Description: Familia Adelante (FA) consists of twelve English or Spanish language, 90-minute modules for at-risk youth (age 10-14) and their parents. Trained promotoras or other paraprofessionals can become certified facilitators of the FA program. Familia Adelante addresses the impact of acculturative stress on Latino communities and equips Latino-serving organizations with a psycho-educational curriculum that helps Latino families manage negative behavioral […]
Adolescents
Mental Disorders and Disabilities Among Low-Income Children
Children living in poverty are more likely to have mental health problems, and their conditions are more likely to be severe. Of the approximately 1.3 million children who were recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits in 2013, about 50% were disabled primarily due to a mental disorder. An increase in the number of […]
Suicide Prevention in Rural Tribal Communities: The Intersection of Challenge and Possibility
The authors of this review article conclude that the high rate of suicide among American Indians—and especially youth—in rural areas results from a combination of the risk factors that characteristically contribute to high rates of rural suicide (e.g., social isolation, lack of access to services, and substance abuse) with the long-term consequences of historical trauma […]
Supporting Youth in Foster Care in Making Healthy Choices: A Guide for Caregivers and Caseworkers on Trauma, Treatment
This guide is intended to help caseworkers, foster parents, or other caring adults learn about trauma experienced by youth in foster care and treatment options, including approaches other than psychotropic medication. The guide presents strategies for seeking help for youth, identifying appropriate treatment, and supporting youth in making decisions about their mental health. Additionally, this […]
Disparities in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Mental Health Services in the U.S.
Mental health is recognized as a central determinant of individual well-being, family relationships, and engagement in society, yet there are considerable variations in mental health and mental health care according to race and ethnicity among youth in the U.S. In their new report, Margarita Alegría and colleagues investigate disparities in mental health and mental health […]
Economic Costs of Youth Disadvantage and High-Return Opportunities for Change
The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers has released a report on closing opportunity gaps for disadvantaged youth that highlights two promising programs: One Summer Jobs Plus (OSP) and Becoming a Man (BAM). With Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention-supported evaluation grants, the University of Chicago Crime Lab is currently testing both youth-focused delinquency […]