ListenResearch explores relaxed approach to anxious children
Do anxious parents pass on their fears to their children? How can parents best help anxious children to overcome life-limiting fears and over-anxious behaviour?
These are some of the questions that a team of psychologists at the University of Sussex will be exploring with the help of volunteer families.
Anxiety is the most common psychological disorder of childhood. Conservative estimates suggest that around one in 30 children experience severe problems with it. Anxiety may be on the rise because of the stresses and strains of modern childhood.
Anxiety runs in families and can affect even very young children, so psychologists often treat it in a family setting, rather than just trying to treat the child themselves.
Now clinical psychologist Dr Sam Cartwright-Hatton, who has spent many years working with families experiencing anxiety problems, has been awarded half a million pounds by the National Institute of Health Research to find new ways for families to deal with anxiety problems.
Children learn anxious behaviour from an anxious parent. But genetics plays a part as well, meaning that sometimes children can exhibit anxious behaviour even though their parents are naturally relaxed and calm.
“It may be that being anxious has some evolutionary benefit in helping us to avoid danger, but if an anxious temperament is reinforced by anxious parenting, it can have a negative effect,” says Dr Cartwright-Hatton. “So we want to find out what parents can do to raise a confident child, particularly if the parent suffers with anxiety.”
To begin with, the research team is looking to recruit 64 ordinary families and 64 families where a parent is very anxious, with children aged between 5 and 9 years to take part in some simple laboratory-based tests involving computer games and other tasks.
Dr Cartwright-Hatton says: “These tests would involve a series of computer exercises and an opportunity to handle some worms or other ugly bugs – but only if you want to! What we learn from watching families and children working together on these exercises will allow us to create some techniques for use in clinics to help raise confidence in both parents and their children.”
The lab testing will involve taking an optional cheek swab from the children to look at their genes and a series of tasks for the parents and children to complete. The researchers will observe how the parents and children manage these tasks.
The results of the five-year study will support new family workshops in Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust hospitals and clinics, with a pilot scheme kicking off in 2012.
PHYSorg Science News Wire
29 November 2011
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UN Secretary-General Urges
Funding Increase to End Violence
against Women and Girls
Ban Ki-moon asks for $100 million in annual donations to UN Trust Fund; calls on young people to lead efforts to end violence
Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will tomorrow urge governments and the corporate sector to increase funding to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.
Stepping up donations to the Trust Fund – now marking its 15th anniversary of grant-giving to support innovative regional, local and national projects – is a major target of the Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign. Since it began operations in 1997, the Fund has awarded over US$78 million to 339 projects in 127 countries and territories. However, resources for the Fund fall drastically short, meeting less than 5 percent of the vast demand.
“This year alone, the Fund has received more than 2,500 applications requesting nearly $1.2 billion. I appeal to all our partners to help us meet this vast unmet need”, said the UN chief.
The focus of this year’s International Day is youth leadership in preventing and ending gender-based violence. In New York, Secretary-General Ban will host a breakfast for young people where he will highlight their important role in his UNiTE campaign, and present awards to the winners of the recent UNiTE t-shirt design competition for young men and boys.
The Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet will make remarks at the official observance of the International Day at UN Headquarters, where they will be joined by youth recipients of UN Trust Fund grants. Disney actress and first-ever UN Youth Champion Monique Coleman will moderate the event.
Dozens of events will also take place around the world, organized by UN offices working with government and civil society partners, including the regional components of the UNiTE campaign in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Launched in 2008, the UNiTE campaign aims to raise public awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and responding to all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.
UNiTE also works to engage men as part of the solution to end gender-based violence. Since its launch in 2009, members of the Secretary-General’s Network of Men Leaders have undertaken actions to end violence against women and girls, from raising public awareness to meeting with young men and boys.
