News You Can Use

New Brief Supports Engagement of Families Dealing With SUD

Recently released by the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, Disrupting Stigma: How Understanding, Empathy, and Connection Can Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders, explains stigma specifically related to child abuse, neglect, and prenatal substance exposure. It describes structural stigma, public stigma, and self-stigma, details how stigma develops, reviews the history of substance use stigma in U.S. drug policies, and identifies stigma’s harmful effects. The brief then discusses rethinking responses and approaches, and provides strategies for fighting stigma and facilitating engagement with parents and family members affected by substance use disorders.

NASEM Videos Support Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Youth

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has developed a set of animated videos for children and adolescents informed by the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. The videos provide psychoeducation about the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an accessible and engaging format. The series includes a review of coping skills including deep breathing, mindfulness, cognitive reframing, and behavioral activation.

Pocket Guide for Telepsychiatry

The National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health (NTTAC) published a pocket guide to support psychiatrists and other clinicians as they navigate the unique challenges of virtual behavioral health services. The guide includes access to information on state-by-state telehealth regulations, practical tips for developing a good webside manner, strategies for developing positive therapeutic relationships in virtual settings, and more. While much of the brief focuses on teleprescribing and medication management, it offers good tips for optimizing all types of telehealth visits.

Research Update on Peer Support for Youth and Young Adults

Pathways Research and Training Center has updated its 2018 report on the state of the science for peer support for youth and young adults who experience serious mental health conditions. At that time, there was limited information on how youth peer support roles were defined and supported, and what outcomes could be expected once implemented. The recent update summarizes research findings since then. Even as peer supports have rapidly gained in popularity, effectiveness data are scarce, largely as a result of the continuing lack of clarity in role definition and development. Organizations contemplating adding the service will find helpful pointers to areas needing particular attention in design and implementation.

NIJ Journal Issue Focuses on Youth Justice and Child Protection

The October 2021 issue of the National Institute of Justice’s NIJ Journal highlights projects funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) that advance youth justice and child protection programming. Of particular interest to NACBH in last October’s edition is a review of the effectiveness of mentoring programs in preventing youth delinquency.

Quick Links