers to life success. This conference is focused on how, through innovation, collaboration and inspiration, we can help every child and youth overcome those obstacles and realize their potential."
The 2010 BGCC National Conference features three keynote speakers who are among the most sought after presenters in Canada. Each will address issues of particular interest today including, youth engagement, positive self-image and how not-for-profit organizations can thrive in challenging environments.
Max Valiquette, Youth Culture Expert: One of North America's foremost experts on youth culture and marketing. He helped to found Youthography, and is an internationally recognized speaker on marketing, media, and modern consumers, and a published author on the same. Over the course of Valiquette's career he has helped some of the biggest brands, organizations, and companies in the country connect to the elusive youth market, be it through consumer understanding or marketing initiatives. Marketing Magazine has named him one of Canada's most influential marketers.
Dr. Brenda Zimmerman, PhD, CA, MBA, BSc: A professor of Strategic Management at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. She is the founder and Director of the Health Industry Management Program for MBA students. Her primary research applies complexity science to management and leadership issues in organizations, especially health care or not-for-profit organizations. Her latest co-authored book, Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed is a Canadian best seller published by Random House in 2006 and in 2009 she won the Teacher of Excellence Award for the Schulich School of Business.
Ben Barry, CEO, Ben Barry Agency: Hailed as a "hero to real women everywhere" by the Boston Globe, Ben Barry is dedicated to changing the face and shape of the fashion industry. Today, Ben serves as CEO of the Ben Barry Agency, a model consultancy headquartered in Toronto, Canada. His company scouts and sources models of all ages, sizes, colours, and abilities for fashion and beauty brands. Ben has been the subject of feature interviews on Oprah, CNN, MTV, and Fashion Television, and his work has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Globe and Mail, and Glamour.
In addition to the keynote speakers, workshops will be offered on a diverse range of topics including career training for youth, environmental action and awareness, substance abuse, parenting programs, fundraising and many more. This wide range of programs is essential in addressing the complex needs of today's young people.
Press release: CNW
7 May 2010
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2010/07/c9434.html
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SAMHSA and child development experts promote the importance of mental health starting at birth
To highlight the importance of promoting children's mental health from birth, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and more than 80 public and private collaborating organizations and federal programs and agencies – including new supporters, such as the Office of Head Start at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Legion Auxiliary – today joined in a nationwide celebration of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (May 6). National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day puts the spotlight on the importance of promoting positive social and emotional development in children and the need for early identification of mental health challenges.
Nationwide, more than 1,000 community-based mental health service and support providers, community programs, schools, and collaborating organization affiliates also celebrated this annual observance, marking the day with community events, youth rallies, social media campaigns, and art activities with children to raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health. SAMHSA supports this program as part of its strategic initiative to promote public awareness and support of mental and substance -use disorder prevention and treatment, as well as part of its activities in support of Mental Health Month.
The Awareness Day Early Childhood Forum, held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, featured presentations by SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., and Dr. Joan Lombardi from the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The event included two discussion panels with celebrity parent Sherri Shepherd from ABC's "The View," as well as renowned family, child development, and early childhood mental health experts, who discussed why positive social and emotional development in children as early as birth is essential to their overall healthy development. The panel's experts included:
Dr. Janice Cooper from the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University;
Dr. Lynette Fraga from ZERO TO THREE;
Dr. Walter Gilliam from The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University;
Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter from the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University;
Dr. Larke Huang and A. Kathryn Power representing SAMHSA;
Dr. Judith Romano representing the American Academy of Pediatrics;
Dr. Ross Thompson from the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Davis; and
Dr. Albert Zachik from Child and Adolescent Services, Mental Hygiene Administration at the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Pediatrician and author Dr. T. Berry Brazelton received the SAMHSA Special Recognition Award at the Awareness Day Early Childhood Forum for his pioneering work in pediatric and early childhood development over the past six decades. A leading force behind the pediatric health care revolution, his ground-breaking Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) is now used worldwide to recognize the physical and neurological responses of newborns, as well as emotional well-being and individual differences. His legacy continues to transform our understanding of child development.
Earlier in the day, the "Awareness Day Turns 5" celebration featured activities for young children, their parents, and their caregivers to express emotions through music, dance, and visual arts, demonstrating how the arts can nurture social and emotional development. The celebration, which occurred within the District of Columbia was part of the SAMHSA-sponsored nationwide Awareness Day activity, "My Feelings Are a Work of Art." Caregivers at Head Start sites, military bases, child care programs, local museums, and children's mental health programs across the country helped children in preschool through 3rd grade create art, such as paintings or drawings that can spark conversations between adults and young children about having and expressing feelings.
For more information about Awareness Day and to view the list of collaborating organizations, visit http://www.samhsa.gov/children.
