National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention

September means schools are back in session. In honor of the school bell ringing, we've highlighted Lawrence, Massachusetts, a Safe Schools/Healthy Students grantee, and its efforts to foster parent involvement in our Grantees at Work section that follows. You'll also find new funding opportunities listed here and on our website, www.promoteprevent.org .
As ever, we welcome any comments or suggestions at info@promoteprevent.org .

Please forward email addresses of additional staff members you'd like to receive this newsletter.

Research tells us that successful prevention and intervention programs require the active participation of parents. Many school- and community- based programs struggle with getting and keeping parents involved in programs. Carl DeRubeis, director of Lawrence Public Schools' SS/HS project, described two strategies they use to get and keep parents involved.

Parent Involvement
Lawrence Public School District - Lawrence, Massachusetts
Safe Schools/Health Students Grantee

This past week, the Safe School/Healthy Students Team launched a new format for its fall regional meetings. On September 4 and 5, 2003, grantees from the Southeast gathered in Atlanta for a day and a half to network with other regional grantees, receive technical assistance, and participate in workshops on sustainability, communications and social marketing. The schedule for the remainder of the regional meetings, a sample agenda and contact information can be found at: http://www.promoteprevent.org/events/center_events/

The Targeted Capacity Expansion Team will host an Annual Meeting for its Prevention/Early Intervention Grantees from September 21-23 in Washington, D.C. The meeting, entitled "Service to Science: Making it Work", will allow participants to network, interact, and learn from one another along with leading researchers and practitioners in the field, SAMHSA Project Officers, and National Center staff. For further meeting details, please contact Shamia Monroe at smonroe@edc.org .

This month the Youth Violence Prevention Programs Team is sponsoring two teleconferences on sustainability for their 2001 grantees. If this format proves useful, the YVPP team will create an expanded schedule to include 2002 grantees.

If you are a 2001 YVPP grantee and would like to participate in the September 24th teleconference, contact Perryne O'Reilly at poreilly@edc.org .

The Center for School Mental Health Assistance at the University of Maryland School of Medicine will host the Eighth National Conference on Advancing School-Based Mental Health from October 23-25, 2003 in Portland, Oregon. This year's theme "Mental Health in Schools: Doing What Works!" will include keynote speakers Martin Brokenleg, EdD, Professor and Coordinator, Native American Studies Program, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Clemens Hosman, PhD, Professor of Mental Health Promotion and Prevention of Mental Disorders, Nijmegen University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands and Mary Margaret Kerr, EdD, Director, STAR-Center Outreach, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For program and registration materials, go to: http://csmha.umaryland.edu .

An analysis of the definitions of mental illness used in state parity laws
Peck, M.C., Scheffler, R.M (Sep. 2002). An analysis of the definitions of mental illness used in state parity laws. Psychiatric Services , 53(9), 1089-95.

This study analyzed definitions of mental illness used in state parity laws, identified factors influencing the development of these definitions, and examined the resulting effects on access to care. Mental health parity laws, which require a health plan, insurer, or employer to provide coverage for mental illness equal to that required for physical illness, have been enacted in 34 states. Investigators interviewed professionals, studied the use of language in legislation, and compared definitions used in clinical literature and federal policy with those used in state parity laws. Definitions fell into three categories: "broad based mental illness"; "serious mental illness"; or "biologically based illness", and are influenced by political and economic factors rather than clinically accepted definitions or federal mental health policy. The authors conclude that parity laws have important implications for access, cost, and reimbursement, and require further study for their effect on the use and cost of mental health services. For full-text citation, contact news@promoteprevent.org .

Promoting children's mental health: Reform through interdisciplinary and community partnerships
Power, T.J. (2003) Promoting children's mental health: Reform through interdisciplinary and community partnerships. School Psychology Review , 32(1), 3-16.

This article is the introduction to a special series in School Psychology Review on "Emerging models for promoting children's mental health: Linking Systems for Prevention and Intervention." The series, intended for school psychologists, child-oriented psychologists, and professionals involved in developing public policy related to mental health, has four objectives:

In the introduction, Dr. Power discusses gaps in the mental health system and identifies priorities for change. He highlights issues such as improving the acceptability of mental health services, improving access to care, and linking science to practice. The themes raised in this introductory article will be further developed in the series. Go to http://www.nasponline.org/publications/spr321partner.pdf for the complete text.

Conferences sponsored by the National Center are listed below are listed below in green . We've also listed a few conferences and events of interest taking place in September and October. A complete listing can be found at http://www.promoteprevent.org/events .

The Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute will hold the 8th International Conference on Family Violence in San Diego, California from September 16-20. The theme is "Working Together to End Abuse". For more information visit http://www.fvsai.org/ .

Targeted Capacity Expansion Annual Meeting for Prevention/Early
Intervention Programs. "Service to Science: Making it Work". September 21-23 in Washington, DC. Contact Shamia Monroe at the National Center: smonroe@edc.org .

The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) will hold a Teleconference, "Securing Federal Funding for Your Coalition", Thursday, September 25, 1:00-2:30p.m. ET. This 90-minute broadcast will feature federal officials who distribute grants, grant-writing tips from professionals, and insight into what grant makers look for. Visit http://www.dlnets.com/cadca_25Sep03.htm .

The Center for School Mental Health Assistance (University of Maryland School of Medicine) will hold its 8th National Conference on Advancing School-Based Mental Health Programs, "Mental Health in Schools: Doing What Works!" October 23-25 in Portland, Oregon. The conference has been designed around 4 tracks to facilitate in-depth discussion and learning. For conference information, call 888-706-0980 or visit http://csmha.umaryland.edu .

The Search Institute will hold its annual Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Conference on October 23-25 in San Jose, California. The conference will focus on developing practical strategies to incorporate diversity in community and organizational planning. To obtain further information or register online, visit the conference website at http://www.search-institute.org/hchy/hchy2003 .

The Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools National Conference , "The Science and Practice of Safe and Drug Free Schools" will take place October 27-20 in Washington, D.C. For further information and registration information, visit http://www.OSDFSNationalConference.org .

The National Center compiles a variety of funding resources. We've highlighted a few key resources below. For a more complete listing, please visit: www.promoteprevent.org/resources/resource_pages/program_functions/
funding_resources.htm.

SAMHSA distributes Conference Grants to disseminate knowledge about practices within the mental health services and substance abuse prevention and treatment fields. Grants will be awarded to public and domestic private nonprofit organizations for up to 75 percent of the total direct costs of planned meetings and conferences (up to $50,000). Applications must be received by September 10 and January 10 every year. Applicants are urged to apply for funds one year in advance of the planned conference. For more information call the SAMHSA Mental Health Information Center at (800) 789-2647 or download the application kit from http://alt.samhsa.gov/grants/content/2003/PA0302_2003_conferences.htm .

SAMHSA/CMHS is accepting applications for FY 2003 and FY 2004 cooperative agreements to develop systems of care that will deliver comprehensive community mental health services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance and their families. Five awards will be awarded each FY. Applications (RFA No. SM-03-009) are available at http://www.samhsa.gov and are due October 15. Contact Rolando Santiago with questions at (301) 443-1331.