Suicide is the second leading cause of death in teens. This week is Suicide Prevention Week. To show the enormous impact this public health problem has on individuals, families, workplaces, the healthcare system, and society, and to promote its prevention, the National Council created a new infographic, “Suicide in America.” Link to Infographic
Tag Archives: Prevention
A Review of Evidence-Based Approaches for Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Native Women Who Are Pregnant or of Reproductive Age
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are the leading preventable cause of developmental disabilities in the United States and likely throughout the world. FASDs can be prevented by avoiding alcohol use during pregnancy; however, efforts to prevent risky alcohol consumption in women of childbearing potential have not been universally successful. Objectives: Data suggest that successful interventions may require tailoring methods to meet the needs of specific populations and cultures. Key findings of interventions previously tested among American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) women who are or may become pregnant, data gaps, and promising ongoing interventions are reviewed. Link to Journal Article
Substance Abuse Prevention in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Cultural adaptations of universal substance abuse prevention programs are emerging at a rapid pace, and nowhere is this proliferation more evident than among American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. There is tremendous diversity in these culturally based programs. Some merely modify existing program language without revising content; others culturally interpret known key malleable constructs and add specific cultural content, and still others, usually grassroots programs, focus mostly on identified cultural protective factors. In this review we will attempt to address this diversity. We will review three categories of AIAN substance abuse prevention programs: (1) published empirical trials; (2) promising programs, published and unpublished, that are in the process of development and that have the potential for empirical trials; and (3) examples of innovative grassroots programs that originate at the local level and may have promise for further development. We chose to include some examples of these local, culturally based prevention programs because they are such vital elements of AIAN substance abuse prevention. Link to Journal Article
Home Visiting Toolkit for Children in Child Care
As home visiting programs have gained popularity over the past few years, attention is now moving to the children who spend substantial time being cared for by adults other than their parents. In response to the growing interest, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) created a toolkit for State policymakers and advocates, offering tips and strategies for expanding access to State and federally funded home visiting models via coordination with family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care providers. Link to pdf Toolkit
Household Hardships, Public Programs, and Their Associations with the Health and Development of Very Young Children: Insights from Children’s HealthWatch
Journal of Applied Research on Children: Children’s HealthWatch and others have found that, while food insecurity at both the household and child levels has a negative impact on child health outcomes, other hardships also come into play. These hardships, such as food insecurity, may be modified by participation in public assistance programs. All families, but particularly those who have limited incomes and young children, are constantly juggling the costs of paying for basic needs like food, shelter, household utilities, and medical care. A change in one affects the others; parents, despite the best of intentions, have to make difficult decisions whether to pay for a child’s prescription, buy nutrient-dense food, or allocate scarce financial resources to rent or utility bills. Supports—including housing subsidies, WIC, and energy assistance—can offset some costs and free resources for other needs, in turn allowing parents to do more to promote their children’s food security and health. Link to Journal Article
WIC Participation and Attenuation of Stress-Related Child Health Risks of Household Food Insecurity and Caregiver Depressive Symptoms
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: Examines how family stressors (household food insecurity and/or caregiver depressive symptoms) relate to child health and whether participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) attenuates stress-related child health risks. WIC participants were favored over nonparticipants on three child health indicators: 1. Fair/poor health; 2. Well-child status and 3. Overweight. Link to Journal Article