Source: SAMHSA
9 May 2010
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/188111.php
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New study indicates that early intervention for young children with mental health challenges supports healthy development and improves family life
New data reveal parents and caregivers
experience improved quality of life and higher productivity after their
young children receive mental health supports and services
According to a new report released today by the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), behavioral and emotional
problems decreased among nearly one-third (31 percent) of young children
with mental health challenges within the first 6 months after entering
services through systems of care program. The report, Addressing the
Mental Health Needs of Young Children and Their Families, describes
the academic, social, and emotional performance outcomes of children
ages 8 and younger receiving services in systems of care. These
SAMHSA-funded system of care programs provide family-driven and
culturally and linguistically competent services and supports to
children and youth with mental health challenges and their families.
The national evaluation of systems of care program also found that nearly one-third of caregivers of young children with mental health challenges reported less strain 6 months after their children entered services in a system of care. Specifically, these caregivers reported less strain in areas such as the caregiver feeling sad/unhappy or isolated, as well as disruptions of family routines and missed work/neglected duties as a result of their child's emotional or behavioral problems. Evaluation results indicate that this individualized, tailored approach for establishing early interventions for young children with mental health challenges benefits all – children, families and caregivers, and the community.
"The earlier we recognize a child's mental health needs, the sooner we can help," said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. "Early recognition and intervention can prevent years of disability and help children and families thrive. All parents should learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems in early childhood; furthermore, they should seek help for their child's mental health problems with the same urgency as any other health condition."
The SAMHSA report also referenced research studies that illustrate the need to address mental health during early child development. These findings show that young children who enter kindergarten with effective social skills generally have an easier time developing relationships with peers and do better in school; and young children who receive effective, age-appropriate mental health services and supports are more likely to complete high school, have fewer contacts with law enforcement, and improve their ability to live independently and productively.
The report was released on National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, SAMHSA's annual celebration of the importance of caring for every child's mental health, and as part of the agency's observance of Mental Health Month. Awareness Day, part of SAMHSA's strategic initiative on public awareness and support, is a collaboration among more than 80 organizations and Federal agencies and programs working to provide greater access to community-based mental health services and supports for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families. Nationwide, more than 1,000 communities also celebrated this annual observance with local events, art activities, youth rallies, and social networking campaigns to raise awareness of children's mental health in their communities.
To download Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Young Children and Their Families and view the full list of field references, visit www.samhsa.gov/children.
SOURCE Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA)
Press release: PR Newswire
6 May 2010
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CANADA
Seeking Child and Youth Mental Health Awareness Day
Children are bullied. Parents are ashamed. Communities are divided. That's what life looks like when we don't eliminate the prejudice of living with mental illness.
PCMH and supporters will be at Queen's Park on Monday, May 3rd, 2010, seeking support from legislature to have May 7th declared Child and Youth Mental Health Awareness Day. This provincial effort is part of a National Consortium working to have the day declared in all the Provinces, as well as have it declared Nationally.
Sarah Cannon, Executive Director of PCMH points out that "families and those affected with mental illness are forced to deal with discrimination and judgment that largely comes from stigma and we believe this stigma is grounded in fear. To combat this stigma we must raise awareness around the real issues, and the fact that these illnesses are claiming children and youth lives more than any other physical illness, yet still go ignored." Sarah Cannon believes that "that the only way to stop stigma is to stand firmly in front of it, and we believe May 3rd is one step in that direction."
Source: Parents for Children's Mental Health
and CNW
3 May 2010
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2010/03/c7861.html
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Young athletes overuse their bodies and strike out too early
Business leaders of KSF Orthopaedic Center join forces with professional healthcare organizations and athletes to improve safety in youth sports... and STOP sports injuries
The business leaders of KSF Orthopaedic Center join the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and Safe Kids USA to launch the STOP Sports Injuries campaign.
The campaign educates athletes, parents, trainers, coaches and healthcare providers on the increase in injuries, steps to reverse the trend and ways to keep young athletes healthy. STOP Sports Injuries teaches proper prevention techniques and the importance of open communication between everyone involved in young athletes' lives -- encouraging those affected to sign The Pledge at www.STOPSportsInjuries.org.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high school athletes alone account for an estimated two million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations every year.
"We are seeing a growing number of injuries in youth sports that require surgical treatment," said Dr. Michael S. George, orthopedic sports medicine specialist at KSF Orthopaedic Center and clinical instructor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "Our goal is to reduce the rate of injuries in youth sports, particularly overuse injuries, while keeping our kids healthy and active," George added.
The high rate of youth sports injuries is fueled by an increase in overuse and trauma injuries and a lack of attention paid to proper injury prevention. According to the CDC, more than half of all sports injuries in children are preventable.
