"Setting Limits" presentation sponsored by Parents Helping Parents -- (10-01-04) -- Join Carol Helland as she addresses the issue of "Setting Limits" for children. Tuesday, October 5th from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Community Family Service Center in Crookston.

Every Student Connected: Communication, Culture, and Climate - Mar. 7 -- (02-20-07) -- Nationally recognized research shows student success is closely linked to how connected they feel to their school. A positive school climate can decrease suspension rates, increase attendance, increase student achievement, and help create more satisfied students, staff, and parents.

Culture or Disorder? African American Children Identified as Having Behavioral/Emotional Disorders in Special Education -- (07-09-04) -- Title: Are Schools Ready for Joshua? Dimensions of African-American culture among students identified as having behavioral/emotional disorders Topic: This ethnographic study addresses the overrepresentation of African American youth referred for academic instruction in classes for learners identified as having behavioral/emotional disorders. The author suggests ways to understand culturally socialized behaviors and to use more culturally responsive pedagogy.

Making the Case: Linking Prevention to Academic Success (TRAINING) -- (10-22-03) -- The Safe and Drug Free Schools Program within the Minnesota Department of Education is presenting a series of full day workshops linking prevention efforts to academic success in students. Topics covered will include: how to involve parents in schools, the research behind "best practices" in prevention; what the Minnesota Student Survey data tells us about Minnesota youth; the link between tobacco use and other risk behaviors; highlights of the newest prevention curriculum; and safe schools and what that means in Minnesota. Seven cities have been selected as sites for the trainings.

Opportunities Available through the Red River Center for Watershed Education -- (02-12-07) -- Opportunities available through the Red River Center for Watershed Education that were mentioned at the Feb. 7, 2007, Carol M. White grant meeting.

2005 Grant Forms -- (01-01-06) -- Forms used in 2005 for the Prairie Winds - Carol M. White grant

Carol M. White - Prairie Winds Grant Forms -- (01-01-06) -- Contains the following forms for the Prairie Winds - Carol M. White grant: Tracking, Quarterly Report Cover and Quarterly Activity as well as examples of how each form should be completed.

2004 Child Care Survey: Family, friend and neighbor care supply and demand -- (11-05-07) -- Fundamental facts from the 2004 child care survey

Free Braille Books Program -- (01-09-09) -- In 1997, the AAF started this program to provide blind children a free Braille book every month from a popular children's reading series. The books are for the children to keep and collect for as long as they want them. Blind youth, blind parents, teachers of the blind, schools, and libraries serving the blind are eligible to participate in this program.

Celebrate Adoption: A Circus of the Heart - Oct. 29 -- (10-12-06) -- This event will recognize the adoptions of more than 730 children under Minnesota state care last year.

MN Extension schedules regional workshops on teaching "Positive Parenting" -- (09-29-04) -- Where can professionals who work with parents turn for help with teaching good parenting skills? To the University of Minnesota Extension Service and its award-winning curriculum, "Positive Parenting." Three workshops are being held on November 4, 2004.

Workshop: MACMH February/March 2010 -- (02-08-10) -- Training Topics • How Observation Skills Guide Birth to Three Mental Health Work • Using Multiple Perspectives in Relationship-based Work with Children Birth to Three and Their Parents • Promoting Infant Mental Health: Working with Families in Transition • Adolescents and Reactive Attachment Disorder: Advances in Treatment and Parenting Strategies • Supporting Behavioral Regulation with Responsive Interactive Strategies: The Play to Talk Protocol • Child & Adolescent Depression, Self-harm and Suicide Risk: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment

Improving Care Coordination, Case Management, and Linkages to Service for Young Children: Opportunities for States -- (07-06-09) -- States can play an important role in improving care coordination and case management and strengthening linkages between primary care providers and other child and family service providers to promote and support the healthy development of young children. States can use primary care practice-based strategies, service provider linkage strategies, and systems change and cross-system strategies.

Action Strategies and Resources Guide: Promoting Children's Mental Health Screens and Assessments -- (07-06-09) -- The Action Strategies and Resources Guide, which is part of the Children's Mental Health Resource Kit, is designed to help promote access to and availability of mental health screens and assessments for children.

Financing Health Treatment for Children in Child Welfare -- (07-06-09) -- Alliance for Children and Families and United Neighborhood Centers of America (2009)

U study: Teens who think they'll die young live fast -- (06-29-09) -- A self-fulfilling prophecy? Teens who are less hopeful seem to engage in riskier behavior, a University of Minnesota study found. For example, they were seven times more likely to later be diagnosed with HIV or AIDS.

Hand in Hand: Academic Success and Social Success -- (04-23-09) -- A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown that children's academic accomplishments are directly related to their emotional health. The report recommends that schools use the resources they already have on hand to provide mental health services for students, but need to focus on making these services a part of the mainstream academic experiences for more students.

What Makes a Difference for Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Needs? -- (02-03-09) -- This presentation is based on a sub sample of the 59 youth participants and includes low income European American (EA) and African American (AA) transition-age youth with mental health needs.

Starting Points for Communities Developing New Transition Programs for Young People with Mental Health Difficulties -- (02-03-09) -- This document offers tips to school and agency staff involved in developing transition programs for youth with mental health difficulties.

Autism Spectrum Disorders Survey for Parents - closes Feb. 15, 2009 -- (02-02-09) -- The purpose of this survey is to collect data regarding various issues for individuals with autism in Minnesota . This data will be used by the Minnesota Autism Task Force to make recommendations to the Minnesota State Senate and Governor.

Unclaimed Children Revisited: Findings on Family- and Youth-Responsive Services -- (01-15-09) -- The overall goal of Unclaimed Children Revisited is to address how well states are serving children and youth at risk for and with mental health conditions. To that end, the report addresses many issues concerning how current child mental health policies across the United States respond to the needs of children and youth with mental health problems, those at risk, and their families. This Data Trends summary specifically summarizes the results related to youth and family engagement.

Dare to Dream America Program - Deadline 6/30/09 -- (01-15-09) -- The Dare to Dream America Program provides an opportunity for youth (23 years of age and under) to get involved in mental health awareness activities. Successful applicants are awarded a grant up to $1000 to do projects that promote mental health awareness. Application deadline is June 30, 2009.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Student Benefits -- (12-03-08) -- A new brief from SAMHSA reports a strong positive impact of social and emotional learning (SEL) instruction on student academic achievement. The brief reports that in addition to significantly improving a broad range of student health and behavioral outcomes, SEL improves students' school performance as well.

Gap Analysis of the Resource Synthesis Related to Integrating Mental Health in Schools into the Recommendations of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health -- (11-19-08) -- This report presents analyses of the synthesis of online, noncommercial resources that have relevance for advancing efforts to integrate mental health in schools into the New Freedom Initiative

Out-of-Home Services for Emotional or Behavioral Problems among Youths Aged 12 to 17: 2002 to 2006 -- (11-14-08) -- Combined 2002 to 2006 data from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that an estimated 2.6% of youths aged 12 to 17 reported receiving out-of-home services for emotional or behavioral problems in the past 12 months in a hospital, a residential treatment center or a foster care or therapeutic foster care setting.

Mental Health Service Use among Youths Aged 12 to 17: 2005 and 2006 -- (11-14-08) -- Combined 2005 and 2006 data from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that an annual average of 3.3 million youths aged 12 to 17 (13.3%) received services for emotional or behavioral problems in a specialty mental health setting in the past year.

Out-of-Home Services for Emotional or Behavioral Problems among Youths Aged 12 to 17: 2002 to 2006 -- (09-25-08) -- During the past two decades, there have been marked changes in inpatient, residential, and foster care services for children and adolescents with emotional or behavioral problems.

Supporting Children's Mental Health with Six Key Strategies: Why Early Childhood Makes a Difference! Sept. 22 - Dec. 15, 2008 -- (09-17-08) -- This is a series of courses addressing children's mental health beginning September 22 and ending December 15th, 2008.

Disseminating Evidence-Based Practice for Children and Adolescents: A Systems Approach to Enhancing Care -- (08-21-08) -- Concerned that up to 75% of US children and adolescents with mental health disorders do not receive evidence-based treatment, an American Psychological Association (APA) task force is calling for greater dissemination of guidelines among mental health professionals.

MACMH seeking New Board Members -- (08-04-08) -- The Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH) is looking for committed individuals to serve on the Board of Directors.

Children's Perspectives of Their Mental Health Services -- (07-16-08) -- This literature review attempted to summarize research examining foster children's perspectives of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Given the dearth of information on this topic, the authors instead reviewed the literature on children's and youth's perspectives of mental health services.

Community integration of transition-age individuals: Views of young adults with mental health disorders -- (07-14-08) -- This study sought to examine what community integration means to young adults with mental health disorders. More specifically, it examined their definitions of community integration, the ways in which they strive to achieve community integration, and the barriers and supports they encounter.

Gene clues suggest autism strikes when brain can't learn properly from early life experiences -- (07-10-08) -- Harvard researchers have discovered half a dozen new genes involved in autism that suggest the disorder strikes in a brain that can't properly form new connections.

"Great Start" Project Bolsters Children's Mental Health -- (06-12-08) -- As Mental Health Month and Children's Mental Health Week (May 4 through 10) are observed this year, mental health care for young Minnesota children and their families is stronger because of the Great Start Minnesota Project.

"Great Start" Project Bolsters Children's Mental Health -- (05-21-08) -- As Mental Health Month and Children's Mental Health Week (May 4 through 10) are observed this year, mental health care for young Minnesota children and their families is stronger because of the Great Start Minnesota Project.

Homeless Youth Need Spectrum of Services, Report Says -- (05-14-08) -- Getting homeless kids off the streets requires a broad array of services including addiction and mental-health care, work opportunities, education, and medical care -- with the latter three the most important factors -- according to researchers.

Public Attitudes towards Children with Mental Health Conditions -- (05-08-08) -- These two studies examine the cultural context and public attitudes regarding children with mental health conditions and available treatments.

Disorders are more likely in adopted teenagers -- (05-06-08) -- Adolescents adopted as infants are twice as likely to have behavioral disorders as those who are not adopted, according to research published Monday that is the deepest analysis yet of the larger mental health burden carried by some adopted children.

The Wakanheza Project -- (04-26-08) -- The Wakanheza Project is a community-wide effort that provides tools and strategies to help us effectively respond in these every-day situations and prevent them from happening in the first place, by creating welcoming environments for our children, young people, and families.

5th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support - Mar. 27, 28, and 29, 2008 -- (03-20-08) -- The Association for Positive Behavior Support (APBS) is an international organization dedicated to promoting research-based strategies that combine applied behavior analysis and biomedical science with person-centered values and systems change to increase quality of life and decrease problem behaviors. The Association is made up of professionals, family members, trainers, consumers, researchers, and administrators who are involved and interested in positive behavior support.