Press Release
27 Novermber 2011
http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/details.html?rsnpid=202492, 19 hours 41 minutes ago
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Children's Book Teaches Kids Importance of Political Participation
According to the figures compiled by The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a project by Tufts University, youth voting in presidential elections has been inching up in recent years. In 2008, 51 percent of voters ages 18 to 30 voted, up 2 percent from the 2004 elections. Mary Jane McKittrick, author of the children's book "Election Day," part of the Boomer and Halley series (www.boomerandhalley.com), wants to keep those numbers climbing.
"I believe children need more than just a history lesson about democracy," said McKittrick, a former broadcast journalist who studied speech communication in college. "Kids need to be shown how the democratic process works and how people can make changes locally and around the country."
McKittrick suggests parents can help teach their kids about democracy by doing the following:
-- Vote -- It's difficult to
teach your child about the election process
if you don't vote. You should make a point to vote, and when
age-appropriate, bring your children with you when you do. If you
vote
via absentee ballot, show your child the form and explain how
important it is to make sure your vote counts.
-- Connect Laws to Their Lives
-- Children may not have a frame of
reference for how a law is passed, but they encounter government in
action practically every day. When there is road construction on the
way to school, it represents tax dollars being spent to improve the
community. When they see campaign signs all around during an
election
cycle, it's another opportunity to explain what it's all about.
-- Don't Talk Politics, Talk Issues
-- Politics can be boring for kids,
and they may not have a frame of reference for it. But issues, like
whether the school year should be longer or why they take
standardized
tests at school, can be discussed easily because it's relevant to
their lives. Ask questions like "If you could make the rules, what
would you do?" It will get them thinking and caring about democracy
and their role in it.
Mary Jane McKittrick is the creator, author, producer and publisher of the Boomer and Halley books for ages 4-8. The books feature Boomerang, an Australian shepherd dog, and Halley's Comet, a silver streak of a cat, teaching core values in a fun-filled way.
Press release: marketwire
23 November 2011
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Children in War and Armed Conflicts
Armed conflicts around the world continue to expose many millions of children to inexcusable forms of violence, including abduction, rape, mutilation, forced displacement and sexual exploitation. In some contexts, children often taken on active roles in conflict, forced to participate either to carry weapons as combatants or to assume auxiliary roles. The breakdown of social protection that occurs during every armed conflict leaves all children vulnerable. Many children are threatened with separation from their families, orphaning, disability and serious, long-term psychosocial consequences; girls are especially at risk of unwanted pregnancy.
This short certificate course examines the effect of armed conflict on children in the 21st century. It looks at the various ways in which children are involved in conflicts and the substantial impact that they can have on children's mental and physical well-being. The course highlights concrete actions that can be taken to contribute to the full implementation of children"s rights in conflict and post-conflict contexts, including through the application of humanitarian law; and the increasing ways in which perpetrators can be held to account.
This e-learning course involves approximately 40 hours of reading, interaction with students and the instructors on discussion boards, quizzes and webinars with invited guests. The course is based on a participatory, active learning approach, with an emphasis on critical reflection and peer-to-peer learning. The maximum number of course participants is 25. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation. It is also possible to be an auditor of the course.
Course outline
Week 1: Changing nature of conflict
Week 2: Accountability to children in times of conflict
Week 3: Children associated with armed forces and groups
Week 4: Impact of conflict on children
Week 5: Rehabilitation and Reintegration of children affected by armed
conflict
Week 6: Transitional justice/changing role of children in peace
processes
About the instructors
Annabel Trapp has extensive experience working in child rights and advocacy, with particular focus on children affected by armed conflict. She has been working as Child Rights and Advocacy Coordinator at War Child Holland since 2009. In this position she works closely with teams in conflict and post-conflict settings in Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Central and South Asia to strengthen and support child rights and advocacy programming. Annabel holds an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.
Wout Visser is Global Advocacy Coordinator at War Child International, an international child rights based organisation working with children and young people in countries affected by armed conflict. He served as a chair person of the international youth network United Young Peace Builders, a global network of over 40 youth peace organisations, for the past three years. Wout has ten years experience in developing and implementing child rights advocacy programs in countries like Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Israel/oPt, Lebanon, Sierra Leone and Uganda. In his work Wout advocates for children and young people's participation rights in general and in public policy decision making in particular. He holds an MA in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Amsterdam.