"Whether a professional, amateur, Olympian or young recreational athlete, the number of sports injuries is increasing – though escalation of youth injuries is most alarming," said Dr. James Andrews, STOP Sports Injuries Co-Campaign Chair.
Part of the STOP Sports Injuries Council of Champions, the KSF Orthopaedic Center is firmly rooted in the north Houston community and home to renowned physicians in sports medicine and all areas of specialized orthopedic care. Some of the founding members of the Council include professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback "Bart" Starr and MLB baseball player John Smoltz.
Press release: Marketwire
4 May 2010
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CANADA
Children's mental health: Tough times require investment strategy, not false economies
As citizens across the province prepare to mark Children's Mental Health Week (May 2 to 8), Child Development Institute, a Toronto children's mental health organization providing services for children ages 0-16, calls on the Ontario government to invest our public resources wisely, on targeted, proven strategies.
Public spending on child and youth mental health has been frozen for three years in a row, resulting in program cutbacks affecting thousands of children and families. Almost one in five children in Ontario has a diagnosable mental health disorder, but only one in four of those receives effective treatment. Average wait times for children seeking mental health services are far longer than those for most physical health services.
"The economic slowdown and soaring deficits that we've seen recently are sobering," says CDI Executive Director Tony Diniz. "Everyone understands the need for belt-tightening. But let's not rely on false economies. Child and youth mental health treatment works. Let's invest wisely in the programs that show demonstrable results."
Child Development Institute is a leader in evidence-based children's mental health programs. It has a 100-year service record in Toronto. Two decades ago – ahead of most others in the field – it began gathering data and undertook regular evaluation of treatment outcomes. That research has led to some very targeted and innovative strategies – and the evidence demonstrates this approach works.
Take CDI's unique Girls Connection program, for example. In the early 1990s, the evidence showed that girls enrolled in CDI's co-ed antiviolence program weren't improving, although the boys were. Emerging research at the time revealed that girls were violent for different reasons than boys. So, in 1996, the Girls Connection program was started, drawing on techniques proven to work for boys, but also addressing underlying aggression issues more common for girls, such as malicious gossip and name-calling. Fifteen years later, the gender-specific approach, which has adapted CDI's internationally-acclaimed SNAP(R) (Stop Now and Plan) model for young girls, is widely recognized and replicated – including by the Ontario government. Ironically, though, the province has not yet seen fit to invest in this proven, targeted strategy. "The Girls Connection addresses a pressing social issue – increasing girl violence – and we've shown the results, so we'll continue it. But it's tough to sustain a program on fundraising dollars alone," says Diniz. "We are hopeful that the government will one day look at this program on its merits."
Investing in research and evaluation is essential to ensure that taxpayers are getting a good return on investment. According to Children's Mental Health Ontario, the umbrella organization for children's mental health service agencies in the province, two-thirds of those treated in Ontario's community-based agencies show clinically meaningful improvement, and one-half are entirely free of significant symptoms at the end of treatment.
CDI's Dr. Leena Augimeri wanted to know that the kids with the most severe behaviour problems and conduct disorders – kids under 12 with a history of stealing, bullying, assault and vandalism, and who are often referred by police – were showing the same meaningful improvements. Ten years ago, she started the Centre for Children Committing Offences at CDI, to concentrate on research of childhood aggression and conduct disorders. "Finding money for research is tough," Dr. Augimeri says, "but it's a critical part of the process. We want to make sure we don't do more harm than good, we want to prove it works and we want it to be cost-effective."
Research has been invaluable in honing CDI's programs to deliver results. "We now know that there is typically a seven-year incubation period between a child's first delinquent behaviour and his first police contact," says Augimeri. "First criminal offences for young offenders peak at age 14, which means the trouble starts as early as age 7. We've responded by providing services developed and proven effective for this age group. It's a targeted strategy that helps keep kids out of the juvenile justice system." And it makes financial sense. It costs the system about $100,000 a year to keep one youth in a secure facility. It costs less than $5,000 to put him through a three-month program and provide additional help, such as tutoring and family counseling, as needed.
"We all have different ideas on how best to invest our public dollars," says Tony Diniz. "But surely we can all agree that this is a small cost that pays huge benefits and even saves money in the long run. Let's be smart, and strategic – and avoid a tragedy for the children who need our help."
Child Development Institute has more than ten locations in Toronto, providing programs for early learning, children's mental health intervention, and services for children who have suffered family violence and sexual abuse. CDI serves more than 4,000 children each year in Toronto and its award-winning model programs are replicated across Canada and internationally. CDI's research is leading new approaches to children's development and well-being. For additional information, please visit www.childdevelop.ca.
For further information: Media contact: Nancy Bennett, Director of Development & Communications, nbennett@childdevelop
Press release" CNW
30 April 2010
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2010/30/c7436.html
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