Impact of Early Trauma on Residential Treatment Outcomes for Women -- (03-13-08) -- A growing body of research is demonstrating that exposure to early childhood physical and sexual abuse is associated with adult outcomes including revictimization, substance use disorders, and numerous mental and physical health problems.

Blamed and Ashamed -- (03-03-08) -- This unique monograph documents the treatment experiences of youth with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders from the perspective of youth and their families.

New Roles for Families in Systems of Care -- (03-03-08) -- Volume I of the 1998 series of monographs, Systems of Care: Promising Practices in Children's Mental Health, provides background on how families raising children with mental health needs have found and developed their voice to become strong partners and assertive leaders in developing a better system of care.

Mental Health in School & School Improvement: Current Status, Concerns, and New Directions -- (02-14-08) -- Advancing the field at this seminal time in its evolution requires widespread exploration of where we are going and how to get there. Because of the urgency for moving forward in creating a school environment that promotes mental health and reduces problems, the School Mental Health Project, UCLA - Center for Mental Health in Schools has just completed this volume which they've made accessible at no cost and with no restrictions on its use.

Family Participation in Action: Are Families Actually Involved? -- (01-23-08) -- Family participation in educational planning is believed to improve the academic success of children with disabilities. It is also a fundamental right of parents and an essential component of special education legislation. This article reports on family perceptions of their participation in educational planning for their children.

Are Brothers and Sisters a Good Source of Support? -- (01-23-08) -- This longitudinal study investigated the effects of positive sibling relationships on the mental health of children who experience stressful life events.

FosterClub's Guide for Young People in Foster Care: Getting Through the Holidays -- (12-19-07) -- Lots of people talk about how stressful the holidays can be. But it can be REALLY tough for young people in foster care. This guide includes 10 tips for youth in foster care, developed by young people who know first-hand what it's like.

Youths and Young Adults Experiencing a Major Depressive Episode in the Past Year More Likely to Initiate Alcohol and Other Drug Use -- (12-12-07) -- Youths and young adults who experienced a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year are more likely to have also used alcohol or illicit drugs for the first time in the past year.

Prozac Can Help Teens with Co-occurring Addictions, Mental Illness, Researchers Say -- (11-16-07) -- Adolescents with co-occurring addictions and depression can benefit from a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and fluoxetine (Prozac) in cases where therapy alone does not appear to be improving their depressive symptoms.

Perceptions and Expectations of Youth with Disabilities -- (11-07-07) -- The National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), funded by the National Center for Special Education Research at the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, was initiated in 2001 to provide a national picture of the characteristics and experiences of youth with disabilities, including their perceptions of themselves, their schooling, their personal relationships, and their hopes for the future. This report presents findings drawn from the first time data were collected directly from youth on these topics; they were ages 15 through 19 at the time (2003).

Youth Fact Sheets (developed by youth with special health care needs) -- (11-06-07) -- Youth Fact Sheets are a series of six fact sheets developed and edited by youth with special health care needs. Topics include planning for technical or 4-year college, how to get supports in the workplace, how to be involved in the Individual Education Planning process and others.

The Autism Spectrum: Curricular Adaptations & Adolescent Issues - October 16-17, 2007 -- (10-08-07) -- The Autism Spectrum is a two-day workshop that discusses Adolscent Issues with Chantal Sicile-Kira and Curricular Adaptations with Patrick Schwartz. You can attend one or both days. Different pricing is set for professionals and parents.

Depressed Adolescents Respond Best to Combination Treatment -- (10-04-07) -- A combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication appears to be the most effective treatment for adolescents with major depressive disorder--more than medication alone or psychotherapy alone.

Regional LAC meeting - Save the date - Oct. 18 -- (10-02-07) -- We are looking forward to coming together again to hold our Regional Local Advisory Council for Children's Mental Health meeting. We are pleased to see the expansions of Local Advisory Councils while others are in the process of developing their Local Advisory Council. This is also an exciting time for Children's Mental Health Services with the "Our Children Succeed Initiative".

Developing Goals and Related Services to Meet Mental Health Needs - Oct. 16 -- (10-02-07) -- The Local Advisory Council is proud to collaborate with PACER on a free training coming to Crookston. This free workshop is for parents whose child has a disability and co-occuring mental health need. Topics include understanding your child's educational rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004), understanding and using the Functional Behavioral Assessment, developing strategies to help your child succeed in school, and learning how to become more involved in your child's educational experience.

Understanding ADHD: Examining Racial Differences -- (09-29-07) -- This study identifies several racial differences concerning knowledge about ADHD, its treatment, and services for children with the diagnosis. It finds that African-American parents have less information about ADHD and are less likely to be aware of school-based services for children with ADHD than Caucasian parents.

Double Jeopardy: Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders in Young People - Oct. 18th -- (09-17-07) -- The heads of both the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will deliver addresses at the upcoming CASACONFERENCE, Double Jeopardy: Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders in Young People.

Hidden Heroes: How Deployment Impacts "Suddenly Military" Kids - 30 events through Sept. 27 -- (09-07-07) -- This free workshop is open to any member in the community—neighbors, business people, youth and family service providers, educators, counselors, clergy—-anyone who wants to become aware of how to support those families with “suddenly military” kids in your community before, during, and after deployment. Certificates for two contact hours will be available.

The Financial Effects of Parity Laws on Families of Children with Mental Health Care Needs -- (08-15-07) -- This article examines the financial impact of state parity laws on privately-insured families seeking mental health services for their children.

Literature Review: Developmental Problems of Maltreated Children and Early Intervention Options for Maltreated Children -- (08-07-07) -- The goal of this paper is to describe the most common problems that maltreated infants and toddlers experience and to highlight the benefits of early interventions for this population. In so doing, child welfare personnel and policymakers who are responsible for assessing, referring, and advocating for maltreated children can make more informed decisions.

Qualities to Look for in Mental Health Consultation for Early Childhood Settings -- (07-11-07) -- This study found that the quality of the relationship between a mental health consultant and Head Start staff is predictive of positive perceived impact on child outcomes.

School-Based Mental Health Professionals -- (07-04-07) --

Balancing Work and Family: Challenge of Parents with Children with Mental Health Disorders -- (06-14-07) -- This study sought to examine the relations among work-family fit, flexibility in work and family arrangements, family support, and quality of parenting and work roles for caregivers who have children with emotional or behavioral disorders.

Attachment, Brain Development and Behavior: Why and What to Do About It? June 18 -- (06-13-07) -- Join popular trainer and therapist, Deena McMahon, for a afternoon of information about how attachment, brain development and trauma affect the behavior of children and the functioning of families. CEUs available.

MPLN Carolyn Nava Leadership Training - April 20 & 21 or May 18 & 19 -- (05-07-07) -- MPLN is inviting members and parents (or primary caregivers) of children with mental health disorders who are actively working in leadership roles our communities to attend an upcoming tow day training. This training will provide participants with the tools and strategies necessary for effective leadership in our ever changing environments. The training will be held April 20-21 in Hutchinson, MN and repeated May 18-19 in Brainerd, MN.

Staying Together - Many training dates -April 25 - June 26 -- (05-07-07) -- The MN Dept. of Humans Services (DHS) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-MN) are co-sponsoring a voluntary placement training entitled "Staying Together." The training is free.

Introduction to Infant Mental Health - June 4 - Aug. 6 -- (04-25-07) -- This course is designed for professionals interested in an introduction to the field of infant mental health and intervention with infants, toddlers, and their parents. Readings, video, and observational tasks are included to familiarize students with the foundations of infant mental health and direct work with infants and parents. While not a clinical class, this course attempts to introduce the role and function of the infant mental health specialist and the use of relationship and reflection in work with families.

Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment -- (04-02-07) -- This free, bilingual kit helps families with 3- to 5-year-olds cope with challenges and concerns related to pre-deployment, deployment, and homecoming. Including a DVD with the beloved Muppets from Sesame Street, and a magazine and poster for parents or caregivers.

The Effectiveness of Strength-Based Treatment for Youth with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders -- (03-31-07) -- This article assesses the effectiveness of strength-based approaches to treating youth with emotional or behavioral disorders, focusing on the importance of practitioner beliefs and attitudes regarding strength-based practice. The influence of fidelity on strength-based treatment is also explored.

Stressed Out Teens - March 22 -- (03-14-07) -- Roni Cohen-Sandler, Ph.D., will present "Stressed Out Teens", an inside look at how the cultural, familial and educational pressure to achieve is insidiously harming today's teens. Far more than adults realize, middle school and high school students are reeling under the current academic "achievement frenzy."

DC:0-3 Diagnostic Procedures and Infant and Toddler Mental Health workshops - Apr. 10-12 -- (03-13-07) -- Great Start Minnesota, DHS, in partnership with Minnesota Children with Special Health Needs, MDH, is offering a series of workshops. April, 10. 11, 12. Shooting Star Conference Center, Mahnomen

ACTION ALERT FROM ANDREA AYRES, POLICY ADVOCATE, FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SERVICE -- (03-06-07) -- The anti-psychiatry group EdWatch has been attacking the bill that would fund the Columbia TeenScreen program. As many of you know, this is an excellent program that seeks to identify teenagers who are risk for suicide and potentially suffering from a mental illness to ensure that they receive a complete evaluation. It requires parental and student permission.

2006-07 LESSONS FROM THE FIELD: Attachment Workshop Series Feb. 5, Mar. 29 and Apr. 25 -- (01-31-07) -- As part of its Lessons from the Field Series, the Center of Excellence in Children's Mental Health at the University of Minnesota is sponsoring a series of 4 workshops focused on attachment theory and interventions. Response to the first workshop held in October was very positive and we are excited to offer the next workshop in the series to be held on February 5, 2007 at Coffman Union on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota. This workshop will also be available via video streaming at the University of Minnesota Crookston Campus. **Room Change for Feb. 5th at the UMC. This will be in 101 Dowell Hall. **

The CYFD School Mental Health Workgroup encourages your participation in the upcoming December National TA Conference Call sponsored by the Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development (GUCCHD) on "Systemic Approaches to School Mental Health." - Dec. 21 -- (12-07-06) -- The announcement is on the GUCCHD, National TA Center for Children's Mental Health website, through the link pasted below. Registration is required -- and space is limited. Please register to join the call.

Great Start Minnesota: Integrating Primary Medical Care and Mental Health Services for Young Children - Nov. 18 -- (11-02-06) -- Be part of efforts to identify and help our state's young children with developmental, emotional, or behavioral barriers to their healthy development. Hear from some Minnesota colleagues who are working to ensure that every child has a chance to grow and thrive.

