The Front Page

This is the place where you can find out what's new at PBHJP and in the world of children's mental health and juvenile justice. Along with "The Front Page", you can find other newsworthy items such as newspaper articles & radio pieces, State and Federal legislation, recent reports & publications, special features from PBHJP, and news from the Report on Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Youth.

May 17th, 2012

Facilitating Poetry with Teens Who Are Leading Difficult Lives Workshop Offered By the Pongo Teen Writing Project

The Pongo Teen Writing Project is pleased to offer scholarships for their upcoming one-day training on how to facilitate poetry with teens who are leading difficult lives. Attendees will also receive support after the workshop as they start their own poetry programs with youth in their schools and agencies. The training is Saturday, May 19. To learn more and to register, click here.

Pongo is wrapping up its 17th year in sites such as Juvenile Detention and the State Psychiatric Hospital where they work with youth to write therapeutic poetry about their lives. Pongo's work with youth has been featured on King5.com. To read the story, click here.

April 25th, 2012

Registration Now Open for The Safe and Effective Use of Psychiatric Medication in Children and Adolescents: A Mini-Fellowship for Primary Care Clinicians (PPP)

Offered by the REsource for Advancing Children's Health (REACH Institute), the Primary Pediatric Psychopharmacology (PPP) is an intensive training program consisting of a 15-hour (3 days) on-site intensive workshop on May 18-20, followed by six months of live interactive distance learning conducted from your own desk and at times that fit your busy practice. To learn more, click here.

April 3rd, 2012

House Bill 2536 Signed by Washington State Governor

This bill represents a significant progressive step for our State in implementing the most effective behavioral interventions for children and their families. It is being recognized nationally as a strategic approach to integrating and coordinating evidence based children’s services.

HB 2536 requires that by September 30, 2012, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), in consultation with the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) and the University of Washington Evidence-Based Practice Institute (EBPI) publish descriptive definitions and prepare an inventory of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs), research-based practices, and promising practices for the prevention and intervention services of children and juveniles in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health. Requires that by June 30, 2013 DSHS, in collaboration with the Health Care Authority (HCA) complete a baseline assessment of the utilization of evidence-based and research-based practices in the areas of child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, and mental health. Requires that by December 30, 2013, DSHS and HCA report strategies, timelines, and costs for increasing the use of evidence-based and research-based practices and provide updated recommendations in 2014 and 2015. Requires that DSHS, in consultation with multiple University, State, and community-based entities, develop unified and coordinated case plans for families involved in multiple systems within the department and that the department shall work with these entities to monitor the quality control and fidelity of the implementation of these evidence and research-based practices. DSHS and HCA shall seek matching funds to support the implementation of evidence and research-based practices.

Read the full bill as passed here

On February 3rd, 2012 KUOW Seattle Public Radio featured a story on HB 2536:

"Talk Therapy may work in some cases. But a Washington state lawmaker says it's time to invest in evidence-based programs to treat mentally ill youth..."

To listen to the story, click here.

March 28th, 2012

Presentation to the Washington State Supreme Court

Mike Pullmann presented about the Washington State Disproportionate Minority Contact Assessment to the Washington State Supreme Court, with support from Starcia Ague and Eric Trupin. This was a collaborative effort with the Washington Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice, and part of an overall presentation organized and conducted by the Task Force on Race and Criminal Justice. The specific presentation begins at 48:00 and can be found HERE.

March 26th, 2012

King County Juvenile Drug Court Enhancement Project Evaluation (JDCEP)

The Juvenile Drug Court Enhancement Project (JDCEP) Evaluation is a process evaluation of the implementation of evidence-based substance use treatment approaches for adolescents in the King County Juvenile Drug Court. We will use this information to help guide decision making to improve the JDCEP and to track changes over time. Youth engagement is an important element of this study and youth helped conduct focus groups with the treatment providers and drug court team. To learn more, click here.

Washington State Disproportionate Minority Contact Assessment (DMC)

This statewide assessment will examine disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile justice system from multiple perspectives. In this evaluation, we are analyzing quantitative data about the relative rates of minority contact throughout the juvenile justice system, as compared to white contact, to identify points of disproportionality. We are conducting qualitative interviews with local knowledge-holders to assist in analyzing and interpreting this data, and conducting additional analyses based on these interviews. One goal from this assessment is to assist jurisdictions in analyzing data and identifying possible contributing mechanisms to DMC prior to developing programs to address DMC. To learn more, click here.