Who should apply
The course is intended for humanitarian and human rights officers, human rights staff of NGOs, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and intergovernmental and government agencies, children's advocates, university students of international law, international relations, politics and other areas, practitioners who want to learn about children's rights and children in armed conflict. The course is also intended for staff members of UN specialised agencies who want to learn more about children's issues in the context of armed conflict and war. Participants should have at least basic knowledge of human rights. Participants should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use. The number of participants is limited to 25 per course. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and geographical distribution across the selected participants. It is also possible to audit the course.
Costs
The course tuition fee is US$ 435. Tuition for auditors is US$ 165. Unfortunately, there are no scholarships available for this course.
Applications
The deadline for applications is 15 December 2011.
However, participants are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.
Online application form:
http://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=711&language_id=1
Human Rights Education Associates
http://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=1180&language_id=1
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Chris Beach’s New Novel Tackles Problems in Foster Care System
Chris Beach’s new novel Indian Joe Blow: Pishikii-Kigeet-Black Eagle Thunderbird Man (published by AuthorHouse) tells the story of Joe, a foster child who falls through the cracks of the system.
Joe’s life starts out rough. His mother, Susan, gives birth at an early age and his father and grandfather both reject him. She flees the reservation with him for fear that they will force her to get an abortion and heads to Winnipeg to live with an aunt in the city where Joe is born.
At the time of his birth, Joe is diagnosed with a medical condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome and is taken by child family services. He is shuffled through many different foster homes throughout his life, subjected to physical, mental, spiritual, and sexual abuse.
Joe then decides to run away and live on the streets of Winnipeg where his life continues on a downward spiral of helpless, hopelessness and despair. He gets hooked on alcohol, street drugs and is forced into a lifestyle of prostitution, eventually becoming suicidal and hanging himself. Joe is transported to the spirit world where he confronts his demons, meets his ancestors, and begins to uncover Aboriginal teachings.
A profound story that will touch anyone with Aboriginal roots or ties to the foster care system, Indian Joe Blow confronts readers with difficult and meaningful subject matter.
About the Author
Living in Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada, Chris Beach is a teacher and a
counselor having received his teaching degree and counseling certificate
from the University of Manitoba in 1991. He came from a large family of
six girls and five boys, and has a total of seven children and many
foster children of his own. For most of his career, he has worked with
Aboriginal youth in Winnipeg, with Beach also being of Aboriginal
descent. This book is his first published book, but he is hard at work
on his next book.
Press release: PR Web
19 November 2011
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8977200.htm
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Report: In-School Police
Officers Arresting Kids at Alarming Rates
in Massachusetts is No Exception
Kids are being arrested in schools for everything from playground skirmishes to talking back to teachers, according to a report released Tuesday by the Justice Policy Institute, a national think tank.
In a press release issued to Sudbury Patch by Quicksilver Communications, JPI links the high number of school arrests to the increasing presence of police officers in public schools since the 1990s and the increasingly common practice of schools’ turning over responsibility of even routine school discipline matters to police.
“Massachusetts mirrors the national picture, unfortunately,” said Lael Chester, executive director of the Boston-based Citizens for Juvenile Justice. “Our research backs up what JPI found: If you put more cops in schools, more kids get arrested. We shouldn’t expect police to enforce school discipline any more than we’d expect a teacher to investigate crimes and arrest suspects. We should be asking public servants to do what their training and expertise best qualifies them to do.”
Lt. Scott Nix of the Sudbury Police Department disagreed with the report, stating schools in Sudbury work together with the department.
"They enforce their own policies and procedures," Nix said. "The only time we get involved is if there is something potentially criminal happening. We work in a collaborative effort for the safety of all."
Fiji and the American Civil Liberties Union plan to release a report on school-based arrests in Massachusetts in early 2012.
"We have a (memorandum of understanding) based on the community justice law," Nix said. "What that does is it allows and promotes communication between police and schools for a safer environment for kids. We take every case seriously."