Workshop: Children who have Special Needs Nov. 2 or 3 -- (10-26-06) -- A focus on Neurologic Concerns of Young Children; Sleep Disorders; Obesity and Weight; Management; Mental Health and Depression; Assistive Technology and Powered Mobility; Cerebral Palsy Over the Lifetime. Family Workshop Nov. 2, Professional Workshop Nov. 3 (St. Cloud)

Early Childhood Training Opportunity - Oct. 18 - Free Videoconference -- (10-07-06) -- Drawing on over 30 years of longitudinal research at the University of Minnesota, this workshop will provide a detailed foundation for understanding parent-child attachment. The primary focus will be on how different patterns of attachment develop between child and parent/care-giver and how those patterns affect development and relationships across the lifespan. The presentation also will include research findings on factors shown to enable individuals to move beyond unhealthy attachment histories, with a specific emphasis on recent research on "attachment state of mind." The workshop will also provide attendees with a knowledge of attachment resources and expertise currently available at the University of Minnesota.

Children with Disabilities: How Can We Keep Them Safe? videoconference Oct. 24 -- (09-20-06) -- Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Human Services Children's Trust Fund, is offering the videoconference workshop.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Study: What Can We Learn? videoconference Nov. 28 -- (09-20-06) -- Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Human Services Children's Trust Fund, is offering the videoconference workshop.

How to Cope with Back to School Stress -- (08-31-06) -- The school year presents an opportunity for a fresh start, getting together with old and new friends, new accomplishments and exciting activities - a measure of growth. A new vibration can be felt in the air. Instead, in many households anxiety, stress and even sadness reign.

Safe and Healthy Learners Conference to be held in St. Cloud on November 8-9, 2006 -- (05-30-06) -- This conference is relevant for public health professionals, school administrators and educators, early childhood educators and parenting educators. The conference will include sessions on brain development and learning, and sessions on how social emotional learning competencies are linked to academic success. Other sessions will focus on the relationship between culture and healthy child/youth development. There is also a call for presenters.

Recognizing Early-Onset Mental Health Disorders - Jun 15th, 22nd or 26th -- (05-22-06) -- Mental health disorders in children are more widespread than most adults believe. Educators are often among the first people to see that a child may be experiencing a problem. Training Services presents this 3-hour comprehensive child and adolescent mental health training for educators.

FASD May Cause Sleep Disruptions, Study Says -- (04-28-06) -- Prenatal alcohol exposure may disrupt the circadian rhythms of children later diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome disorders (FASD), contributing to sleep disruptions and other problems, researchers say.

Two FREE seminars: Infant Mental Health -- May 23&24, Crookston -- (04-25-06) -- Seminar 1: This seminar is designed for mental health professionals working within the infant-family field who have experience with diagnostic procedures using DSM-IV or ICD-9/10 criteria. In addition, a strong background in typical infant and child development is essential for this seminar which explores the underpinnings, diagnosis and treatment of developmental psychopathology in children and families. Seminar 2: This seminar is designed for professionals including public health nurses, early childhood and family educators, early childhood professionals, early intervention specialists, special education professionals, and others working with young children and their families. Offered May-June 2006 at several locations.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day - Thriving in the Community - May 8 -- (04-21-06) -- National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day will be a day for SAMHSA and the communities and grantees it supports to promote resilience, recovery, and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families.

Cultural Awareness Training: The Power of Parents United Across Cultures and Communities -- FREE -- May 19, 2006 -- (04-18-06) -- The Minnesota Parent Leadership Network is sponsoring a FREE training on cultural awareness in the area of children’s mental health for parents and professionals. Presenter is Sam Grant, faculty member at Metropolitan University since 1990. May 19, 2006

Recess Is At Risk, New Campaign Comes To The Rescue -- (03-30-06) -- Think recess is just child's play? Experts agree that playtime can be just as vital as classroom time to a child’s social, emotional and educational development. Earlier this month, in Washington, D.C., the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Cartoon Network announced the launch Rescuing Recess, a campaign that champions the importance of recess for kids and works to help keep and revitalize it in schools across the country.

Kids, Parents & Power Struggles: April 11 -- (03-06-06) -- Author and Parent Educator Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. Discover how to build a relationship that makes kids WANT to work with you; strategies for identifying the REAL feelings and needs that fuel power struggles; the secret to managing the intensity—YOURS and the CHILDREN'S; and tools to help you stop reacting and WIN COOPERATION.

Children and Loss: Recognizing and Supporting the Grieving Child - Feb. 25 -- (02-08-06) -- This workshop/course will prepare professional working with children and families to identify various types of loss experienced by children; recognize the individual child who is grieving/mourning; and identify multiple ways to help support children in their grieving and mourning.

Understanding Children's Mental Health Issues and the Impact on Learning and Everyday Functioning - Feb. 7 -- (01-24-06) -- The Minnesota Department of Education is sponsoring an ITV Broadcast on the second module in the Understanding Children's Mental Health Issues and the Impact on Learning and Everyday Functioning series.

The Impact of Couple and Marital Relationships on Parenting and Child Outcomes, Dec. 2 and 9, 2005 -- (11-01-05) -- If you are a professional or a volunteer who works with families, a two-part satellite series scheduled for Friday, Dec. 2 and Friday, Dec. 9 may be the most important event you attend this year!

ADHD, Medication and Behavioral Strategies in Autism Spectrum Disorder Training: Nov. 1-2, 10-11 -- (10-28-05) -- Gain knowledge about standard medication treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disorders in "layman's" terminology. Increase understanding of the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that impact behavior and can foster communication breakdowns and feelings of being overwhelmed.

Training Seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort Database Jan. 11-13 -- (10-21-05) -- The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) database. ECLS-B is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to young children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development across multiple contexts (e.g., home, nonparental care, and school entry).

Introduction to Infant Mental Health - Oct. 17 to Dec. 16, 2005 -- (10-03-05) -- This online course is designed for professionals from education, health, and mental health who are interested in an introduction to the field of infant mental health and intervention with infants, toddlers and their parents. Readings, video, and observational tasks are included to familiarize students with the foundations of infant mental health and direct work with infants and parents. While not a clinical class, this course attempts to introduce the role and function of the infant mental health specialist and the use of relationship and reflection in work with families.

How to Create a Safe and Respectful School Climate Forum - Oct. 14 -- (09-23-05) -- Nationally recognized research shows students' health and future success are closely linked to how connected they feel to their school. Feeling connected to school is also associated with lower levels of violent behavior, and protects students from cigarette, alcohol and drug use. However bullying and other disruptive behavior disconnects students from school. Schools are seeking practical solutions to create a positive climate and build connections with students. Our presenter will be Shelley Freeman, an educator, author and consultant. She will talk about teasing, harassment, bullying and physical violence. She will also address how to create a safe and respectful environment, which builds student connectedness to schools.

Dads and Early Childhood Development: Connecting dads and children through literacy and early education (Crookston, Sept. 29th) -- (09-19-05) -- A series of half-day seminars, titled "Dads and Early Childhood Development: Connecting dads and children through literacy and early education," will focus on developmentally appropriate literacy activities, the influence of gender on reading habits, and the role of father-figures in children's literacy development. The sessions will promote an understanding of the influences of talking, reading, singing, and playing as tools for expanding literacy.

Outcomes for Youth Following Psychiatric Emergencies -- (09-13-05) -- This article presents results of an investigation of outcomes for youth following referral for emergency mental health services, and randomly assigned to either home-based multisystemic therapy (MST) or hospitalization. The findings indicate that outcomes for youth receiving intensive mental health services are influenced by a complex array of clinical and psychosocial factors.

Research to Practice: Intensive Early Treatment With Our Highest Risk Children: September 30, 2005 -- (09-13-05) -- This mini-conference will showcase a local day treatment program for very young children with serious emotional and behavioral disorders, and will illustrate the continuous feedback process of a University-community partnership in developing a theory- and research-based treatment program in the context of a community mental health setting.

Introduction to Children's Mental Health: An Overview of Anxiety, Depression, Attention and Behavior Disorders -- FREE training event August 25-26 and Sept. 29-30, 2005 -- (08-19-05) -- The Minnesota Department of Education is sponsoring FREE training events to introduce the first in a series of four training modules about the provision of appropriate mental health services for children and youth with disabilities.

2nd Annual Youth Intevention Summer Institute - Working with Challenging Youth -- (06-02-05) -- Consistently over the past few years, attendees at YIPA professional development workshops have asked for a more in-depth training opportunity, focusing on practical application of theory and methods. In order to meet this need, a four-day Youth Intervention Summer Institute was first offered Summer of 2004. The Institute was designed to integrate research, theory and innovative practices and provide participants with the necessary constructs to apply these teachings in their respective settings/locales. Based upon feedback from last year's participants, this year's format has been expanded to include topic specific workshops as well as a case study session. The Institute is appropriate for human service, social workers, educators, school administrators, corrections and mental health professionals. June 20-23, 2005.

Early Childhood Mental Health Summer Institute -- (05-26-05) -- A statewide training event for Head Start and its Community Partners - July 25-27, Roseville, MN.

Hurt, Hope, and Healing: Supporting Stressed and Traumatized Children in the Early Childhood Classroom - ITV Workshop - May 20th, 2005 -- (05-10-05) -- The needs and emotions of the highly stressed or traumatized young child can overwhelm their teachers and classrooms. Whether it is an angry child throwing chairs, a fearful child running away, or a sad child who never joins in play, highly stressed children can create highly stressed classrooms and highly stressed teachers. Supporting children through relationship-based teaching and responding to the underlying questions, beliefs, and emotions of children will be discussed.

Aging Out of Foster Care Videoconference - May 25, 2005 -- (05-09-05) -- How can Minnesota county and private agency child welfare professionals best help youth making the transition from the foster care system to independent living? How do we identify youths' needs, prepare them to make decisions and create a life-long support system? What is our role? Here's an opportunity to discuss these issues and learn more at the Aging Out of Foster Care Videoconference on May 25, 2005, from 1:30-4:00 PM.

FATHERHOOD: Being a Dad, Husband, and Son in the 21st Century - April 12, 2005 -- (04-06-05) -- As part of "Month of the Young Child" and "Child Abuse Prevention Month," Parents Helping Parents is sponsoring an insightful evening with Mike Anderson from the Northwestern Mental Health Center on April 12, 2005. His focus will be on the importance of a male role model in a child's life.

