FosterParentTraining.com

Short article as well as 5:50 min audio podcast.
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People with autism may use drugs or alcohol to ease social interaction, raising their risk of developing a substance use disorder. Addiction treatment for individuals with autism should be sensitive to their unique needs.  Click Here for More Info.

Thanks to Colleen Donnelly of RehabCenter.net for bringing this to our attention.

Our thanks to Jasmine for suggesting these 4 resource articles!

Jasmine Dyoco / [email protected]

How to Create a Backyard Sanctuary for Kids with Disabilities
https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/disability-friendly-backyard-for-kids/

For Educators: Strategies for Working With Children With Autism
Spectrum Disorder
http://blog.maketaketeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Strategies-for-Working-With-Children-with-ASD1.pdf

Helping Asperger’s Teens To Survive and Thrive: 15 Key Steps
http://www.psy-ed.com/wpblog/helping-aspergers-teens/

Creating a Home Atmosphere of Solitude to Help Cope with Adult Autism
https://www.redfin.com/blog/creating-a-home-atmosphere-to-help-cope-with-adult-autism

A core principle many development professionals ascribe to goes as follows: each and every child needs five adults who are willing to sow into their lives as they grow. These adults must be willing to love and mentor these young people, forming the foundation of the child’s life.

But what happens when the only adults a child can access are police officers, prison guards and parole officers? The foundation begins to crumble, quickly. For taxpayers, the Justice Policy Institute found incarcerating one juvenile for one year costs close to $148,000. Jailing juveniles doesn’t add up both for the future of our country and for our financial well-being. More here.

Across the United States, one million children are arrested every year. Of those young people, thousands are removed from schools, separated from their families and thrown into secure detention facilities merely for committing common status offenses – like running away and truancy – which comprise more than half of non-criminal court cases. However, as they were in Raiya’s case, both of these behaviors are strong indicators of underlying issues at home or school. These should act as warning signs that intervention is necessary, rather than as reasons for arrest. More here.

An Important Video Message From:
The Children’s Defense Fund

Watch and share this video with all your children, other families, and foster parents.
It’s less than 2 mins long and could save a life!

Working To Facilitate Early Mental Health Support For Young People

News-Medical
During the last 5 years, the number of hospital admissions for self-harm has risen by 93 percent among girls and by 45 percent among boys aged 10 to 14. It has been estimated that around 10 percent of all 5‑16 year-olds in the U.K. are affected by some kind of mental health problem. While a range of mental health disorders, such as ADHD, autism, anorexia nervosa, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and panic disorder have been shown to have increased risk recurrence ratios within families, there is also a strong body of evidence showing the negative effects of various traumas to childhood mental health.  READ MORE

Teaching Kids Mental Health Skills Can Ease Anxiety, Suicidal Thoughts

Psych Central
A new Canadian pilot program designed to promote mental health skills in youth significantly lessened cases of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. University of Alberta researchers led the EMPATHY program in a local school district from 2013 to 2015. The program was offered to more than 6,000 youth in grades six through 12.  READ MORE

Care System Not To Blame For Increased Risk of Mental Health Issues in Children

Medical Xpress
Children in the care system – who are more likely to have mental health difficulties than others in the wider population – are not more at risk due to being in care, according to new research from the University of York. The study, led by Professor Nina Biehal in York’s Department of Social Policy and Social Care and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), suggests that mental health issues can also be down to a child’s treatment before they entered local authority care.  READ MORE