Jape’s national study points out that arrests have risen even as violence in schools has dipped to its lowest level since 1992, when the federal government first began tracking it. Other disturbing findings include the disproportionate number of minority children and special education students that are affected by punitive policies, including the presence of police officers in schools. It further finds that school-based arrests are linked to academic failure, dropping out, and repeat involvement with the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
"We keep in mind these are young adults that can make poor decisions which will affect their future," Nix said. "We keep that in mind, but we still do our job and are diligent."
But JPI also highlights communities around the country that have decreased school arrests – and problem behavior generally – through measures like graduated responses to misbehavior, evidence-based programs that encourage good conduct, and improved training for teachers in classroom management. It highlights schools where these measures not only decreased arrests; they also led to a drop in problem behaviors.
“In Massachusetts we have an added incentive to avoid school-based arrests,” said Chester. “As one of the few states that still prosecute 17-year-olds as adults, even for the most minor offenses, we run the risk of saddling a kid with an adult record simply because he broke a school rule. Certainly, students need to behave responsibly at school. But we should not forever limit a person’s ability to get a job, be accepted into a college or serve in the military because of a school discipline issue.”
For a complete copy of the report, please visit www.justicepolicy.org/EducationUnderArrest
16 November 2011
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BALTIMORE
Children’s Guild President Andrew Ross Named Innovator of the Year
Dr. Andrew Ross, president and CEO of The Children's Guild Institute, a nonprofit child-serving organization, was named Innovator of the Year by The Daily Record. The award recognizes leaders who have had a positive effect and tremendous impact in Maryland.
Ross co-founded Transformation Education, an approach to education that adapts the behavior of the child-serving adult to the child, creates stimulating learning environments and integrates the learning experience. In addition, he co-founded The Upside Down Organization, the training and consultation division of The Children's Guild Institute.
Prior to becoming president of The Children's Guild in 1995, Ross served as executive director of Family Services in Philadelphia; president and CEO of Children's Square U.S.A. in Council Bluffs, Iowa; and director of residential services for Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau in Cleveland, Ohio.
Among his accomplishments in the education field, Ross has written 21 articles and co-authored two books about the treatment of emotionally troubled children and the management of organizations designed to serve disadvantaged children.
Ross received both a master's degree in social work and doctorate in social welfare administration from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is licensed as a clinical practitioner in the state of Maryland.
The Children's Guild Institute, a nonprofit child-serving organization, consists of The Children's Guild, which includes special needs schools in Baltimore City and Prince George's County serving children and adolescents who are difficult to educate due to autism, multiple disabilities and trauma. The Children's Guild also operates three group homes, a treatment foster care program and an outpatient mental health program in Baltimore and Anne Arundel County public schools. In addition, The Children's Guild Institute includes Monarch Academy Public Charter Schools in Baltimore City and Glen Burnie providing rigorous academics, adventure-based learning and an enriched curriculum, as well as the Upside Down Organization and National Children's Guild Fund
Press release
15 November 2011
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CANADA
Assembly of First Nations Welcomes Report by Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates, Continues Calls for Respect for First Nation Rights to Full Engagement
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo today welcomed a report by the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates, urging all levels of government to take seriously its important recommendations in relation to the respect and recognition of First Nation rights and the health and social development of First Nation citizens and communities in Canada.
In a special report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child presented last week, the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates made 40 recommendations for consideration as Canada prepares for a review of its compliance under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the report titled "Aboriginal Children – Canada Must Do Better: Today and Tomorrow", child advocates recognize First Nation children as needing more attention in a way that is coordinated by First Nation governments, provincial and federal governments.
"This report has important recommendations that speak to the need for First Nations to be fully engaged in decisions that will impact the current reality and future of our peoples, particularly our youth and families," said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo. "I strongly urge all levels of government to take seriously these recommendations, as First Nations advance our own approaches and plans that work for our peoples and communities. We will no longer take a back seat, particularly where our young people and futures are at stake. We are acting now to reach our full potential and to achieve fair and sustainable agreements for our peoples based on our rights and jurisdiction and the specific needs in our communities – for the benefit of our peoples and Canada as a whole."