Inside the Adolescent Brain: Information for Professionals Working with Youth Flyer - June 15, 2005 -- (04-06-05) -- Dr. David Walsh will use the latest scientific findings on adolescent brain development to explain what happens to the adolescent brain during the journey into adulthood. This is a one day conference that would be of interest to state and county level public health and social services and correction professionals, program administrators, special education/special needs professionals, school nurses, and child/adolescent health care providers.

Social and Emotional Distress among American Indian and Alaska native Students: Research Findings -- (03-23-05) -- Many American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth are repeatedly exposed to opportunities to participate in self destructive and illegal behaviors. This Digest examines risk factors associated with the four contexts within which AI/AN students grow and develop: peer groups, families, schools, and communities.

Introduction to DC: 0-3 - Diagnosing Mental Health and Developmental Disorders in Very Young Children -- (03-07-05) -- April 27, 2005 - This interactive workshop introduces mental health practitioners and other interested professionals to a cutting edge system for diagnosing emotional and developmental disorders of very young children. This system, developed by ZERO TO THREE with a diverse task force of infant mental health clinicians and researchers, takes into account the unique sensory, developmental, and relational needs of very young children.

ADHD, Aspergers, OCD and Tourettes: Assessments and Clinical & Classroom Interventions for Children & Adolescents Seminar -- March 7, 2005, Fargo -- (01-24-05) -- Participants will review the latest research and progress in neuroscience, evaluate individual differences and manifestations of each disorder as well as co-morbid disorders. We will explore current treatment trends including medication, psychotherapy, behavior modification and complementary and integrative medicine approaches. The seminar will conclude with the most effective ways to integrate clinical information into the educational setting focusing on classroom set-up, teaching strategies and behavior management in the classroom.

Before the Storm Hits: Establishing and Maintaining Patterns of Positive Social Interactions Between Toddlers who Engage in Challenging Behavior and Others in Their Environment -- (01-04-05) -- FREE workshop to be presented on Jan. 25: This workshop is designed for educators and parents of children between birth and age three with an interest in learning more about: The emergence of social/communicative interactions in young children; Strategies to maximize positive social exchanges; Strategies that are useful in avoiding the emergence of coercive interactions

ADHD Symptom Overview -- (10-22-03) -- Although ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)is popularly discussed as one condition, in fact there are three "subtypes," identified by differing clusters of ADHD symptoms. If you're concerned about someone who has or may have ADHD, it can be useful to know this. In addition, it can help if you're familiar with the "core symptoms" of ADHD.

Peer Stigmatization of Childhood Depression and ADHD -- (10-29-08) -- Topic: This article examined the level of stigmatizing attitudes in children and adolescents towards peers with two common mental health conditions: depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD: How to Build Your Team at School -- (04-07-08) -- You are the expert on your child. Sharing insights and techniques that seem to help your son or daughter pay attention can be valuable to your child's teacher. Children spend a large portion of their day in school. That's why it is so important to establish a good relationship with teachers and other members of the school staff.

Study links father's age and risk of bipolar child -- (09-02-08) -- Children born to older fathers face a greater chance of developing bipolar disorder, according to one of the largest studies linking mental illness with advanced paternal age.

Bipolar Youth at Higher Risk of Addiction -- (06-05-08) -- Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) say that adolescents with bipolar disorder are more likely to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Major Depressive Episode among Youths Aged 12 to 17 in the United States: 2004 to 2006 -- (05-13-08) -- A 3 page short report based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), provides annual averages of the rate of past year major depressive episodes, depression related levels of impairment, average number of days of inability to carry out normal activities due to depression, and history of previous depressive episodes.

Whose Life Is It Anyway? -- (11-06-07) -- How One Teenager, Her Parents, and Her Teacher View the Transition Process for a Young Person with Disabilities

Transition to Adult Health Care: A Training Guide in Two Parts -- (11-06-07) -- This training guide is intended to serve as a framework for anyone interested in helping young people with special health care needs and their parents prepare for the transition to adult health care. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines a child with special health care needs.

Stories of Transition to the Adult World -- (11-06-07) -- The road to adulthood is rarely smooth, even for young people who have had the best possible preparation. When a young person has a significant disability, that journey can be even more challenging. Work experiences can be harder to come by and require more support. A young person may have to learn how to manage medications and talk to doctors along with learning how to cook and balance a checkbook. Inadequate transportation and long county waiting lists further complicate the ability to live and work in the community.

The Power of Peer Mentoring -- (11-06-07) -- The Power of Peer Mentoring is a guide to developing a peer mentoring program between youth with special health care needs and young adults who have similar special health care needs and/or life experiences. Included are guidelines for setting up a mentoring program, sample marketing materials and helpful tips for success.

Impact of Trauma on the Developing Child - HANDOUTS from Feb. 13, 2008 -- (02-20-08) -- Abigail Gewirtz, Ph.D., Family Social Science faculty member at the University of Minnesota and Project Director of the Minnesota Child Response Center, will be leading this workshop on trauma and its impact on the developing child. Dr. Jodi Boerger will be hosting a follow-up discussion (12:30 – 1:30 pm) with a free box lunch regarding the content of the training.

** Newsletter Notice ** -- (12-21-07) -- There will be no newsletter the week of December 24th.

2007 Annual Meeting PowerPoint Presentations -- (11-02-07) -- These are the PowerPoint presentations from the 2007 Council of Collaboratives Annual Meeting that was held on October 31, 2007 at the Bede Ballroom, University of Minnesota, Crookston.

FOCUS GROUP: Mental Health Services Related to Juveniles in the Criminal Justice System - Aug. 23 -- (08-16-07) -- The purpose of the meetings (which will take place all over the state) is to bring back from the related fields information as to the service needs and successes in order to impact positive change on a state wide basis in direct services to adolescents. sponsored by the Department of Corrections and Department of Human Services.

Carol M. White Physical Education Grant News! -- (06-24-05) -- Congratulations! It was announced that the Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives has been awarded a Carol M. White physical education grant. This grant was written by Faye Auchenpaugh, Dawn Ganje and the Northwest Minnesota Service Co-op. The award is for $490,278 and additional details will follow as they are available

Safe Schools/Healthy Students' Initiative Annual Meeting -- (03-30-05) -- April 1, 2005 from 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM at the Northland Inn.

Grant Writers added to the Grantwriters' Clearinghouse -- (03-31-03) -- Four grant writers entered into the Grant Writers' Clearinghouse include talented individuals ready to write grants on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Program Evaluation, Collaboratives, Juvenile Justice, Adult Corrections, Adolescent Health, Disaster Recovery and Human Resources

Elementary School Counselor Grant Submitted -- (05-21-02) -- NMCC submitted a grant application to the Department of Education on behalf of nine school districts to hire elementary school counselors. The project is worth approximately $380,000 per year for three years.

NMF Partnerships For Children Grant Awarded For Five County Initiative To Improve Services For Children And Families -- (04-23-02) -- The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) recently awarded a Partnerships for Children grant for $40,000 to a coalition of 38 organizations in Polk, Marshall, Norman, Red Lake and Kittson Counties. Tri-County Community Corrections, acting as fiscal agent for the project, is one of the partners, who have been named the Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives.

Grant Goes to Collaboratives -- (04-23-02) -- The Northwest Minnesota Foundation recently awarded a $40,000 Partnerships for Children grant to the Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives.

Update on Family Voice and Choice Network meetings -- (05-20-09) -- The Family Voice and Choice Network will be meeting every 3rd Wednesday at Tri-Valley Opportunity Council from 1:00 - 3:00 pm until further notice.

Crookston Skatepark Grand Opening, Oct. 15 -- (10-10-07) -- Everyone is invited to see our new Crookston Skatepark located at Highland Complex, next to the clubhouse. Hot cider and treats to be served!

OCS Celebration Calendar -- (03-31-09) -- This calendar is a representation of life in Northwestern Minnesota, recognizing and celebrating our differences as part of what makes this such a special place to live. UPDATED to add the Braille version.

NASW Paper on Institutional Racism, 2007 -- (12-09-08) -- The purpose of this document is to address one key and significant social issue, institutional (also known as structural) racism.

Offering Technical Assistance to American Indian and Alaskan Native families: Clues From a Focus Group -- (03-04-08) -- This 24-page report provides information about the culturally specific technical assistance needs of Native American Families.

Offering Technical Assistance to American Indian and Alaskan Native families: Clues From a Focus Group -- (11-14-07) -- This 24-page report provides information about the culturally specific technical assistance needs of Native American Families.

Bridging Cultures, May 17 -- (05-11-06) -- Participants in this interactive event will learn about the differences between more collaborative and individualistic cultures, and how some of those differences can show up in school settings. Free online event, May 17 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm

2005 Achieving Cultural Competence in Substance Abuse Prevention Training -- (04-11-05) -- The following five Minnesota resource centers are offering one-day trainings about working with diverse populations.

America's Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2008 -- (07-14-08) -- Each year since 1997, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has published a report on the well-being of children and families.

KIDS COUNT Coffee - Oct. 30 -- (10-11-07) -- At this free community forum you will learn about the most recent data on the well-being of Minnesota children; receive specific data on children and families in your county; get updates about federal and state legislative efforts in health care, child care and early education; and discuss how to improve the lives of children in your area and beyond.

Half of Low-Income People Not Receiving Food Stamp Benefits -- (09-12-07) -- The National Priorities Projects' new analysis on 2004 county-level data and statistics focuses on the distribution of Food Stamp.

Event Dropout Rates for Public School Students in Grades 9-12: 2002–03 and 2003–04 -- (05-09-07) -- The report summarizes and compares event dropout rates for public high school students, by state, for 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Rural whites live longer, healthier than blacks, Indians, says study -- (09-14-06) -- Whites in rural America live longer than western Native Americans and most African Americans, partially because of factors like tobacco and alcohol use.

Digest of Education Statistics -- (08-23-06) -- The 41st in a series of publications initiated in 1962, the Digest’s primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons.

New Atlas of Minnesota-Online Launched -- (06-08-06) -- The Center for Rural Policy and Development announced the creation and release of a new web-based data and information tool called the Atlas of Minnesota-Online. Structured similarly to the center's popular hard copy atlas released in 2003, this new online version has approximately 140 updated maps divided into 11 chapters, analyzing everyting from median family income to DUI arrests to the percentage of eighth-graders who have passed the state's Basic Skills Test for mathematics.

KIDS COUNT Coffee! -- (04-11-05) -- At this Coffee on May 3, you will: learn about the economic well-being, health, education and safety of children in our community; learn about efforts at the Minnesota Legislature to support children and families and how we can help; and share our concerns and ideas about advocating for children and families with CDF staff.

