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Celebrate May as Mental Health Month
This month Health America celebrates "May is Mental Health Month," a tradition that began in 1949. This year's theme, "Live Your Life Well," encourages health-promotion at home, school, and within the community. Learn more.
Solving the Mental Health Crisis for Our Children
In a column in the Huffington Post, former first lady Rosalynn Carter talks about the need to focus more on children's mental health and well-being and the need to move away from a deficit-based model of child development toward a strength-based model of support. Read more.
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Positive Behavioral Self-Management System from Project ACHIEVE
Project ACHIEVE focuses on the implementation of schoolwide, positive behavioral support systems that have been proven to help schools:
- Strengthen positive school and classroom climate.
- Increase students' academic engagement and self-management skills.
- Develop effective interventions for behaviorally challenging students.
- Improve students' interpersonal, social problem solving, conflict resolution, and coping skills.
Learn more about how to integrate Project ACHIEVE's discipline, behavior management, and school safety approaches into your school improvement process.
Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Young Children and Their Families
A new report, Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Young Children and Their Families, released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shows that behavioral and emotional problems among 31 percent of young children with mental health challenges decreased within the first six months after entering services through systems of care program.
The study indicates that early intervention for young children with mental health challenges supports healthy development and improves family life. The report describes the academic, social, and emotional performance outcomes of children ages 8 and younger receiving services in systems of care.
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Creating the Foundation for Comprehensive School Climate Reform
Creating the Foundation for Comprehensive School Climate Reform's Promoting Safe, Healthy, Engaged, and Democratic K–12 School Communities is a three-day workshop of engaging discussions and networking sessions with experts on school climate reform from across the country. The workshop will be held July 6–8, 2010 at Fordham University, New York, N.Y. Kevin Jennings, assistant deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, will deliver the keynote address.
Registration closes Friday, June 19. The early bird discount rate ends May 15.
Promise Neighborhood Grants
The Promise Neighborhoods Grants program is designed to fund planning proposals for programs that will significantly improve the developmental and education outcomes of youth in at-risk communities. Proposals should focus on
- Supporting efforts to improve child outcomes,
- Identifying and increasing the capacity of entities to build a college-bound culture in the neighborhood, and
- Building a continuum of academic programs and community supports with a strong schools at the center.
Proposals should also focus on building infrastructure and integrating programs. This is a one-year planning grant. Deadline: June 25, 2010
For more information about applying, contact the Department of Education.
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