The council of advocates notes that Canada will be called to report to the UN in 2012 on its progress. In order to meet its obligations, Canada will need to outline in detail a plan for improving the lives of Aboriginal children.
The report makes specific recommendations in regard to the full participation and engagement of First Nations in the matters that impact their citizens and communities, including developing a rights-based lens for reviewing and amending legislation. The report also recommends the Government of Canada convene a special conference of federal/provincial/territorial representatives, with Aboriginal leaders and child delegates, to explore key issues specific to Aboriginal children, suggesting that this conference would inform a national Aboriginal children's plan. Other key recommendations include naming a National Children's Commissioner.
Specific recommendations in regard to First Nations health are timely, given that AFN is wrapping up a three-day National Health Forum in Ottawa today. Key recommendations to address health inequities for First Nations include offering the same standard of health care as provided to children living off-reserve, the ongoing collection of disaggregated data, improving health infrastructure, the full implementation of Jordan's Principle and monitoring and evaluation of current initiatives and educational incentives for First Nation students in health care.
The AFN National Health Forum gathered almost 800 First Nation health directors and health experts to showcase advancements in health and to develop a new way forward. It wraps up at the Ottawa Convention Centre today.
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
Press release: Canada NewsWire
9 November 2011
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/484836
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UNICEF commends Rwanda for
focusing on adolescents at
7th Annual Paediatric Conference on Children and HIV
At the nation’s seventh annual conference on Children and HIV, UNICEF emphasized the importance of investing in adolescent-appropriate prevention and care programmes to ensure that young people, who make up almost half of new infections both globally and in Rwanda, do not become the missing face of AIDS.
The conference, organised by Rwanda’s Biomedical Centre in partnership with UNICEF, will span three days and bring together over 200 experts from Rwanda and neighbouring East African countries to discuss issues facing adolescents in the national HIV response. Adolescents, including those who live with HIV, will also attend sessions to share their ideas about how to improve prevention, care and treatment programmes adapted to their needs.
The conference’s opening ceremony was attended by Rwanda’s Minister of Health, UNICEF’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Ms. Elke Wisch, Rwanda’s UNICEF Representative, Ms. Noala Skinner and other top officials.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, who was also the Guest of Honour for the opening ceremony, spoke to youth, during her address, asking them to speak out and make their views heard. She also promised them that she would do her best to implement all the recommendations that they put forward at the end of the conference. “No country can build its future if we do not invest in our children,” she emphasized.
Ms. Wisch, who also spoke at the opening ceremony, commended Rwanda’s for addressing the concerns of adolescents. “We hardly hear about the challenges facing adolescents affected by HIV on the global stage,” said Ms. Wisch. “We rarely see them targeted in prevention efforts and, of increasing concern, we find few treatment programmes adapted to their special needs.”
According to UNICEF, two million adolescents aged 10-19 already live with HIV, many of who do not know their HIV status. In addition, 2,500 young people are infected with HIV around the world every day. And young people aged 15-24 account for 41% of new infections globally and 40% in Rwanda.
Rwandan adolescents face three main challenges. One, they lack information and knowledge about how to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Two, many of them do not know their status and are at an age when they are sexually active and engage in unprotected sex. And three, those who live with HIV have often lost one or both parents to AIDS, face stigma and discrimination and sometimes live in child headed households.
According to UNICEF the time to act for adolescents is now. To reduce new infections, mortality and morbidity in adolescents, actions that result in increased access to information, adolescent-friendly HIV testing and counseling, treatment and prevention services including condoms and medical male circumcision, and strengthened social protection for these young people are key.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help
children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.