King County Assertive Adolescent and Family Treatment (AAFT-4) Evaluation

Assertive Adolescent Family Treatment-4 (AAFT-4) Evaluation is a process evaluation of the implementation of evidence-based substance use treatment approaches for adolescents receiving substance use services in north King County. We will use this information to help guide decision making to improve the AAFT-4 and to track changes over time. Youth engagement is an important element of this study and youth helped conduct focus groups with the treatment providers and drug court team. To learn more, click here.

Family Support Program Evaluation

The mission of the Seattle Public Schools Family Support Program (FSP) is to inspire and motivate students in the Seattle Public School system to succeed academically by advocating increased parent involvement in education, facilitating student and family access to academic resources and providing support to help students and families overcome social, emotional, and physical barriers that may hinder student academic progress. PBHJP is conducting an external evaluation of the FSP, which was requested by The Office of Education in the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. To learn more, click here.

March 7th, 2012

The CA-UW EBP Partnership

In partnership with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Children’s Administration, PBHJP has established a state-academic collaboration to train, coach, and monitor fidelity of evidence based practices and promising practices for children and families involved in the child welfare system. To learn more about the partnership, click here.

January 27th, 2012

Washington State Girls Group Evaluation Report Published

The final report of the Washington State Girls Circle Evaluation, supported by the Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice and commissioned by the Justice for Girls Coalition of Washington State, has been completed and published. Click here for the report of the study by Sarah Cusworth Walker, PhD, and Ann Muno, MSW.

November 13th, 2011

Dr. Eric Trupin featured on KUOW - Seattle Public Radio

PBHJP Director, Dr. Eric Trupin, was featured on KUOW Seattle Public Radio talking about Family Integrated Transitions (FIT^TM):

"Every year in the Northwest, thousands of mentally ill teenagers get caught up in the juvenile justice system..."

To listen to the story, click here.

July 23rd, 2011

Starcia Ague featured on KUOW - Seattle Public Radio

PBHJP Research Assistant, Starcia Ague, was featured on KUOW Seattle Public Radio telling her story:

"Starcia Ague ended up in prison at the age of 15 with six felonies. Starcia talked with KUOW's Jamala Henderson about how she turned her life around by fighting for the chance to take college courses while still in jail..."

To listen to the story, click here.

April 25th, 2011

Josh Leblang receives a 2011 Multisystemic Therapy "Whatever It Takes" Award from MST Services

Josh Leblang received the "Whatever It Takes" award which recognizes his "demonstrated creative, out-of-the-box thinking, persistence and dedication to do 'whatever-it-takes' to accomplish a positive outcome for MST youth and their families."

April 22nd, 2011

Nominations for the Mental Health Reporting Journalism Award are Being Accepted

The Washington State Coalition to Improve Mental Health Reporting and the Washington Community Mental Health Council are co-sponsoring a contest to identify the best news story written or broadcast about mental health between May 1, 2010, and April 30, 2011 in Washington State. All working Washington state journalists are eligible to enter the second annual “Mental Health Reporting Journalism Award” competition.

As a member of the Washington State Coalition to Improve Mental Health Reporting, you are eligible to nominate news stories for the award. You will be also receiving notification in the next two weeks about how you can help to select the final winner.

Entries may include features, columns, investigative articles, editorials, as well as straight news and feature reporting. The news piece must have been published or broadcast between May 1, 2010, and April 30, 2011, and will be judged on the following criteria:

• An understanding of mental health issues through exposure to people living with mental
health challenges
• Conveys that hope, recovery, and resiliency for people with mental illnesses happens
• The ability to shed light on the importance of mental health/illness and its treatment in the community
• The use of language and descriptions that accurately reflect mental health/illness, including in the headline and other graphic elements

A $500 award for the winning entry will be presented during the 22nd annual Washington Behavioral Healthcare Conference, “Partnering for Recovery,” scheduled for June 8-10 in Yakima. In addition to the award, all expenses will be paid for the winner to attend the awards ceremony.

Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Friday, May 6, but entries can be submitted at any time. A link to the entry should be provided. If a publicly accessible link is not available, send the entry via e-mail attachment (ideally, showing original presentation). The link or attachment should be emailed to mhreport@u.washington.edu.

All entries should include the name, address and contact information for the reporter or reporters involved in the article, as well as the name of the publication and the date the piece appeared in print or aired.

There is no entry fee.

For more information, go to www.mentalhealthreporting.org

April 18th, 2011

The Pongo Teen Writing blog project features Starcia Ague

Starcia Ague’s public story is inspiring in itself – the story of a young woman, now 23, who spent 5 ½ years in juvenile jail for a serious crime, but who worked her way to an education, a Governor’s pardon, and a research position at the University of Washington where she addresses juvenile justice issues. She earned the support of mentors and guides who helped her. She found God. And along the way, Starcia went public with her own history of growing up with addicted, sometimes homeless, drug-dealing parents. Her history includes abandonment by her parents and terrible abuse from an acquaintance of her mother.

But I want to add to Starcia’s story here. There are unrecognized qualities and strengths in people who are resilient after childhood abuse. I’m finding that these survivors…

Read the full post here

April 11th, 2011

Senate Bill 5187 unanimously passes Washington State Senate and House of Represenatatives

The bill allows parents in Washington to "consent to mental health treatment on behalf of a minor child provided that a professional person determines that there is a medical necessity for treatment. An evaluation and treatment facility (E&T) is not obligated to provide treatment to the minor but may not refuse solely on the basis of the lack of consent of the minor. A minor who does not consent to treatment may petition a superior court for review as to whether such treatment is based upon medical necessity."

The bill awaits final signature from the Governor and, if signed, will become part of Washington State code.

Read the full bill as passed here

April 7th, 2011

Research by Drs. Kerns, Pullmann, Walker, Lyon, & Bruns published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

"Adolescent Use of School-Based Health Centers and High School Dropout"

Objective To determine the association between use of school-based health centers (SBHCs) and school dropout. Design Quasi-experimental longitudinal analysis of a retrospective student cohort, with SBHC use as the independent variable. We statistically controlled for dropout risk and used propensity score regression adjustment to control for several factors associated with SBHC use. Participants District-enrolled students in their first semester of ninth grade in 2005 (N = 3334), followed up through their anticipated on-time graduation semester of 12th grade in 2009. Students were divided into 4 groups: never used (47%); low use (23%); moderate use (20%); and high users (10%). Results Low to moderate SBHC use (0.125-2.5 visits per semester) was associated with a 33% reduction in dropout compared with non-SBHC users. The high-use group (>2.5 visits per semester) did not have dropout rates that differed from nonusers. For SBHC users who did drop out, dropout occurred approximately 1 semester later than nonusers. Exploratory analyses revealed that the association between SBHC use and prevention of dropout was greatest for higher-risk students. Conclusions This study found an association between low to moderate SBHC use and reductions in dropout for high school students in an urban school district, especially for students at higher risk for dropout. This study supports the theory that benefits of SBHCs extend beyond managing physical and mental health needs to include academic outcomes.

See the abstract and link to the full article here

March 25th, 2011

This American Life features a story on a controversial Juvenile Drug Court

"Very Tough Love"

This week: A drug court program that we believe is run differently from every other drug court in the country, doing some things that are contrary to the very philosophy of drug court. The result? People with offenses that would get minimal or no sentences elsewhere sometimes end up in the system five to ten years. Ira reports from Glynn County Georgia on Superior Court Judge Amanda Williams and how she runs the drug courts in Glynn, Camden and Wayne counties. We hear the story of Lindsey Dills, who forges two checks on her parents' checking account when she's 17, one for $40 and one for $60, and ends up in drug court for five and a half years, including 14 months behind bars, and then she serves another five years after that—six months of it in Arrendale State Prison, the other four and a half on probation. The average drug court program in the U.S. lasts 15 months. But one main way that Judge Williams' drug court is different from most is how punitive it is. Such long jail sentences are contrary to the philosophy of drug court, as well as the guidelines of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. For violating drug court rules, Lindsey not only does jail terms of 51 days, 90 days and 104 days, Judge Williams sends her on what she calls an "indefinite sentence," where she did not specify when Lindsey would get out.