Measuring the Years: State Aging Trends & Indicators -- (11-19-04) -- This publication is designed to identify current trends and future directions related to an aging America, and to assist state policymakers in creating programs and policies that respond to unique needs of the people in their state

Advanced Studies Database Training Seminar sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) -- (10-06-04) -- This is a 3½-day (January 10-13, 2005) advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) database. The ECLS-B is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to young children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and their health status across multiple contexts (e.g., home and child care). There is no fee to attend this seminar. NCES will provide training materials as well as computers for the hands-on practice. NCES will also pay for transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminar.

Department of Education Releases High School MCA Test Results -- (07-19-04) -- Department of Education officials released test results today from the 10th grade reading and 11th grade math Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). The tests were given during a one-week period in April of 2004. Seventy-eight percent of all students who took the test in reading passed the test, while seventy percent passed the math test.

Psychological First Aid - Operation Northern Comfort -- (09-29-05) -- A disaster is a… situation that causes human suffering or creates human needs that the victim cannot alleviate without assistance. It temporarily overwhelms the ability to maintain psychosocial equilibrium.

MDH Emergency Preparedness - Chart/Map -- (05-01-08) -- Public Health, Healthcare, and Behavioral Health Preparedness Regions and Teams Three-in-one: a single chart/map showing regional RHRCs, PHPCs, and RBHCs.

2007 Minnesota Citizen Corps Conference "PARTNERS IN PREPAREDNESS" - Sept. 14 and 15 -- (09-04-07) -- The Conference is being hosted by the Minnesota Citizen Corps Council. The Conference is open to all who are interested in making their communities safer, stronger, and better prepared for all types of hazards.

September is National Preparedness Month -- (07-17-07) -- Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be informed and get involved.

U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Sponsors Fourth Annual National Preparedness Month -- (07-06-07) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will sponsor the fourth annual National Preparedness Month this September and encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. This year's effort has a growing coalition of more than 625 national, regional, state, and local organizations pledging support.

First Responder Training: Reintegrating Returning Soldiers - Sept. 6 with their Families and Communities -- (08-01-06) -- Presentations, Exhibits and Community Resources on Issues Unique to Service Members -- FREE

Paper abstracts due for disaster readiness conference in Kansas -- (07-24-06) -- Papers are being sought for presentation at a national conference exploring how news media and local communities prepare for natural or man-made disasters. The conference will be held in Manhattan, Kansas, November 8-10, 2006.

IS-700 NIMS Awareness Training in FY06 -- (01-24-06) -- Who must take IS-700 NIMS before the end of FY06? All personnel with a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management or response must complete NIMS IS-700.

Coffee can survival kit for winter driving -- (11-28-05) -- If you're driving during the winter, you may be stuck in a winter storm. In case this happens, you should regularly keep certain emergency items in your car during the winter in addition to the obvious.

Hurricane Coloring Book -- (11-14-07) -- Coloring book for children who have survived a hurricane.

When Can We Go Home? -- (11-14-07) -- Children have to leave their homes for many reasons. This book is designed to help children do two things: cope with the reality of being away from their homes and develop the "emotional intelligence" skills they need to be resilient throughout life.

Pup's World -- (11-13-07) -- This interactive and educational coloring book is designed to help children understand and be prepared for disasters.

Homeless adults and their children in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota 2006 -- (11-05-07) -- This study gives a snapshot of the people experiencing homelessness in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota on a single day in October 2006.

Pandemic Influenza Newsletter - Nov/Dec 2007 -- (12-13-07) -- Get Informed ... Be Prepared. A newsletter for Minnesota organizations preparing for a possible influenza pandemic.

Pandemic Influenza Newsletter - Oct 2007 -- (11-13-07) -- Get Informed ... Be Prepared. A newsletter for Minnesota organizations preparing for a possible influenza pandemic.

Time-sensitive: Hepatitis A Outbreak -- (10-26-07) -- This is to inform you of a hepatitis A outbreak involving several cases and a number of possible exposure situations for residents of numerous Minnesota counties.

Time-sensitive: Minnesota residents possibly exposed to measles at international science fair -- (05-23-07) -- Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) staff are contacting 98 individuals around the state who may have been exposed to measles while attending an international science and engineering fair last week (May 14-18) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A measles case occurred in a student from India attending the fair. The fair was attended by teachers, students, and parents from 51 countries and all but four U.S. states. Exposures may have occurred on May 12-16.

U taking lead role in bird flu fight -- (04-03-07) -- From the Star Tribune: A new center, one of six in the nation, will focus on tracking and identifying viruses among waterfowl, poultry and swine.

State health department seeks help in addressing ethical issues that may arise during an influenza pandemic -- (03-12-07) -- The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is preparing to address some critical ethical issues that are likely to arise during a severe influenza pandemic.

Avian and Pandemic Influenza Regional Business Symposiums - Feb. 5 -- (01-31-07) -- You are invited to attend a pandemic influenza discussion-based tabletop exercise. If highly pathogenic avian influenza is found or if a human pandemic happens, collaboration between private industry and government is essential. Knowing your partners, what to expect and how to plan are key elements to business survival.

Minnesota to get $3.8 million for flu pandemic plan -- (07-12-06) -- Minnesota will receive up to $3.8 million from the federal government for more flu pandemic preparations.

Flu Center Opens at Riverview -- (10-23-09) -- Crookston Times article on the Flu Center at RiverView 800-743-6551 x9757

Emergency News Release Polk County -- (10-23-09) -- Polk County Public Health has limited H1N1 vaccine for Pregnant Women and Children age 6 months through 4 years only.

CDC: Update on the U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection -- (06-25-09) -- As of 7:00 PM ET on June 25, 2009, CDC is reporting 27,717 confirmed and probable cases and 127 deaths in 53 states and territories (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Talking to Children About Swine Flu (H1N1): A Parent Resource - PDF/Audio Versions -- (05-06-09) -- Handout for parents on talking with kids about the swine flu: The National Association of School Nurses (NASN), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) have partnered to develop and disseminate a handout for parents on talking to their children about the Swine Flu virus.

Flu shots found to be safe for kids 6 months to 2 years old -- (10-25-05) -- The biggest study ever to look at the side effects of flu shots in children confirmed the vaccine is safe for babies and toddlers.

Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Substance Abuse -- (02-14-08) -- Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Had Little Impact on Overall Substance Use and Mental Health Problems; Greatest Impact Seen on Persons Displaced from Their Homes

Southern MN flooding MH staff needed -- (09-07-07) -- MDH is coordinating a possible behavioral health response for Houston, Fillmore, and Winona counties impacting by flooding. The anticipated length of response is three weeks.

Officials offer recommendations for protecting respiratory health while doing flood cleanup work -- (08-19-07) -- State health officials are recommending that people take steps to protect their respiratory health if they do flood cleanup work that releases dust into the air.

Minnesota Goes "Code Ready" -- (06-13-07) -- New campaign helps Minnesotans prepare for disasters.

HSEM Update: Drought Response Activities -- (08-01-06) -- Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management Update on Drought Response Activities July 21, 2006

Talking with children about tragedy in the news -- (10-29-08) -- The news of a school shooting or any tragedy at a school can be very scary for a lot of children. The challenge in helping them cope with such an event is that it is also scary for many adults.

Pay attention to warning signs of violence -- (10-27-08) -- No single behavior predicts a student will become violent. A child or teen may exhibit several traits often cited as cause for concern -- such as being "different" or a loner -- that may simply mean he or she is a creative, independent individual.

Reviewing and Updating School Emergency Management Plans Web Cast -- (09-13-07) -- In the wake of recent school shootings and President Bush's Conference on School Safety, the U.S. Department of Education presented a one-hour Web cast to provide parents, educators, school administrators and local safety personnel with an opportunity to review key considerations related to school emergency management planning.

Crisis Management Plan -- (06-19-07) -- The Crisis Management Plan is a guide for school district and building administrators, school employees, students, School Board Members and community members as to how to address a wide range of potential crisis situations in the school district.

Emergency Action Guide -- (06-19-07) -- Stephen/Argyle Central School District Waterfall Emergency Action Guide

Training Opportunity: Counseling Traumatized Students - Aug. 15-16 -- (06-12-07) -- The Safe and Drug Free Schools Program at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will sponsor a 2-day training on counseling traumatized students at the MDE Conference Center, August 15-16, 2007. Cost will be $200 per participant. The curriculum, Cognitive Behavior Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) will be presented by the CBITS authors from UCLA and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Responding to the Children's Needs of the Returning Military - September 27 -- (09-06-07) -- Thousands of National Guard and Reserve Units are returning home to Minnesota. The impact of these deployments are felt not only on the solders but on their families and children. This briefing will discuss therapeutic approaches and coping skills with regards to the impact deployments and reunions have on children.

Army's Suicide Rate Spikes -- (08-28-07) -- The suicide rate in the U.S. Army is the highest it has been in 26 years, hitting a rate of 17.3 suicides per 100,000 soldiers in 2006.

Teaming up to fight terrorism at home -- (07-10-07) -- From the Star Tribune: At a conference in Minneapolis, experts said a collective effort is needed to prevent worst-case scenarios.

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon - July 10 -- (07-05-07) -- Important seminar to help our war zone veterans and their families. The Minnesota Army National Guard offers this free seminar to help inform, equip, and empower communities to help combat veterans and their families find the support they need to face the challenge of reintegration. Please make time to attend this seminar and learn how to help. The support you provide our combat veterans and their families will result in a healthier more productive citizen who will benefit all our communities.

Healthy Generations: War and Public Health -- (06-21-07) -- The University of Minnesota's Maternal & Child Health Program School of Public Health's publication Healthy Generations latest publication with the topic of War and Public Health.

Soft Targets Awareness Course - June 20 -- (05-15-07) -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff, is committed to reaching out to the 25 million businesses and organizations that make up America's public and private sectors. To fulfill that commitment, he has asked the Department's Protective Security Coordination Division (PSCD) and the Private Sector Office to team up and offer a Soft Targets Awareness Course for both the public and private sectors.

MSSA Training of Trainers Opportunity - May 16 -- (05-07-07) -- The Minnesota National Guard in cooperation with MSSA (Minnesota Social Service Association) is hosting an all day event for professionals on the 16th of May from 8:00am to 4:00pm. The training will take place at the MCIT Building located at 100 Empire Drive, St. Paul, MN. This training is open to professionals who have a passion to personally train Combat Veterans and their families on key Reintegration issues.

New report ranks Minnesota among top six states in preparing for a health-related terrorist attack -- (12-15-04) -- A new report places Minnesota among the top six states in the nation in preparing for a possible terrorist attack using biological, chemical or radiological agents.

Minnesota Scores 8 Out of 10 in Bioterrorism Preparedness Study; New National Report Finds Limited Progress, Most States Lack Basic Preparedness Capabilities Three Years After 9/11 -- (12-15-04) -- A report released December 14 by Trust for America's Health (TFAH) found that, despite incremental progress, three years after September 11, 2001, Americans are still at risk. There is still a long way to go to protect the American people from a bioterror attack.

