For expanded school mental health programs to feature improved access, increased productivity, and improved behavioral outcomes, researchers, school-based mental health service providers, and educators must collaborate to move them beyond limiting constructs and approaches. The paper reviews these issues and offers an example of an ideal approach…

To successfully address mental health and psychosocial concerns in schools, practices must not be marginalized and must be implemented cohesively. Mechanisms and processes are needed to minimize marginalized and fragmented practice, link school and community resources, and develop comprehensive, multifaceted approaches. These include a…

Notes that mental health services have been a weak link in Head Start. Addresses the need to enhance mental health services by describing a successful, innovative university-Head Start partnership. Describes the model and provides advice for Head Start programs to expand and enhance their mental health services. (SD)

During the past three decades, there has been an increase in knowledge about early childhood development. Early experiences can function as either risk factors or protective factors for a child's future health and development. This has led to concern about how current health systems contribute to the quality of the earliest experiences of life.…

This manual was designed for Catholic Relief Services staff who want to improve the health and nutrition component of maternal and child health programs. The methodology presented had already been used in two country programs in Africa, and the experiences in those program evaluations made this guide to participatory evaluation useful for other…

Noting that too many children with elevated lead levels are not being identified in the United States, this report presents policy guidelines for increasing screening and follow-up care of children who most need these services, and for helping communities pursue the most appropriate approach to preventing childhood lead poisoning. Following an…

Outlines four steps to improve social skills interventions that take advantage of the unique environments of schools and increase the likelihood that social skills interventions can achieve individualization and generalization. The four steps are: identifying key skills; teaching the skill in isolation; practicing in controlled settings; and…

This paper discusses the importance of an effective partnership between health services and early childhood programs, and examines ways that leaders in both service systems can cooperate to help caregivers, teachers, and parents raise healthy children. After examining the need for an improved partnership, the historic and contemporary role of a…

Explores policy deficiencies that perpetuate the status quo in school mental health service provision, discussing: a framework for moving forward; school-community collaboration and school-linked and school-based services; how to move to a three-component model for connecting with school reform; the need to address barriers to learning; and the…

Despite the recent, unprecedented growth of school-based health centers and the related increased support from state government, the future of school-based health centers is uncertain. Since they can no longer rely on federal support, private insurance, or other commercial sources, each state must develop its own approach to supporting the…

This special issue on child care presents articles on children's health, day care, grandparents, father-child relationships, pregnancy after age 40, children's dental care, children's moral development, parties for children, children's fighting, fashions in children's clothes, sibling relationships, and health care programs for children. (BC)

Targeted at all professionals working in the area of child health, this book aims to consolidate information and place it within the theoretical frame of "community child health." Part 1 focuses on the community and the changes within it which have resulted in macro- and microenvironmental influences on child health outcomes. It also…

Guidelines to help schools and communities in New York implement or improve a Comprehensive School Health and Wellness (CSHW) program are outlined in this manual. Based on 8 components and 11 interrelated conceptual areas, the 811 Grid offers a framework for assessing current efforts and for planning strategies to improve school/community health.…

The State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS) Initiative represents a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life for young children and their families, and support them in reaching their full potential. Under the SECCS Initiative, state mother and child health agencies are being asked to apply MCH experience and expertise to a…

Because school-based health centers are located in areas serving a large percentage of low-income minority children, they have the potential to provide health care services to millions of children lacking health insurance. Although support for these centers is growing, funding remains in jeopardy. This fact sheet details what child advocates can…