Listen to the This American Life podcast: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/430/very-tough-love

March 16th, 2011

Research by Drs. Kerns, Pullmann, Walker, Lyon, & Bruns featured in Education Week

School Health Centers - "Adolescent Use of School-Based Health Centers and High School Dropout"

A study by researchers in Washington state has found that high school students who used school-based health centers were somewhat less likely to drop out, and more likely to delay dropping out of school, than their peers who did not use those centers. Focusing on 3,334 students scheduled to graduate in 2009 in an unnamed urban school district, researchers found that students who used a school-based health center were more likely to be black, female, have visited the school nurse separately from the center, and be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The dropout rate for clinic-users was 15 percent, compared with 27 percent for the district. While the researchers acknowledged that there are many other influences on student dropout rates, they said providing greater access to needed health services should be considered among other comprehensive dropout-prevention strategies.

See the EdWeek article here: http://www.edweek.org:80/ew/articles/2011/03/16/24report-2.h30.html

See the research article in Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine here: http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/archpediatrics.2011.10v1?rss=1

March 8th, 2011

"Reform in the Wake of Luzerne": Multi-part podcast, Part 4 - Protecting a Child's Right to Counsel

In Juvenile Law Center's new, multi-part podcast series, “Reform in the Wake of Luzerne,” we will examine the structural issues in the juvenile justice system that allowed this scandal to occur and the reforms—like guaranteeing access to counsel—that still need to be put in place to protect youth and to prevent such scandals from happening again.

Part 4: Protecting a Child's Right to Counsel

From 2003 to 2008, more than 50% of youth who appeared before former Luzerne County juvenile court judge Mark Ciavarella appeared without an attorney because they had purportedly waived their right to counsel. On February 18, Ciavarella was convicted in federal court for racketeering and money laundering, as well as for mail fraud and tax evasion. During that same time period, less than 5% of youth statewide waived counsel. Of the youth in Luzerne County who appeared without an attorney in Ciavarella's court, over 60% were sent to out-of-home, residential placements—a rate substantially higher than the rest of the state. Many of the youth were charged with very minor offenses and should never have even been in court, much less been placed outside their homes.

How did this happen? Under current Pennsylvania law, the juvenile court must ensure that when a child chooses to waive his or her right to have an attorney, the decision was made in a knowing, intelligent and voluntary way. No such searching inquiry was undertaken by Ciavarella. Even if strict procedures were in place, few children could satisfy the "knowing, intelligent and voluntary" standard that the court requires to waive their right to an attorney. Children lack maturity, cognitive understanding, and are more susceptible to external pressures, especially when making decisions about their future. Societal concerns about children's decision-making is reflected in laws that limit children's participation in a host of civic, political and social activities, including voting, serving on juries, serving in the military or even purchasing cigarettes or alcohol.

Check out the podcast here: http://www.jlc.org/podcast/

February 11th, 2011

"Reform in the Wake of Luzerne": Multi-part podcast, Part 3

Part 3: Putting Restraints on Youth Shackling

Shackling was routine practice in the courtroom of former Luzerne County judge Mark Ciavarella, who is currently on trial in federal court for his involvement in the "kids-for-cash" scandal. Youth were often shackled as soon as they entered the courtroom or immediately after they were adjudicated delinquent, regardless of the degree of their offense. Parents awaiting their children's hearings described hearing the clanging of chains as they saw other parents leaving the courtroom, childless and in tears. Pennsylvania currently has no legal protections that prohibit the use of shackles or restraints in courtrooms during hearings. And "Mei Mei*," a victim of the "kids-for-cash" scandal, knows that fact all too well: she was just ten years old when she accidentally started a fire in her bedroom and was arrested and sent to a juvenile detention center. At her hearing, both her hands and feet were shackled.

Check out the podcast here: http://www.jlc.org/podcast/

February 7th, 2011

Evidence-Based Practice Consortium Releases Report on EBP Competencies of Master's Trained Mental Health Clinicians

The Evidence-Based Practice Consortium is a global collaboration of researchers, administrators, and consultants who seek to promote the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based and promising practices in the area of child and family behavioral health.