Webinar: The Brain On Drugs March 25th, 2010: 12:00-1:00 PM CST -- (03-01-10) -- What really happens when drugs get into the bloodstream and to the brain? Do brain cells really die? Are the results different for adults and children, men and women? What has brain research taught us about drug prevention?

Senate Takes up FDA Tobacco Regulation Bill -- (06-15-09) -- This legislation would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products.

Dad's lesson: drink, drive -- (05-21-09) -- A driving lesson ended in a crash and the likelihood of alcohol-related charges against a father and his 17-year-old daughter, who police said were drinking vodka and whiskey before she got behind the wheel.

National Survey Finds a Decrease in the Percentage of Adolescents Seeing Substance Use Prevention Messages in the Media -- (04-27-09) -- A new national report issued during National Alcohol Awareness Month provides both discouraging and encouraging news about the state of efforts to inform young people about the risks of underage drinking and illicit substances.

Adolescent Development and Alcohol: Brain, Body, Behavior and Cultural Context - April 23, 2009 -- (03-13-09) -- In part two of our look at the interaction between alcohol and the developing adolescent brain, we will discuss not only the latest research on the pre-adolescent and adolescent brain, but also other aspects of adolescent physiology and psychosocial development and how they interact in response to alcohol exposure. This information can help enhance work with law enforcement, parents, communities and decision makers. Given developmental determinants, the question of how teens would be expected to interpret conflicting environmental messages underscores the need to be even more focused on environmental strategies.

The NSDUH Report: Marijuana Use and Perceived Risk of Use among Adolescents: 2002 to 2007 -- (01-08-09) -- SAMHSA's Office of Applied Studies (OAS) has just released The NSDUH Report: Marijuana Use and Perceived Risk of Use among Adolescents: 2002 to 2007, a 3 page short report based on data from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH) that provides trends in both adolescent’s marijuana use from 2002 to 2007 and of rates of their perceived great risk from smoking marijuana at least once a month. It found that adolescents who perceived great risk from smoking marijuana once a month were much less likely to have used marijuana in the past month than those who perceived moderate to no risk.

Underage Alcohol Use: Where Do Young People Get Alcohol? -- (12-08-08) -- This is a 3 page short report based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH) that provides data on how and where drinkers under the legal age, (i.e., drinkers aged 12 to 20) obtained alcohol and the impact on their level of drinking.

Trends in Substance Use, Dependence or Abuse, and Treatment Among Adolescents: 2002 to 2007 -- (12-08-08) -- This is a 3 page short report based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH) that provides data on the yearly prevalence of cigarettes, alcohol, illicit drugs, marijuana, nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs, and inhalant in the past month by youth as well as the percentage who met the criteria for alcohol or illicit drug dependence or abuse. This is important information for persons tracking trends in substance use, dependence, and treatment among youth.

National Red Ribbon Week - Oct. 23-31, 2008 -- (10-13-08) -- October 23–31, 2008, is National Red Ribbon Week, a time when millions of young people and adults show their support for healthy lifestyles by wearing or displaying a red ribbon. This nationwide celebration has become a major force for raising public awareness and mobilizing communities to combat underage drinking and illegal drug use among youth.

Underage Alcohol Use: Where Do Young People Drink? -- (09-04-08) -- The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asked past month alcohol users aged 12 to 20 how they obtained the last alcohol they drank and where they were when they consumed it. This issue of The NSDUH Report examines age-related changes in the locations where male and female underage drinkers use alcohol. It also examines differences by college enrollment and living situation for those aged 18 to 20. Findings presented in this report are based on 2006 NSDUH data.

Latino Parents Urged to Counteract Effects of Targeted Alcohol Ads -- (08-21-08) -- With Latino/Latina youths viewing a disproportionately high number of alcohol ads compared with other young people, parents need to have open discussions with their children so they will delay drinking.

Coping with School Stress is Number One Reason Given by Teens for Teen Drug Use -- (08-18-08) -- Nearly three-fourths (73%) of teens in grades 7 to 12 believe that "kids use drugs to deal with the pressures and stress of school," according data from the 20th annual Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS).

Youths Living in Permissive Households Significantly More Likely to Drink Heavily -- (08-14-08) -- Youths living in permissive households are more likely to drink heavily than those from nonpermissive Households, according to a longitudinal survey of youth attending South Dakota schools.

Navajo Council Votes to Ban Public Smoking -- (07-30-08) -- The Navajo Nation Council has voted to ban use of commercial tobacco in public buildings and shared air spaces at outdoor events, leaving it to Navajo Nation's president to decide whether to sign the measure into law.

45% of Young Drinkers Ages 12 to 14 Get Alcohol Free from Adult Family Members or Take from Home -- (07-15-08) -- Young drinkers ages 12 to 14 are more likely to get alcohol in their own home than other underage drinkers, according to a recent analysis of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Plummets, CDC Study Finds -- (07-14-08) -- Far fewer Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke than a decade ago, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study finds, and health advocates say that the findings show the need for more states to ban indoor smoking.

"21 for 21": Extreme Drinking by College Students to Celebrate Turning 21 -- (06-16-08) -- Four out of five college students (83%) drank to celebrate their 21st birthday, according to a longitudinal survey of students at a large midwestern university.

Call for Establishing 'World No Alcohol Day' -- (05-29-08) -- World No Tobacco Day has become an established rallying point for global tobacco prevention efforts, and now advocates would like to see a similar annual event aimed at alcohol use.

Youth Teaching Youth: Positive peer pressure -- (05-14-08) -- The program offers four to eight monthly sessions of classroom and facilitated, small-group seminars to students in 24 schools in the Fridley, Anoka-Hennepin, Columbia Heights, Spring Lake Park, St. Francis and Minnetonka districts.

Teen Smoking Lower in Towns with Bans -- (05-07-08) -- Teens living in towns with indoor-smoking bans were 40 percent less likely to become regular smokers than those living in communities that allow smokers to light up in restaurants and bars.

Parents Less Likely to Be Aware of Cigarette and Alcohol Use by Children Age 12 to 14 -- (05-07-08) -- Parents are less likely to be aware of a younger child’s cigarette and alcohol use than that of an older child.

NIDA Reports Good Results from Computer Counseling -- (04-30-08) -- A randomized controlled trial has found that addiction patients who received a computer learning program in addition to traditional counseling remained abstinent longer than those who received counseling alone.

Parent Awareness of Youth Use of Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Marijuana -- (04-24-08) -- The NSDUH Report: Parent Awareness of Youth Use of Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Marijuana, a 3 page short report, based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), provides data on substance use by youth as well as their parent's awareness of their substance use by father-only, mother-only, and two parent households.

1,600 Town Hall Meetings on Underage Drinking Scheduled -- (03-26-08) -- The federal government is cosponsoring a series of more than 1,600 town-hall meetings nationwide in March and April focused on the problem of underage drinking.

Model Youth Drinking Prevention Program Less Effective in Urban Community -- (03-24-08) -- A model prevention program that worked well in rural communities did not achieve the same results in curbing drinking among middle-school students in an urban area.

More Than One-Half a Million Adolescents Use Inhalants for the First Time Each Year; Commonly Available Products Most Likely to Be Used -- (03-24-08) -- An annual average of 593,000 adolescents ages 12 to 17 use inhalants for the first time each year, according to combined data from the 2002 to 2006 National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Random Student Drug Tests Banned in State of Washington -- (03-18-08) -- The Washington state Constitution prohibits random testing of student athletes for drugs, the state Supreme Court has ruled.

What You Need to Know About Drug Testing in Schools -- (03-18-08) -- From the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, this booklet is "designed to assist educators, parents, and community leaders in determining whether student drug testing is appropriate for their schools."

Alcohol prevention programs needed for 'tweens' -- (03-13-08) -- A study by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the University of Florida suggests that "tweens" should receive alcohol prevention programs prior to sixth grade, when nearly one in six children are already alcohol users.

FY2009 Federal Drug Control Budget Released -- (03-12-08) -- Prevention continues to receive a declining share of the federal drug control budget, according to the National Drug Control Strategy FY2009 Budget Summary released earlier this month by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

Researcher Warns of Early Addiction to Cigarettes -- (02-15-08) -- 'Very soon after that first cigarette, adolescents can experience a loss of autonomy over tobacco,' warns researcher Joseph R. DiFranza.

Characteristics of Adolescents Who Use Cannabis But Not Tobacco -- (02-07-08) -- Many patients in treatment for substance use disorders smoke, yet treatment for nicotine dependence in substance abuse treatment settings is uncommon. Researchers evaluated the feasibility of implementing a smoking cessation intervention in substance abuse treatment programs

Prescription Drug Use Among 12th Graders -- (01-15-08) -- 15% of U.S. 12th Graders Have Used Prescription Drugs Nonmedically in the Past Year

Brief Intervention in ER Called Effective -- (01-02-08) -- About a quarter of individuals screened for alcohol misuse in hospital emergency rooms reported unsafe drinking levels, according to a study concluding that hospital-based brief interventions for alcohol problems are effective.

Minorities More Likely to Be Screened for Alcohol Use, Study Says -- (01-02-08) -- Hispanics and African-Americans rarely get superior healthcare compared to white Americans, but a new report finds one exception: primary-care physicians may be more willing to query minorities about their alcohol use than to counsel white patients.

'Reclaiming Futures' Works, Study Says -- (12-14-07) -- The communities that have adopted the Reclaiming Futures intervention model to help teens in trouble with crime, alcohol and other drugs have succeeded in improving the social networks that addiction and criminal-justice agencies use to communicate.

Hard Choices Comic Book -- (12-11-07) -- This special comic book, developed by SAMHSA in collaboration with Marvel Entertainment and the Elks USA, features Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four characters in a battle against underage drinking. Hard Choices urges kids to become real-life heroes by making healthy choices.

Hershey's Mints Resemble Drugs, Police Say -- (12-06-07) -- Hershey's Ice Breakers Pacs -- dissolvable pouches filled with mint-flavored powder -- are being criticized by some law-enforcement officials who say the packaging resembles pouches of illicit cocaine and heroin.

Smoking by Age 12 Related to Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Dependence -- (12-03-07) -- Youths who begin smoking at age 12 or younger are more likely to meet the criteria for past year alcohol and drug abuse or dependence, according to a recent analysis of data from the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

NIDA Launches Public Service Campaign for Hispanic Youth on Link Between Non-Injection Drugs and HIV -- (11-28-07) -- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), marks World AIDS Day on December 1st with the launch of its new, national public service campaign to educate Hispanic teens on the link between non-injection drug use and HIV transmission.

