1. Introduction Mental health and substance use disorders are the 6th leading contributors to the global burden of disease in young people below the age of 24 [1], measured as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Alcohol is the most widely used … Read More
Mental Health
Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders
Things to Keep in Mind When Implementing Strategies to Promote Mental Health and WellBeing in Schools When implementing strategies related to schoolbased promotion of mental health and well-being, it is important to consider existing educational practices that may guide decision-making … Read More
It’s Still Happening
A Report on Practitioner s of So-Called Conversion”Therapy”in the U.S. So-called “conversion therapy” a term used to encompass a wide range of efforts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity has been condemned by every major medical and … Read More
Best of Youth Voices Rising, 2023
This year, the Youth Voices Rising team at Fostering Media Connections was proud to work with dozens of current and former foster youth with child welfare, homelessness and juvenile justice experience to share their stories in writing and at online … Read More
Building Resilience in Children After Trauma
Embarrassing mom truth: When my toddler was learning to walk, I asked my mom friends if I could put a helmet on her so she wouldn’t bump her head. This mama instinct came from a desire to protect my child … Read More
Dismantling Systemic and Structural Racism to Improve the Mental Health and Well-Being of Children and Youth
Systemic racism across various systems, including child welfare, has historically perpetuated inequities experienced by marginalized groups. A May 2023 article in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology explores these inequities specifically related to the mental health needs of marginalized and … Read More
The Biden-Harris Administration Awards $20 Million to Launch First National Center to Support Mental Health Services in the Child Welfare System
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awarded $20 million to launch the first-ever National Center for Child Welfare Competent Mental Health Services (the Center). As part of HHS’ Roadmap … Read More
Applying Research to Practice: A Practitioner’s Framework for Prevention Programming
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Targeted violence is increasingly threatening the safety and security of communities throughout the United States. Targeted violence refers to any violence against a specific target designed to intimidate or coerce a broader population, regardless of motive. Targeted violence … Read More
Child Safety Forward Implementation Study Final Report
Executive Summary Initiative Overview In October 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) launched Child Safety Forward (CSF), a three-year demonstration initiative to develop multidisciplinary strategies and responses to address serious … Read More
Social Media’s Concerning Effect on Teen Mental Health
CURRENT LEVELS OF TEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE Virtually all teens (95%) ages 13 to 17 use social media, with more than 1 in 3 reporting that they use it “almost constantly.” While most U.S. social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old, nearly 40% of kids ages 8 to 12 use social media. … Read More