In 2009, discussion of the competencies of Master's trained clinicians working in the field of child and youth mental health identified a growing concern among senior managers and others working in this field; an increasing urgency for the implementation of evidence based practices in behavioral health was creating difficulty with the hiring of clinicians who were suitably prepared to work in an evidence-based environment. A survey was developed to explore gaps in this area, with a view to future discussion and actions on the part of behavioral healthcare providers and institutions of higher learning.

In this report, we provide the results of a North American survey on the evidence-based practice competencies of Master’s trained clinicians working in child and youth behavioral health. Recommendations are made regarding next steps for the field.

To view the report, titled "Master's Level Clinician Competencies in Evidence-Based Behavioral Healthcare", click here

January 26th, 2011

"Reform in the Wake of Luzerne": Multi-part podcast, Part 2

Part 2: The Need for Reform

In this episode, released on the second anniversary of the federal indictments of the two Luzerne County judges who are charged with jailing kids for cash, Juvenile Law Center examines the juvenile justice reform recommendations that were an outgrowth of the "kids-for-cash" scandal, along with the status of those efforts two years later. We speak with the Hon. John M. Cleland, chair of the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, about the recommendations the Commission issued last May, as well as with staff attorney Riya Saha Shah about Juvenile Law Center's ongoing role in reform efforts and the impact of this case on juvenile justice systems nationwide.

Check out the podcast here: http://www.jlc.org/podcast/

January 14th, 2011

"Reform in the Wake of Luzerne": Multi-part podcast

Check out the first part of the podcast here: http://www.jlc.org/podcast/?tr=y&auid=7626184

December 9th, 2010

Evidence Based Practice Institute (EBPI) hosted its first Advisory Board meeting

Stakeholders from a variety of groups concerned with the well-being of youth and families in Washington converged on the University of Washington campus to participate as Advisors for the future activities of the Evidence Based Practice Institute.

The Five key functions of the division were highlighted and individual projects to meet these key functions were discussed.

Downloads
EBPI Advisory Board Agenda and Presentation		EBPI Core Functions
EBPI Project Posters

November 29th, 2010

Juvenile Law Center: New Study Shows Lack of Effective Legal Representation Harms Kids

While legal representation of children in the child welfare system has seen some improvement in recent years, more work is needed for legal advocates to be in compliance with state law, says a new report called Assessing the Quality of Child Advocacy in Dependency Proceedings in Pennsylvania, prepared by Penn State's Children's Advocacy Clinic, Juvenile Law Center, and the University of Pennsylvania.

This study is being released ten years after the enactment of Act 18, a law that imposed standards of practice on attorneys representing children in child welfare matters. "We had hoped to see significant improvements in the legal representation of children since nearly ten years have passed since the codification of standards of practice for lawyers of children," said Jennifer Pokempner, Juvenile Law Center supervising attorney. "Unfortunately, weaknesses still exist across the Commonwealth."

Those weaknesses are identified in the report's key findings, two of which are that many lawyers for children are complying with neither the Juvenile Act nor the American Bar Association Standards of Practice and that many children and youth are not participating in their court reviews.

Read the full report here

November 12th, 2010

The Juvenile Law Center introduced the second in a podcast series entitled "Pursuing Justice". Here is the announcement:

Pursuing Justice, Episode 2: Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

Every year, more than 29,000 youth in foster care nationwide become ineligible to receive benefits and services because of their age. And every year, those 29,000 youth are more likely to end up homeless, drop out of school, turn to crime or welfare and earn lower wages than other young people, even when compared to demographically similar low-income youth.

In Episode 2 of Juvenile Law Center's new podcast series, "Pursuing Justice," you'll hear about the personal struggles and challenges that foster youth face when they age out of care. You'll find out what is being done—and what still needs to be done—to keep these kids from facing such insurmountable odds.

This podcast features the stories of three former and current foster youth—Faron, Grace and Antonio. Their young lives bear the scars of instability, sexual abuse, and feeling disconnected. But now, they face the biggest challenge of all: aging out of care and providing for themselves at an age when most youth are statistically still years away from becoming fully independent.

Faron, Grace and Antonio are all members of Juvenile Law Center's youth engagement program, Youth Fostering Change, where they are learning to advocate for systemic change. Over the past year, they've worked collaboratively with other foster youth to produce a short film, "Life After Foster Care: Our Stories," with the hope that their tales will call attention to the hardship and injustices that youth in care face across the nation.