Smoking Bans Encourage Quitting -- (11-02-07) -- Public smoking bans help smokers quit both by reducing exposure to nicotine and changing perceptions about behavior.

Drug Testing Has Little Effect on Student Athletes' Drug Use, Study Says -- (10-19-07) -- Drug testing has only a minimal deterrent effect on high-school athletes' use of steroids.

More Schools Using Breath Tests to Screen Students -- (10-17-07) -- A growing number of high schools nationally are using breath tests to detect alcohol use among students attending football games, dances, and other extracurricular activities.

Youth Encouraged to Host Community Briefings on Alcohol -- (10-10-07) -- Youth groups from across the country are urged to host Community Briefings as part of a national effort to inform communities about alcohol issues that are affecting youth.

Minnesota State Epidemiological Profile -- (10-09-07) -- The Minnesota State Epidemiological Profile has been created to summarize and characterize consumption patterns and consequences related to the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) in Minnesota.

Helping You to Help Your Patients: An Introduction to Medication for Alcohol Dependence -- (10-03-07) -- This free online activity presents an overview of the latest developments in alcohol dependence, focusing on its epidemiology and the effects of alcohol on the brain. It explores the available pharmacotherapeutic options, explaining how they work with the brain mechanisms involved in alcohol dependence. This activity has been made possible through an educational grant from Alkermes and Cephalon, and has been designated for up to 2.0 CEUs.

Hispanic Teens & Drugs: A Special Report -- (09-26-07) -- The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and local urban youth experts today announced new report regarding drug use among Hispanic youth. According to a special report issued today by the ONDCP, Hispanic teen use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine currently outpaces White and African-American teen use.

Red River Valley Substance Abuse Prevention Conference - Oct. 18 -- (09-24-07) -- The Red River Valley Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinators would like to invite you to the Red River Valley Substance Abuse Prevention Conference in Moorhead, Minnesota. The conference is for community coalition members, human service professionals, social workers, parents, educators, corrections and law enforcement personnel with an interest in substance abuse prevention. This will focus on presenting the hot topics that local Prevention-Focused Coalition Efforts are faced with frequently.

Report: Schools Can't, Shouldn't Shoulder Prevention Burden -- (09-17-07) -- Most American kids receive some drug education in the classroom, but a new report contends that schools should not be relied upon to prevent early use of alcohol and other drugs and its consequences.

N.C. Launches Media Literacy Classes on Alcohol -- (09-17-07) -- Middle-school students in North Carolina will receive media-literacy education on alcohol ads and other media that promote underage drinking under a new state initiative.

Cocaine/Crack Abuse Stable at High Levels or Increasing; Methamphetamine Abuse Continues to Be Low in East -- (08-29-07) -- For the past 30 years, NIDA's Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) has served as a national drug abuse surveillance system. Comprised of a network of epidemiologists and researchers from 22 geographically dispersed areas of the nation, the CEWG meets twice a year to share qualitative and quantitative information on current and emerging drug abuse patterns and trends. Following are highlights from the recently released report on the proceedings of the 61st meeting, held this past January.

Adolescence and Substance Use PowerPoint -- (08-28-07) -- PowerPoint presentation by Rick Sampson, American Institutes for Research

Tribes see FBI support for drug war dwindle -- (08-22-07) -- As federal agents focus on terrorism, Indians say drug fight on reservations suffers

Drug Experimentation Not Normal, RAND Studies Suggest -- (08-22-07) -- "Marijuana abstainers do well, solitary users do poorly, and kids who use marijuana only in social settings are in between," according to a RAND press release on the research, which was based on a review of more than 20 years of data from the RAND Adolescent/Young Adult Panel Study.

Rural Methamphetamine Users May Be at Higher Risk for Health Complications -- (08-20-07) -- Rural methamphetamine users living in the Midwest may be at higher risk than urban users for medical complications related to their methamphetamine use.

Cigarette and Illicit Drug Use Among Military Personnel Decreases Over 25 Year Period; Heavy Alcohol Use Remains Relatively Unchanged -- (08-13-07) -- Cigarette smoking and illicit drug use among military personnel has declined significantly, according to a recent analysis of 25 years of data from the Department of Defense Health Related Behavior Survey.

Treatment Episode Data Se (TEDS) 1995-2005: National Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services -- (08-10-07) -- This 187 page report, based on SAMHSA's Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS), provides information on the demographic and substance abuse characteristics of the 1.8 million annual admissions to treatment for abuse of alcohol and drugs in facilities that are licensed or certified by the State substance abuse agency and that report TEDS data. Trends in treatment admissions are also provided.

Maternal Smoking Causes Blood-Pressure Rise Among Babies -- (08-09-07) -- Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to babies with higher systolic blood pressure.

Prescription Tracking Programs Raise Privacy Concerns -- (08-08-07) -- Law-enforcement agencies say that tracking prescriptions of drugs containing pseudoephedrine helps prevent drug purchases intended for illicit methamphetamine production, but some say the computerized tracking systems violate the privacy rights of buyers.

Gender Differences in Alcohol Use and Alcohol Dependence or Abuse, 2004-2005 -- (08-04-07) -- This is a 3 page short report, based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), provides data on any alcohol use, binge drinking, heavy drinking, and alcohol dependence by gender among persons age 12 or older.

Reach Out Now: Talk with Your Fifth graders About Underage Alcohol Use Grade 5 Teacher Pages -- (08-02-07) -- The Reach Out Now program’s goal is to prevent underage drinking and fifth grade is not too early to start. This pamphlet contains classroom lesson plans, facts about underage drinking, and family role-playing activities.

Reach Out Now: Start Talking Before They Start Drinking. Communication Tools for the 6th Grade Teacher Pages -- (08-02-07) -- Reach Out Now has created a skill-building, critical-thinking program to prevent underage drinking. This pamphlet contains classroom lesson plans, facts about underage drinking, and student and family role-playing activities.

Majority of Youths and Adults Unaware of Chemicals in Cigarettes -- (08-01-07) -- The majority of Americans are not aware of the chemicals found in cigarettes and cigarette smoke, according to a national telephone survey.

FAS Not the Only Risk of Drinking While Pregnant -- (07-26-07) -- Not every child exposed to alcohol develops fetal alcohol syndrome, but researchers say prenatal drinking can lead to a variety of other behavioral problems among children.

Hospitals Provide Golden Opportunity for Stop-Smoking Interventions -- (07-18-07) -- A review of 33 studies on smoking-cessation interventions found that smokers who are admitted as hospital inpatients tend to be receptive to stop-smoking counseling even if their illness was not smoking-related.

Domestic Meth Production Falls After Crackdown -- (07-10-07) -- Seizures of homegrown meth labs fell 58 percent last year, and anti-drug officials credit recent crackdowns on cold medicines and other chemicals used to make the drug.

Does 'Flavored Meth' Even Make Sense? -- (07-10-07) -- At first blush, the idea of adding flavoring to methamphetamine to make the drug more appealing to young users seems to be plausible.

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction -- (07-09-07) -- How Science Has Revolutionized the Understanding of Drug Addiction

Nearly One in Three Americans Has History of Alcohol Problems -- (07-06-07) -- More than 30 percent of Americans have met the criteria for an alcohol-use disorder sometime in their lives.

Meth Use Can Trigger Heart Disease, Researchers Find -- (07-06-07) -- Methamphetamine use can trigger faulty immune responses that can lead to cardiovascular diseases like inflammation of blood vessels.

NIAAA Identifies Five Subtypes of Alcohol Dependence -- (07-02-07) -- For the first time, federal researchers have broken down the disease of alcoholism into five distinct subtypes, which experts say should help provide more targeted treatment for problem drinkers.

Study Sees Link Between Alcohol Ads, Youth Alcohol Attitudes -- (07-02-07) -- Children living in areas with large numbers of alcohol ads on billboards, storefronts, bus stops and elsewhere are more likely to look favorably upon drinking.

Alcohol Companies' Product Advertising on TV Dwarfs 'Responsibility' Ads -- (07-02-07) -- Youth 239 times more likely to see ads promoting alcohol products than industry spots discouraging underage drinking; B-Roll With Ads Available

Supreme Court Sides with School in 'Bong Hits' Case -- (06-26-07) -- Schools have the right to limit student speech that could be interpreted as advocating use of illicit drugs.

While Drug Treatment-Seeking Has Increased Among U.S. Residents, More Than Two-Thirds Still Do Not Seek Help -- (06-14-07) -- The percentage of U.S. residents seeking help for their drug use disorders increased from 1992 to 2002.

Overdoses Drive Up Accidental Death Rate in U.S. -- (06-13-07) -- Over several decades, reductions in drunk driving and greater use of seat belts in cars helped lower the accidental death rate in the U.S. But now the rate is rising again, and part of the blame is being focused on accidental overdoses on legal and illicit drugs.

Majority of Websites Selling Controlled Prescription Drugs Still Do Not Require a Prescription -- (06-08-07) -- Controlled prescription drugs continue to be widely available on the internet without a prescription, according to a study of the dispensing requirements of internet sites selling opioid, depressant, and stimulant prescription drugs.

Powdered Alcohol Marketed to Youth -- (06-07-07) -- A group of Dutch students has invented a form of powdered alcohol that they say will appeal primarily to youth.

SAMHSA: Girls Enter Treatment Younger, Use Different Drugs -- (06-06-07) -- Teenage girls tend to enter addiction treatment at a younger age than boys and are more likely to be primary users of alcohol or inhalants, whereas boys are most likely to report that marijuana is their favorite drug.

Many Kids Get First Drink from Parents, Study Says -- (05-31-07) -- Many kids get their first taste of alcohol from their parents, but it's not usually the result of raiding the family liquor cabinet.

Pediatricians Call for Stronger Steps on Movie Smoking -- (05-30-07) -- Saying that recent movie industry steps to limit youth exposure to smoking scenes don't go far enough, the American Academy of Pediatrics is calls for a ban on all non-historical portrayals of smoking in movies accessible to children and youth.

Teens Overestimate Smoking Rate -- (05-23-07) -- The vast majority of teens wrongly believe that most American adults smoke, an attitude that may adversely influence their own decisions about smoking.

Flavored Meth Worries -- (05-22-07) -- National news reports have highlighted concerns about drug dealers adding kid-friendly flavorings to methamphetamine, but actual incident reports about such concoctions have been sketchy, at best.

Supermarket Chain to Limit Access to Cough Medicine -- (05-18-07) -- Giant Food, a supermarket chain in Maryland and nearby states, announced a ban on selling cough products containing dextromethorphan (DXM) to people under 18.

