On Monday, March 28th, 2022, Think of Us hosted a Town Hall with the Children’s Bureau. Speakers included representatives of the Administration, Aysha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau, and people with the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. Associate Commissioner Schomburg echoed other speakers’ sentiments of standing behind LGBTQ+ children and families especially
Last week a series of hearings were held about the President’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. The House Budget Committee, The Senate Budget Committee, and House Appropriation Committee members expressed multiple concerns about COVID spending, the impact of Defense cuts, a need for increased Infrastructure, issues with the current economic crisis, and the Ukrainian and Russian conflict.
In a new report released by the CDC, school closures and distance learning have had a negative impact on student mental health. In a study titled “Mental Health, Suicidality and Connectedness Among High School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” survey results showed that more than a third (37%) of students surveyed said they experienced poor
Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Miriam Delphin-Rittmon writes: “As a clinical psychologist, academician, and government leader, I have focused on ensuring that mental health care services and policies are culturally responsive, evidence-based and in the best interest of those receiving services. Providing timely, appropriate, and evidence-based treatment vastly improves outcomes and can
On Monday, March 14th, 2022, the Prevention Services Clearinghouse announced ratings for several new programs and services that had been considered for eligibility for funding under the Family First Prevention Services Act. Three programs were accepted to the clearinghouse as “promising”: GenerationPMTO – Individual; Families and Schools Together® - Elementary School Level; Community Reinforcement Approach
President Biden signed the $1.5 trillion spending bill on Tuesday, March15th, 2022, ending the continuing resolutions and providing a budget for FY 2022. As noted in last week’s Children’s Monitor, child welfare budget line items received some small but important increases such as an additional $5M for both CAPTA and CB-CAP; unfortunately, many line
On Tuesday March 2nd, Georgetown University held a Lunch and Learn surrounding COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Implication for Medicaid Coverage for MCH Populations. Panelists: Joan Alker, Executive Director and Co-Founder of University of Georgetown, University Center for Children and Families and Research Professor Tricia Brooks, Research Professor for the Georgetown University Center for Children and
On Tuesday, March 15th, 2022, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) rolled out a new website of resources for the upcoming launch of the 988 hotline in July. This new website includes a partner toolkit to help SAMHSA’s 988 implementation partners (crisis call centers, state mental health programs, substance use treatment providers,
The Advisory Council identifies, promotes, coordinates, and disseminates to the public information, resources, and the best practices available to help grandparents and other older relatives both meet the needs of the children in their care; and maintain their own physical and mental health and emotional well-being. The Advisory Council is specifically directed to consider the
On Monday, March 8, 2022, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), along with U.S. Representative Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking for information to determine what additional resources states and territories need to ensure children in foster care