Join us for a revealing look at life after foster care at www.jlc.org/podcast.

November 9th, 2010

On Tuesday, Nov 9th, the King County Juvenile Court held a Kick Off event for the program Juvenile Justice 101. JJ101 is a project that was facilitated by PBHJP faculty and staff (with MacArthur Foundaton funding) in collaboration with the court and community to provide family partner support to families going through the juvenile justice process. Over 60 people attended the event which highlighted Chief Judge Philip Hubbard, PBHJP's Sarah Walker, Elinor Cromwell (SCRAP law), Michael Pullmann (PBHJP) and the JJ101 Family Partners including:

Karent Trayler
Steve Williams
Cathy Clem
Gary Streile
Marie Norton-Olsen
Ron Jaeger (not pictured)
Janice Shultz (not pictured)

Download the meeting agenda here

Take a look at some pictures from the event:

JJ101 Family Partners

JJ101 Family Partners

Chief Judge Philip Hubbard

Chief Judge Philip Hubbard

Sarah Walker (UW)

Sarah Walker

Elinor Cromwell (Managing Director, Juvenile Unit - SCRAP law)

Elinor Cromwell

Michael Pullmann (UW), Steve Williams (Family Partner) & Audience

Michael Pullman, Steve Williams, and audience

October 19th, 2010

October 19, 2010 - Dr. Eric Trupin, division director of PBHJP, was interviewed for a news article on disproportionate use of antipsychotic drugs on economically disadvantaged youth on Crosscut.com entitled "We're Doing Experiments on Poor Children".

The article discusses disturbing evidence that Medicaid eligible and foster children are much more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic medications only tested in adult populations and are at the same time less likely to receive a comprehensive mental health assessment.

Read the full article here

October 19th, 2010

October 19, 2010 - 12:30-1:20pm The EBP for Children's Mental Health lecture series will kickoff a new academic year with invited speaker and national wraparound expert Dr. Eric Bruns presenting:

"The Wraparound Process for Youth with Complex Needs:
Practice Model, Evidence Base, and Role in a System of Care"

The montly lecture series is open to all, including community members and those not affiliated with the University. For the full schedule of upcoming speakers and more information, click here

September 7th, 2010

Dr. Shannon Dorsey is featured in an article on KPLU which discusses mental health on the global scale. The article, "The Most Neglected Disease in Global Health", discusses Shannon's work with oprhans in Tanzania who have PTSD and argues that mental health initiatives warrant a larger slice of public global health resources.

To read the article, visit http://humanosphere.kplu.org/2010/09/the-most-neglected-disease-in-global-health/

September 2nd, 2010

Dr. Shannon Dorsey, Assistant Professor at PBHJP, is the keynote speaker at the 10th Annual Conference on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) on October 13th and 14th in Davis, California. The conference will focus on PCIT and its use with traumatized children. 'Recent research has shown that PCIT can be a valuable addition to the treatment of young traumatized children...and this year's conference will discuss research findings and clinical strategies for working effectively with this population.'

For a conference flyer and more information, please visit: http://pcit.tv/2010_conference.asp

To register for the conference, visit: http://www.ccfmtc.org/shop/products.asp?action=list&cat=6&subcat=16&l=L1

August 10th, 2010

Dr. Michael Pulllmann, postdoctoral fellow at PBHJP, is the lead author of an article featured in the most recent July edition of Research Highlights from the University of South Florida. The article, titled "Patterns of Medicaid disenrollment for youth with mental health problems during the transition to adulthood", was recently a featured presentation at the annual Children's Mental Health Research and Policy Conference and will soon be published in the academic journal Medical Care Reserach and Review.

"The authors explored patterns of disenrollment from Medicaid coverage for a
population of youth with mental health needs as they transitioned to adulthood.
Adolescents’ enrollment status was examined longitudinally from their 16th
birthday until age 24. While youth often experience brief periods of disenrollment,
the authors examined gaps in enrollment lasting 180 days or more. The authors
used numerous analyses, most notably Kaplan-Meier time-to-event analyses, to
explore predictors of time until first significant gap in coverage and time until
final disenrollment from public coverage."