The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries,
UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation,
quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of
children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded
entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses,
foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its
work visit: www.unicef.org
Press release: UNICEF
9 November 2011
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_60461.html
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CANADA
Three Conferences in One:
First National Family Mental Health Conference
First International Young Carers Congress
Third International World Congress on Children of Parents with Mental
Illness
Description of the Concurrent Conferences:
This conference brings together an interdisciplinary group of
professionals working in the field of mental health with young people
and parents and other stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences
related to child and youth mental health. There are three themes woven
through the conferences: Family Mental Health, Children of Parents with
Mental Illness and Young Carers.
This first ever gathering of this nature will provide a forum for
focusing on the needs of young people and families as they struggle with
issues related to mental health concerns across the generations. The
overall goal of the concurrent conferences is to help us develop a
common language and understanding of the needs of young people and
families. By bringing together people from diverse backgrounds we hope
to enrich our collective knowledge of mental health strategies, best
practices and the latest research in order to improve outcomes for young
people and families. Our goal is to create at the conference a community
of practice that spans the three themes where we can each share our
knowledge and support while we discuss areas of mutual interest and
concern.
Conference Objectives
To improve our understanding of mental health needs across the
generations
To examine how to engage professionals, young people and families in the
development and implementation of prevention, early intervention and
treatment strategies
To examine what supports, activities and policies are needed to ensure
that young people, families and professionals are supported in their
struggles and challenges
To provide a forum for networking and collaborating among mental health,
health, criminal justice, education and child welfare practitioners,
educators, researchers, policy makers, students, young people, families
and other stakeholders with an interest in mental health issues across
the generations
To establish "Canadian communities of practice" for each theme area
Conference Format:
This three day conference will begin with an afternoon of network
meetings concerning each of the three theme areas. For the remainder of
the conference, presentations and panels will be held both on specific
themes and cross theme areas. We will be providing opportunities
throughout the conference for people to formally and informally gather
to discuss issues of common concern. In addition we will have the
following keynote presentations on each of the theme areas:
Family Mental Health
Dr. Ian Manion is the Executive Director of the Ontario Centre of
Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health and Clinical Professor in
the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa
Children of Parents with Mental Illness
Dr. Stephen Hinshaw is Professor and Chair of the Department of
Psychology at the University of California (Berkeley)
Young Carers
Professor Saul Becker is Head of the School of Sociology and Social
Policy and Professor of Social Policy and Social Care at The University
of Nottingham
Press release
7 November 2011
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AUSTRALIA
Key Assets Launches
Disability Services for Young People
in Western Australia
Key Assets is expanding its foster care provision in Western Australia with the upcoming launch of a new disability services program.
Key Assets disability services have been designed in partnership with young people, families and professionals to meet the complex and ordinary care needs of children and young people in Western Australia.
The disability services program aims to provide quality personal care services to children, young people and young adults with a disability between the age of 0 and 25. These services will enable young people to live ordinary lives, to experience independence and equality, and to access social and educational opportunities within the community.
Experienced Key Assets support staff will facilitate the implementation of the disability services, supporting individuals with a disability in the home and helping to provide accommodation solutions for young people who are unable to live with their birth families or are seeking alternative community housing.
Additional transition support from Key Assets in the form of alternative family care arrangements provide a stepping stone to independent living for individuals with disabilities who are approaching the age of independence. Areas of support during this time may include life skills and training and educational support, along with a range of other relevant key skills.
Liesel Olney, General Manager of Key Assets in Western Australia, said: "The new Key Assets disability services provide an exciting opportunity for development of a range of specialised services for people with disabilities as well as their families and carers. The new program will allow for Key Assets to develop services that are tailored to each service user's needs in close consultation with that individual and their family. This will ensure the best outcomes and create more opportunities for independence and inclusion.
"This program also allows for children and young people in foster care with a disability to receive ongoing funding, accommodation and support from Key Assets after the age of 18, allowing for stability and consistency. Key Assets is now a registered provider for the Disability Services Commission (DSC) and work in close collaboration with the DSC, the Department for Child Protection (DCP) and other relevant disability community services."
Key Assets will also work with the families of children and young people with disabilities to offer short break care for young people. This will allow families and carers to arrange holidays or take care of other responsibilities around the home.
