Evidence-based weight-loss treatments for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are lacking. Therefore, a parent-based weight-loss treatment for children with ASD (PBT-ASD) was developed. A pilot study was conducted to test the initial efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of this intervention. Parents of 20 children with ASD and…

Background: Knowing which theoretical constructs work best to design effective interventions is essential for populations with increased disease burden. African American women (AAW) experience a greater prevalence of chronic diseases and fewer benefits from weight loss interventions compared to White women. Purpose: To examine how theoretical…

This qualitative, exploratory, comparative case study examined plant-based innovations in Title I PK12 public-school nutrition programs (PSNPs) in the context of the School Health Index (SHI) and Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) objectives. The study explored the perceptions of PK12 superintendents, school board members, nutrition…

Although bullying aggression has been around for a long time, cyberbullying poses a unique and severe threat. With the advent of the internet and digital platforms, a bully can attack anytime and anywhere with exponential and repeatable damage. Before digital media, rumors or singular events were hurtful but did not have the added…

In the United States, one in five adults are impacted by some form of mental illness in any given year, but only about 40% of individuals seek professional mental health support. While occupational therapists (OT) may work with individuals with mental illness to improve social skills, activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental ADLs, and…

This demonstration brief provides teaching and learning stories from districts and schools implementing PBIS with an integrated systems focus and is organized across the following areas: (a) the context of the school/district, (b) the changes made in the systems, (c) the impact of the changes made in the systems, and (d) next steps to improve the…

School climate encompasses student and school staff's experience of life at school, including the norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, safety, teaching and learning practices, social and physical environments, and organizational structures. Its positive influence on student academic performance, school completion, disruptive…

Advocates 4 ALL Youth (ALLY) is a universal, 6-week mental health literacy program, implemented in schools during the school day by community volunteers. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the ALLY program on youth who endorsed negative affect (i.e., self-reported symptoms of both depression and anxiety). Using a randomized…

Introduction: Caregivers of autistic children and caregivers of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience considerable stress. However, what is unique or similar across these groups remains understudied. This study explored how female caregivers of children with FASD who registered to participate in a caregiver focused mental…

Although campus crises have been an ever-present aspect of college life, they have been increasing in number and intensity. While disasters prompted many colleges to prepare crisis plans, the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges. Effective and timely crisis leadership can affect the crisis outcome. By understanding the leadership styles…

The negative impact of mental health concerns experienced by college students has prompted faculty teaching in-person to become gatekeepers, assisting students in accessing mental health services. COVID-19 has changed the learning environment and presented a need to explore the role online faculty play as gatekeepers. The purpose of this study was…

Despite the high prevalence and associated consequences of mental health problems in youth, adolescents with these problems are often left untreated. This service gap is even greater in racial and ethnic minority youth who not only engage in treatment less frequently, but also experience far greater discrimination and systemic inequality than…

Comprehensive programmes to help reduce substance misuse/mental illness in youth should combine Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). EMPATHY, an SBIRT programme, was part of a school-based prevention initiative to reduce symptoms of substance misuse in youth in Grades 6-12, along with reducing symptoms of depression,…

Throughout the migratory process, unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras--countries known as the Northern Triangle of Central America--are at great risk for exposure to adverse experiences, loss, and stressors that can have negative consequences on their mental health and well-being. Although the limited research with…

College students report high rates of mental health problems. Even as help-seeking behaviors have increased over the years and college mental health services report increased utilization, untreated mental disorders are prevalent among college students. The unmet mental health needs of college students are an important college access and…