National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention

Leading Implementation for Systems Change - December 11–13, 2006
On behalf of the Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, and Education, the National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention will host the Leading Implementation for Systems Change training in Washington, D.C. The purpose of this highly interactive training is to enable project directors and their partners to enhance SS/HS team capacity to act as effective agents of change in the community.

Upcoming Second Step Teleconference
On December 7, 2006 the National Center will host a teleconference on Second Step, an evidence-based, classroom-centered program that teaches children ages 4–14 social-emotional skills to reduce impulsive and aggressive behavior and to increase their level of social competence. The teleconference will provide information about Second Step, identify challenges and concerns of implementation, and provide a networking opportunity for grantees. For more information on Second Step, please read our program fact sheet at http://www.promoteprevent.org/documents/EBI/Second%20Step.pdf. For more information about the teleconference, please e-mail promotepreventinfo@edc.org.

Key Factors of Program Sustainability
The National Youth at Risk Program Sustainability Study examined 94 community-based projects funded by the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The study explored the reasons why some of these projects sustained themselves beyond the period of their grant and others did not. The research team concluded that projects that were not sustained

This Research Note was drawn from Continuity, Success, and Survival of Community-Based Projects: The National Youth at Risk Program Sustainability Study, by Lydia Marek, Jay Mancini, and Donna Brock, and published by the Virginia Cooperative Extension at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The full report is available at http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/350-801/350-801.html#L6.

This section highlights just a few updates from the prevention field. Please go to http://library.promoteprevent.org for more news items and resources.

Healthier Schools for Healthier Students
Poor air quality and ventilation systems in schools can aggravate asthma and allergies and increase the potential for long-term and short-term health problems. These adverse health effects can result in an increase in student and staff absenteeism and a loss of productivity. The Web site of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools provides important guides and resources to help administrators, educators, maintenance staff, and builders and contractors create healthier, safer learning environments. For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/toolkit.html.

School Bus Injuries: Who Is Most Affected?
A recent study reports on the epidemiology of nonfatal school bus injuries from 2001–03. Nationally, there was an average of 17,000 injuries each year, and children between the ages of 10 and 14 accounted for 43 percent of those injuries. The study also found that the majority of injuries were the result of motor vehicle crashes. To read the full report, please visit http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/118/5/1978.

Underage Drinking Laws: How States Compare
This Web site created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism provides information on underage drinking laws in every state. See how your state measures up and learn what others are doing to address youth alcohol consumption. Topics include underage possession, consumption, and purchase of alcohol; false identification for obtaining alcohol; loss of driving privileges for alcohol violations by minors; and criminal liability for hosting underage drinking parties. To get the facts, please visit http://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/stateprofiles.

Family Dinners Associated with Lower Incidences of Teen Smoking, Alcohol, and Drug Abuse
Teens who regularly ate dinner with their parents were less likely to smoke cigarettes or abuse alcohol or other drugs, according to The Importance of Family Dinners III, a report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. The results from a national survey indicated that 58 percent of teens ate dinner with their family at least five times a week. Of those teens that regularly participated in family meals, only 32 percent reported drinking alcohol, compared to 48 percent of teens who infrequently had family meals. Teens who did not have dinner with their families were twice as likely to have tried marijuana and cigarettes. To read the report, visit http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/articlefiles/380-Family%20Dinners%20III%20Final%20report.pdf.

November 20 is Universal Children’s Day
This global holiday was first passed by the United Nations General Assembly, resolution 836(IX), to promote the well being of all children worldwide. The council recommends that all countries celebrate on the date and in the manner that they deem appropriate. On November 20, 1959, the council adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and on the same day in 1989 they held the Convention on the Rights of the Child. To learn more about Universal Children’s Day and recommended activities, please visit http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/children_day.

The Grant Opportunities page is updated regularly with new announcements of available public and private grant competitions. Here is just one of the listings you'll find:

Title: Community Action Grants
Funder: American Association of University Women Educational Foundation
Description: One-year grants provide seed money for new projects. Two-year grants offer start-up funds for longer-term programs that address the particular needs of the community and provide opportunities for female leadership or advocacy. Topic areas are unrestricted, but should include a clearly defined activity that promotes education and equity for women and girls.
Award: One-year grants ($2,000 to $7,000); two-year grants ($5,000 to $10,000)
Eligibility: Applicants must be women who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Grant projects must be nonpartisan and take place within the United States or its territories.
Deadline: January 15, 2007
For more information: http://www.aauw.org/fga/fellowships_grants/community_action.cfm

We regularly add to a detailed listing of conferences and events occurring within the National Center and across the nation. For example,

Date: December 11-13, 2006
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Title: Youth Justice Seminar for School Resource Officers and Community Police
Sponsor: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Description: This seminar will provide lessons, activities, and curriculum materials for law enforcement officers to engage students in learning about the role and purpose of law enforcement, the scope and limits of police authority, and what young people can do to improve public safety in their own schools and communities.
Web site: http://www.crf-usa.org/ojjdp/sro.htm