Disability services from Key Assets will be accessible outside of working hours via a 24-hour phone line for advice and intervention. Key Assets also aims to offer each young person and their foster carer such additional benefits as advanced training and psycho-therapeutic support.
About Key Assets:
Key Assets is a non-government 'not for profit' agency operating in
Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. As part of Core
Assets, a global operation providing services in social care and
fostering, Key Assets aims to provide 'quality care in a family setting'
for a diverse range of children and young people. Through an expansion
in services, Key Assets provides Western Australian foster care and
disability support services for children, young people and families.
Press release: PRNewswire
4 November 2011
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/04/4030634/key-assets-launches-disability.html
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Different Views of Child Behavior Can Aid Diagnosis
Emerging research suggests clinicians may benefit from conflicting reports of a child’s behavior.
A variety of opinion is often the norm as parents, teachers and other children report from different perspectives. Researchers believe a better understanding of the source and nature of these disagreements may provide important information that could improve treatment and outcomes.
A group of articles in the current issue of Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, explores this challenging clinical dilemma.
Guest editors suggest that clinicians view the disagreements as “additional information” rather than a problem and to use the information to help determine the credibility of each informant’s report.
“This has implications for treatment engagement, adherence, and ultimately outcomes,” they conclude.
In the issue, two articles take a close look at the implications of disagreements between parents and teachers: looking at behaviors that occur at home only, at school only, or in both settings among a community-based sample.
An additional paper, entitled “Diagnostic Implications of Informant Disagreement for Manic Symptoms,” draws on patients seen at an outpatient clinic for symptoms of mania observed either only by a parent or by both parent and teacher.
Conflicting reports by parents and offspring is the focus of three articles, with the samples derived from families seeking services from an outpatient mental health clinic.
Eric Youngstrom, Ph.D., and colleagues consider the question of who has greater credibility, parent or child, in the article “Informants Are Not All Equal: Predictors and Correlates of Clinician Judgments About Caregiver and Youth Credibility.”
Another paper evaluates whether discrepancies in reporting influence clinicians’ ratings of parent and child credibility, and a complementary paper assesses whether the severity of a manic disorder affects the differences in how caregivers and teens describe the symptoms.
“Clinicians have long known that parents and children have very different perceptions about how a child is behaving or what they are feeling,” said Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., editor-in-chief of Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
“These studies help to clarify this dilemma and help us improve the diagnosis and advance our understanding and treatment of children with psychiatric disorders.”
Source: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
2 November 2011
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OHIO
Beech Brook's New Website
Showcases Mental Health Programs
with Creative Design and Simple Navigation
When Beech Brook opened its doors in 1852 as Cleveland's first orphanage, it marked the beginning of a long legacy of hope and healing for children and families in Northeast Ohio. Today, as a leading mental health center, serving nearly 21,000 children and families each year, Beech Brook announces the launch of its updated website, beechbrook.org, to help share information about its broad range of programs for children, youth and families.
New compelling content and updated features of the website include:
A fresh, contemporary design
User-friendly, intuitive navigation where visitors can easily find information
Updated information about programs and updated services
Online registration for seminars and events
Stories and videos
Careers information and an online job application
Online donation and support opportunities.
"We are pleased to be able to share much more information about our programs as well as opportunities for our customers, clients, donors, job seekers, friends and supporters to connect with Beech Brook in a much more interactive way. We hope many visitors will come to the site to learn more about Beech Brook's mission of healing troubled children and strengthening families," said Debra Rex, Beech Brook CEO.
Beech Brook's campus and headquarters are located at 3737 Lander Road in Pepper Pike, Ohio, with community-based offices in Cleveland and Elyria.
About Beech Brook
Founded in 1852, Beech Brook is a multi-service
mental and behavioral health agency serving approximately 21,000
children and families each year through programs such as residential
treatment, foster care, school-based mental health programs, parent
education, community-based programs for at-risk youth, and many other
services that strengthen and support families.
For more information, visit www.beechbrook.org
Press release: Beech Brook / PR Newswire
1 November 2011
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