To read the full Research Highlights article, visit: http://cmhtampaconference.usf.edu/home/research-highlights/

July 19th, 2010

Webcast to Discuss Benefits of Child Abuse Prevention. On July 20, 2010, The Future of Children, a joint project of Princeton University and the Brookings Institution, will air a Webcast on Preventing Child Abuse in an Age of Budget Deficits in connection with an event to be held at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.

The event, planned in cooperation with Voices for America's Children, will discuss ways that child abuse prevention programs can save money across a range of social programs and prospects for their expansion. A panel will address research and practices and respond to questions from the in-house and online audiences. To obtain further information, about this Webcast and the related event, visit www.brookings.edu/events/2010/0720_child_abuse_prevention.aspx.

July 7th, 2010

The Justice Policy Institute has released Healing Invisible Wounds: Why Investing in Trauma-Informed Care for Children Makes Sense. The brief examines the relationship between childhood trauma and involvement in the juvenile justice system. According to the brief, while research shows that up to 34 percent of children in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event, between 75 and 93 percent of youth entering the juvenile justice system annually are estimated to have experienced some degree of trauma. (Read the Report)

June 1st, 2010

PBHJP has a new address, gone are the days remembering all those dots and slashes!

Give it a try: ..................../.......... www.UWHelpingFamilies.org

UW Helping Families (dot) org

May 17th, 2010

Supreme Court Rejects Life Sentences for Youth
Today, the Supreme Court has decided in a 6-3 opinion that life sentences for crimes committed by individuals under the age of 18 are unconstitutional except for cases which involve a homicide. The United States was previously the only remaining country which sentenced juveniles to life without parole... (Read the full decision here)

May 1st, 2010

Tell the Senate to Reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA)
"During the next 90 days, the U.S. Senate will consider some major pieces of legislation. The Senate needs to hear that they need to be sure that S. 678, the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act reauthorization legislation is on the Senate floor schedule so that it can be voted on this year by the full Senate.

The JJDPA was first enacted in 1974 and provides federal funding to states that comply with a set of best practices aimed at avoiding the detention and incarceration of young people in juvenile and adult facilities. This law is three years overdue for reauthorization! The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a JJDPA reauthorization bill (S. 678) but it's awaiting action on the Senate floor..." (Read more)

You can make a difference.

1) If you have only 30 seconds...

Sign a petition calling for action on the JJDPA: In the Senate

2) If you can spare a few minutes...

Email, send or fax a letter urging the Senate to reauthorize the JJDPA.

3) If you can give even more of your time...

Phone your Senator to express your support for S. 678 and to ask for their co-sponsorship. Call your Representative to urge action around reauthorization of JJDPA. Click to Find Your Senator.

April 21st, 2010

Leonard Irving, Clinical Supervisor and Senior Therapist at Public Behavioral Health & Justice Policy, was interviewed today for a report by KUOW Seattle Public Radio on PBHJP's Family Integrated Transitions program. Read more below:

UW Program Helps Juvenile Offenders Stay out of Prison
"From a very early age, Gary and Nancy's son Nick was a challenge. He was aggressive and combative. And as Nick grew, so did his problems: threats against the family, shoplifting, drugs and fights at school. Once, Nick tried to choke his dad. He was arrested and sent to juvenile detention. It wouldn't be the last time...”

Hear the whole story on KUOW News: http://kuow.org/program.php?id=20050

April 15th, 2010

Dr. Eric Bruns, Associate Professor at Public Behavioral Health & Justice Policy, was recently interviewed for a report by KBCS One World Report. Read more below:

Cruel Choices: Wraparound Services as an Alternative to Parental Rights Relinquishment
"Last week we brought you the story of Dwayne and his daughter Tina. Dwayne was forced to give up custody of Tina so that she could get the mental health care she needed. Washington State's solution for Tina was for Dwayne to relinquish his parental rights, then institutionalize Tina, hundreds of miles away from her father. Many in Dwayne's situation have come together to sue the state because of this unfair 'last resort'. In part 2 of Heidi Lang's series titled 'Cruel Choices', we meet another Washington State family struggling with some of the same mental health issues. Only this time the family found a program that works...”

