As the nation's schools seek to fulfill the academic imperatives imposed by the federal 2001 No Child Left Behind Act - and associated state standards such as those of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) - they may be missing an important element in boosting academic achievement: directly confronting the mental health and psychosocial needs that impede a significant percentage of children and adolescents in the learning process. 

 

On November 16, 2007, THI hosted The ABC's of School Mental Health*, a health policy forum to provide policymakers with a broad understanding of school-based mental health services. 

 

Speakers included:

·       Al Duchnowski, Ph.D., Deputy Director, The Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida            

·       Jenni Jennings, Mental Health Consultant, former Executive Director, Youth and Family Centers at Dallas Independent Schools District

·       David Evans, Executive Director, Austin-Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center            

·       Austin Hooser, Student, Texas A&M University            

·       Camilla Hornsby, Student, Georgetown High School            

·       Ruth Kane, Ph.D., Director of the Alternative Teacher Certification Program, Huston-Tillotson University            

·       Jane Nethercut, Positive Behavior Support, Character Education, and PAL Coordinator, Austin ISD            

·       Sharon Wilkes, RN, MA, CPS, CCS, Coordinator of Prevention Services, McAllen ISD

 

For more information on this policy forum go to:

 

http://www.texashealthinstitute.org

 

THI has also developed a supporting policy brief on the issue of school-based mental health services. Please click here to access the policy brief.

 

From time to time THI is fortunate to receive guest perspectives in our newsletter on specific public health issues.   Steve Jacob is publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/ Northeast and a master's student in health policy and management at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.  As part of his master's program internship, Steve is providing policy research and writing support to THI.  Steve was the author of THI's The ABC's of School Mental Health policy brief mentioned in the article above.  On November 24th Steve's Fort Worth Star-Telegram opinion column focused on school mental health issues.  The following is an excerpt from his column.  To read the column in its entirety click on Mental Health - Class Dismissed?

 

Beginning this school year, Texas school districts are requiring students in kindergarten through fifth grade to participate in physical activity for 135 minutes a week.

 

That requirement will be extended to the sixth through eighth grades in the 2008-09 school year. Also beginning this school year is an annual fitness assessment of all K-12 students.  As this legislation was being considered this spring, eloquent advocates pointed out that scientific evidence showed exercise at school boosted academic performance, despite cutting into traditional instruction time. And there were plenty of alarming statistics about spreading child obesity to help seal the deal.  Unfortunately, no one argued as forcefully for school-based solutions to address children's mental and emotional health.

 

From a societal perspective, the latter is an even more crucial need. Junior couch potatoes eventually might become a healthcare burden. But children with broken psyches and unaddressed disorders are much more likely to become criminals, substance abusers and unemployed wards of the state.

In November, the Texas Health Institute continued its series of  Mental Health Transformation Webinar* educational programs on behalf of the Texas Mental Health Transformation (MHT) - State Incentive Grant and the Texas Department of State Health Services.*  The webinars are designed  specifically to enhance mental health transformation activities at a community level and address the needs of the Community Learning Collaborative which is made up of the eight funded MHT community collaboratives, the 12 additional community collaborative applicants, the Governor-appointed Mental Health Transformation Workgroup (TWG),  the National Advisory Committee for Mental Health Community Collaboratives, and other interested stakeholders. 

On November 7, 2007, THI hosted the Consumer Involvement in Transformation* webinar. This event for community collaboratives and consumers across the state provided an opportunity to learn more about how consumers have been involved in the mental health transformation project in Oklahoma.  Featured speaker David Knudson, Ph.D. with K2 Performance Consultant, developed the standards for consumer state-wide involvement in Oklahoma. Dr. Knudson provided webinar participants with insight into the development of standards for consumer statewide involvement in the mental health system stressing that these standards must:

 

·       Address behavioral health as a system,

·       Be relevant, agreed- upon and measurable, and

·       Be written by Consumers.

 

Dr. Knudson concluding his presentation by emphasizing the importance of meaningful involvement by all persons involved in the process through:

 

·       Community Organizing

·       Project Coordination

·       Resource Development

·       Outreach

·       Policy Analysis

·       Workgroup Member Representation

·       Quality Assurance

·       Evaluation

 

Please click here for more information on this webinar.

According to The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Report, "of the more than two million adults in the U.S. who have at least one episode of homelessness in a given year, 46% report having had a mental health problem within the previous year, either by itself or in combination with substance abuse."

 

Recovery from mental illness is difficult, if not impossible, without adequate housing.  Unfortunately, in Texas, there is a lack of safe and affordable housing.  This shortage is exacerbated further by the numerous funding streams, programs, and eligibility requirements which often differ across municipality lines - leaving prospective tenants confused and all too often homeless.  Lack of housing opportunities - both permanent and transitional - is an issue commonly voiced as a frustration by Texas consumers and a priority issue for Texas' Mental Health Transformation Workgroup.

 

On November 13, 2007, THI hosted Raising the Standard of Living*, a webinar focusing on housing - a social determinant for mental health. Mental Health Transformation Workgroup member Erin Ferris, Policy and Public Affairs Advisor to Texas Department of Housing Community Affairs, facilitated the webinar discussion that showcased how Texas Housing Foundation in Marble Falls and Austin Housing Authority develop projects to serve mental health and special needs consumers. Panel members for the webinar included:

 

·       Mark Mayfield, Chief Executive Officer, Texas Housing Foundation

·       Mely Bascom, Vice President of Resident Services, Texas Housing Foundation

·       James Hargrove, President & CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Austin

 

The webinar examined:

 

Experience with local, state and federally funded programs

Challenges and barriers encountered while serving mental health and special needs consumers

Solutions to some challenges and barriers, and ideas for further collaboration

Revenue generating ideas outside of federal/state funds

Approaches to client services, stigma and case management

Collaboration with other agencies at the local level

 

For more information on this webinar go to:

http://www.texashealthinstitute.org/

 

Camille D. Miller, THI President & CEO, was the featured speaker at the University of North Texas' (UNT) Mental Health Grand Rounds Program on November 6, 2007.  Camille's presentation entitled The Texas Mental Health System: An Extreme Makeover provided an overview of mental health transformation in Texas.  To view a copy of the PowerPoint presentation click here.