Life Skills Education (LSE) is a novel promotional program that teaches generic life skills through participatory learning methods of games, debates, role-plays, and group discussion. Conceptual understanding and practicing of the skills occurs through experiential learning in a non-threatening setting. Such initiatives provide the adolescent with…

Mental health consultation can be very valuable in supporting children with behavioral difficulties and mental health issues in the classroom. Research has shown that consultation improves teacher efficacy--an important ingredient for teacher success. Consultants vary in the roles they play in child care programs. Most behavioral consultants…

This publication is a guide to programs created by the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. An opening section describes the McKinney Act itself and the agency that developed the guide. The bulk of the publication lists and describes 24 McKinney Act programs grouped under the following headings: (1) education and training programs;…

This article focuses on the formal evaluation of large-scale preventive interventions promoting positive mental health in children and adolescents, using examples of conduct problems. The state of the art in program evaluation is discussed based on quantitative evaluations of mental illness prevention programs. The article reviews current thinking…

There are relatively few major federal programs focused directly on advancing a systemic approach to mental health in schools. One such program is the U.S. Department of Education's grant program entitled: "Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems." Established in 2005, the program has funded 51 projects and is in the process of funding…

Teacher preparation programs can play an essential role in disseminating information on children's mental health and design curricula that teach the skills necessary for promoting good mental health in schools to preservice and inservice professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. The strategies presented in this article will provide…

This paper addresses questions concerning the purpose and effectiveness of existing child nutrition programs. Chapter I introduces the major budget issues concerning these programs. Chapter II presents the historical development of the programs and focuses on the federal policies affecting the nutrition and health of children. Chapter III…

A complete health service including physical examinations and medical care is offered to employees by a corporation. (JD)

Superintendent of the McComb Separate School District in Mississippi describes actions taken by his school district to implement an effective student health program. Includes, for example, getting community buy-in, building on community leadership, supporting health and wellness for everyone in the school. Briefly describes the nine components of…

California Highway Patrol members (N=4,480) showed improvements in several health and fitness parameters after an 18-month program of health assessment, performance testing, and remedial training was established. (JD)

Children's mental health needs must be addressed for them to perform well in school. Several approaches are being used to give schools better mental health access. Model problems tend to offer a comprehensive continuum of services, coordinate the system for easy accessibility, and involve families in the teaching process. The Child Study Center's…

This fact sheet is intended to provide a snapshot of the current issues surrounding dropout factors among students who are identified with emotional disturbance, as well as to provide mental health resources that may assist this population to remain in high school. The statistics presented in this document highlight both the importance of…

An individual tells his story of how mental health problems got him to prison and how prison mental health services were difficult to obtain and inappropriate at times. He had to demand that he receive adequate treatment. Mike Weaver currently advocates for mental health services and treating people rather than extending their prison sentences.

The need for cultural competence and the need for evidence-based practice in mental health services are major issues in contemporary discourse, especially in the psychological treatment of people of color. Although these 2 paradigms are complementary in nature, there is little cross-fertilization in the psychological literature. The present…

Reviews the history of state mental health planning from the federal perspective, discusses some state objectives for comprehensive planning, and presents a participatory model for plan development. Demonstrates how the model can be used to produce a mental health plan that is a viable management tool fulfilling many state objectives. (Author/BH)