Hear the whole story on KBCS: http://kbcs.fm/site/PageServer?pagename=oneworldreport_20100415

April 5th, 2010

The US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released a report, Youth's Needs and Services: Findings from the Survey of Youth in Residential Placement, which 'findings from the survey on how facilities have addressed youth's needs, what services youth's receive, and where these services could be improved. The Survey of Youth in Residential Placement (SYRP) is the first comprehensive national survey to gather information about youth in custody by surveying the detained offenders. Findings show that youth have substantive needs in the four areas examined - mental health, substance abuse, health care, and education.' To read the report, click here.

February 24th, 2010

The US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released their biennial report, Juvenile Residential Facility Census, 2006, which details results from the Juvenile Residential Facility Census (JRFC). The census collects information from youth facilities including size, security, and services provided such as education, physical health, mental health, and substance abuse. The report indicates generally positive trends such as a decline in the number of juvenile offenders in custody and that fewer youth are being held in facilities that are over capacity. To read the report, click here.

January 28th, 2010

The Governor's Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy in California has released a report, entitled Preventing and Reducing Youth Crime and Violence: Using Evidence-Based Practices, which details the most effective programs for youth who are involved in criminal and/or violent behaviors. This report explains what it means for a program or strategy to be proven "effective" and presents an updated list of practices which have been deemed "proven", "promising", or "ineffective". Family Integrated Transitions, developed by Dr. Eric Trupin and research faculty at Public Behavioral Health & Justice Policy, is deemed a promising program which has been shown to reduce delinquency and recidivism by an average of 10.2 percent. To read the report, click here.

December 10th, 2009

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare has released a side-by-side comparison chart of mental health and substance abuse provisions of both legislature's healthcare bills. This chart provides a summary of each bill on more than 50 issues in the topics of Insurance Market Reforms, Health Insurance Exchanges, Medicaid/CHIP, Medicaire, and issues related to the healthcare Workforce. The National Council also hosts webinar sessions to discuss developments in healthcare reform - for more information on the webinar, click here.

December 9th, 2010

Models for Change has released a report on expensive institutional placements which finds that these placements provide no benefit over probation in reducing rates of re-arrest or self-reported offending. The report, entitled Research on Pathways to Desistance, also highlights the challenges of identifying and predicting youth who will be "persisters" versus "desisters". To read the full report, click here.

December 9th, 2009

Dr. Eric Trupin, director of Public Behavioral Health & Justice Policy, was recently interviewed for a December 9th report by KUOW (public radio) on budget cuts within the State Department of Corrections (DOC). These budget cuts may have a detrimental effect on funding which supports re-entry programs for mentally ill offenders. Read more below:

DOC Supervision Program Vulnerable to Budget Cuts. 9 December, 2009. KUOW Public Radio.

"The shooting deaths of four Lakewood police officers have once again put a spotlight on the State Department of Corrections' (DOC) supervision of released offenders. Randy Vanzandt is a community corrections officer for the state of Washington. For the past decade he has managed some of the state's most dangerous mentally ill offenders..."

Hear the whole story on KUOW: http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=18969

November 28th, 2009

The first issue of the Washington State Girls Group summarizes the focus of the group (to advocate for gender-responsive programming in juvenile justice), and reports the results of a needs assessment concerning training needs in court facilities around the state. The needs assessment was a collaborative effort the Girls Group stakeholders with analyses being conducted by Sarah Walker and Kenyatta Etchison from PBHJP.

November 1st, 2009

22nd Annual Research & Training Center (RTC) Conference - March 1-4, 2009 - Tampa, FL
During the first week of March, several PBHJP faculty and staff traveled to Tampa, Florida where they presented on the Wraparound Process and its effectiveness in working with youth with emotional and behavioral disorders (view pdf). Also presented on was the community-based evidence approach in defining and clarifying the role of family partners within Wraparound (view pdf).

September 30th, 2009

Report on Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Youth (EBDY)
Eric Bruns Ph.D. and Eric Trupin, Ph.D., have been named co-editors of Report on Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Youth (EBDY), a quarterly journal published by Civic Research Institute, Inc. The journal is sponsored by the Evidence Based Practices Institute at the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy. Its goal is to provide user-friendly information on the latest research findings and developments in the field on addressing emotional and behavioral problems in youth, and to serve as a bridge between child mental health researchers and practitioners. For more on EBDY, including guidelines for manuscript submission and information on ordering the Report, click here.

Events

The Front Page

Pursuing Justice, Episode 2: Youth Aging Out of Foster Care