More Community Underage Drinking Prevention Efforts Target Parents -- (05-18-07) -- As graduation and prom season approaches, more communities are expanding their underage drinking prevention strategies to include parental behavior.

Hawaii Teachers' Contract Requires Drug Testing -- (05-08-07) -- A 4-percent salary increase for Hawaii school teachers comes with a catch: to win the pay hike, the Hawaii State Teachers Association agreed to allow random drug testing of its members.

Depression and the Initiation of Alcohol and Other Drug Use among Youths Aged 12 to 17 -- (05-03-07) -- This is a 3 page short report, based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), presents not only the prevalence among youth of major depressive episode and the initiation of alcohol or illicit drug use, but also data indicating that youth with depression are more likely to start using alcohol and/or illicit drugs.

Texas Set to Test Students for Steroids -- (05-02-07) -- The Texas House and Senate have both approved bills that would make the state the first to require random testing of high-school student athletes for steroids.

Marijuana Using Parents Have Trouble Delivering Straight Dope to Kids -- (04-26-07) -- Parents who use marijuana have a difficult time talking to their kids about drugs, even if they believe use of the drug should be legal.

Wisconsin is No. 1 for driving drunk; Minnesota ranks third -- (04-23-07) -- Wisconsin drivers apparently aren't heeding the message of one of America's biggest brewers, located in their own backyard. Nor are residents in some neighboring states.

Substance Use and Employment among Youths Aged 15 to 17 -- (04-18-07) -- The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks persons aged 15 or older about their employment status during the past week and, if they were employed, the number of hours they worked. The survey also asks persons aged 12 or older questions related to their past month use of alcohol and illicit drugs.

Iowa Pharmacy Logs Yield Arrests -- (04-17-07) -- Reviews of records about purchases of pseudoephedrine-based drugs at Iowa pharmacies led to five arrest warrants being issued against people suspected of buying the medications as raw materials for making methamphetamine.

Adolescent Brains Not Ready to Avoid Risks, Study Says -- (04-16-07) -- A Temple University psychologist argues that society would be better off using strict laws to prevent risky behaviors by adolescents rather than education programs, saying that teens' brains are too immature to avoid risk-taking.

Adults Who Give Alcohol to Kids Could Lose Licenses -- (04-12-07) -- Adults in North Carolina caught providing alcohol to youths under age 21 could lose their driver's licenses under a measure being considered in the state legislature.

Flip-Flops Have Hidden Alcohol Compartment -- (04-11-07) -- Footwear maker Reef recently introduced a line of flip-flops that include secret compartments for hiding alcohol.

Adolescent Brains Not Ready to Avoid Risks, Study Says -- (04-11-07) -- A Temple University psychologist argues that society would be better off using strict laws to prevent risky behaviors by adolescents rather than education programs, saying that teens' brains are too immature to avoid risk-taking.

Heavy Drinking and Drug Use Linked to Higher Rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Young Adults -- (04-05-07) -- Heavy drinking is linked to higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases among young adults, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Combined drug and alcohol use were associated with even higher STD rates.

Marijuana Distribution Relies Primarily on Generosity of Friends and Family -- (04-05-07) -- Marijuana distribution relies primarily on informal dealing through social networks, according to an analysis of data from a national household survey.* More than one-half (58%) of household residents who had used marijuana in the past year reported that they most recently obtained their marijuana for free, compared to 39% who reported purchasing it. Nearly all (89%) marijuana users reported getting their most recent acquisitions from a friend or relative (see figures below). And unlike users of more expensive drugs such as cocaine and heroin, the majority of people who used marijuana in the past year (58%) gave away or shared some of their most recent acquisition (data not shown).

Alcohol-Related Crime Declines with Community Involvement, Study Says -- (03-31-07) -- Assaults, car crashes and other alcohol-related crime decline when residents get actively involved in community prevention efforts.

Grocery, Convenience Stores More Likely to Sell Alcohol to Kids, Study Says -- (03-28-07) -- An Oregon study finds that grocery and convenience stores are more likely than liquor stores or drug stores to sell alcohol to young-looking 21-year-olds without asking for ID.

Addiction – An HBO Documentary, Premieres Thursday, March 15th at 9PM -- (03-06-07) -- One in four Americans has a primary family member struggling with addiction. Drug and alcohol abuse usually begins in adolescence, with the brain undergoing dramatic changes, and currently affects 22.2 million Americans. Yet only 9% are receiving the treatment they need. HBO presents an unprecedented multi-media project devoted to dispelling the myths about addiction and its causes, while showing that it is a serious but treatable brain disease. The centerpiece of this initiative is Addiction, a documentary feature assembled with some of the nation’s top filmmakers, and featuring insights from experts on addiction trends and treatments.

Collaborative Approach to Raising Healthy and Happy Children in an Addictive Society - March 1 & 2 -- (02-23-07) -- The statewide Collaborative Conference The Collaborative Approach to Raising Healthy and Happy Children in an Addictive Society will be held on March 1st and 2nd, 2007, at the Maple Grove Community Center.

Checkpoints and Interlocks to Fight Drunk Driving -- (01-04-07) -- Increased use of police checkpoints, devices to prevent convicted drunk drivers from operating their cars, and other new approaches are seen by advocates as necessary to continue cutting the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths in the U.S.

Bush Signs STOP Act into Law -- (01-02-07) -- The STOP Underage Drinking Act, called the most significant piece of underage-drinking prevention legislation passed by Congress in years, has been signed into law by President Bush.

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (SAPST) - Jan 25 - Feb 2, 2007 -- (12-07-06) -- The next opportunity to participate in the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (SAPST) will be offered in Crookston Jan 25-26 & Jan 31st, Feb. 1-2. After completing this training you may apply to become a Certified Prevention Specialist through the Minnesota Certification Board. These trainings are not offered on a set schedule and you are encouraged to register early.

Warn Kids of "Pharm" Party Dangers -- (11-07-06) -- If you hear your teen or young adult mention a "pharm" party, perhaps a bonfire and an illicit keg come to mind. Think again!

DEA Warns of Soft Drink-Cough Syrup Mix -- (11-07-06) -- Some teens and young adults have been getting high on drinks in which the key ingredient is a prescription cough suppressant that contains the opiate codeine.

Youth Across America Celebrate SADD'S 25th Birthday, Rally Support in Local Communities -- (10-31-06) -- For more than a quarter-century, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) has been empowering students to make a difference in the lives of their peers, saving thousands of young lives along the way. "SADD Turns 25: Lighting the Way," a nationwide event, offers SADD students and their schools and communities an opportunity to celebrate this success and light the way for the next 25 years.

Alcohol Test Unreliable, SAMHSA Says -- (10-11-06) -- An alcohol urine test called EtG is too sensitive and prone to delivering false-positive tests, and should not be used, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says.

Teens Who Frequently Have Family Dinners Less Likely to Drink, Smoke, or Use Drugs -- (10-05-06) -- The more often teens have dinners with their families, the less likely they are to use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, according to a recent national telephone survey of teens.

Binge Drinking Focus of WHO Meeting -- (09-26-06) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is meeting in Auckland, New Zealand to develop a global strategy to address youth binge drinking.

'Cocaine' in a Can -- (09-21-06) -- A Las Vegas company is marketing an energy drink called "Cocaine" to young partygoers, calling it a "legal alternative" to the real thing.

Join Together Probes School Prevention Needs in New Survey -- (09-18-06) -- Very few teachers believe that the alcohol and other drug prevention programs delivered in school have an impact on student behavior or knowledge, and they want more training and support in order to speak effectively to kids about substance abuse.

Suicide Tied to Alcohol Intake -- (09-12-06) -- The more alcohol an individual drinks, the more the risk of suicide grows.

Middle-School Methamphetamine Prevention Called Effective -- (09-07-06) -- Middle-school students in rural areas who attended prevention programs aimed at methamphetamine use were less likely to use the drug when they got older.

Bingeing and Boredom -- (09-06-06) -- Western states like Wyoming, Montana and North and South Dakota have binge-drinking levels far higher than the national average, and local experts say that boredom plays a huge role in the problem.

Prevention Programs for Young Rural Teens Can Reduce Methamphetamine Abuse Years Later -- (09-06-06) -- New research supported in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, shows that prevention programs conducted in middle school can reduce methamphetamine abuse among rural adolescents years later.

Parents Underestimate Teens’ Concerns About Drugs -- (09-05-06) -- While drugs are the number one concern for teenagers, parents underestimate how important this issue is to teens, according to data from a national telephone survey conducted earlier this year.

New Surgeon General Report Details Serious Health Hazards Posed by Secondhand Smoke Exposure -- (09-05-06) -- More than 126 million children and adults are estimated to be exposed to secondhand smoke each year, according to the recently released Surgeon General's report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke.

Mother-son book makes a splash -- (08-31-06) -- Cautionary tale of Olympia teen's bout with alcohol gets national exposure

Pawlenty Creates Online Meth Offender Registry and Announces Other Measures to Battle Meth -- (08-31-06) -- Continuing his effort to combat the methamphetamine epidemic, Governor Tim Pawlenty today (July 27, 2006) announced the next phase in his crackdown on meth-related crimes, including the creation of an online Meth Offender Registry.

More Communities Target Parents Who Allow Underage Drinking -- (08-30-06) -- Parents in more U.S. communities are facing fines and other penalties for allowing underage youths to drink in their homes, according to participants at the annual National Leadership Conference in Baltimore, MD.

Frontlines: Linking Alcohol Services Research & Practice -- (08-30-06) -- This issue of Frontlines: Linking Alcohol Services Research & Practice focuses on drinking among youth and young adults and the impact that heavy drinking which begins at such an early age has on youth, their families, and the community.

CASA Calls Parents Clueless About Teen Drinking, Drug Use -- (08-21-06) -- A new report from the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University chides parents for failing to be in touch about their children's alcohol and other drug use.

A Community Partnership Approach to Addressing Meth - Aug. 22 -- (08-17-06) -- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is pleased to announce an upcoming webcast and satellite broadcast addressing methamphetamine use in the nation's communities.

SAMHSA's new substate report on State treatment planning areas -- (08-14-06) -- SAMHSA’s Office of Applied Studies has released its latest subState report with a press release. The new subState report uses the new treatment planning area definitions provided by each State. It includes a mental health measure and more substance use measures than in the first SubState report as well as tables with the highest and lowest prevalence region within each State for Past Year Cocaine Use, Past Month Marijuana Use, and Past Month Alcohol Use.

Deaths Prove Potent Lure for Drugs -- (07-17-06) -- Nine heroin users have recently been killed by a potent batch of drugs in Philadelphia and New Jersey, but the fatalities have only served to drive up demand for the drug among users.