This manual was designed primarily for use by people with disabilities. The hope is that it is also useful for families, as well as service coordinators and providers who directly assist families and individuals with disabilities. The focus of this manual is to provide easy-to-read information about available resources, and to provide immediate…

This manual was designed primarily for use by individuals with developmental disabilities and related conditions. It is hoped that it is also useful for families, as well as service coordinators and providers who directly assist families and individuals with developmental disabilities. The main focus of this manual is to provide easy-to-read…

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 guide is designed to assist family organizations and advocates of children with mental, emotional, or behavior disorders in asking the right questions at the right time during the development of their state's publicly funded managed behavioral health care plans. The first section provides an overview of managed care, including information on…

This guide is intended to help Kentucky families of children with disabilities or other special needs to find services in their communities. Introductory information offers guidance in selecting services, applying for services, obtaining services, and organizing to obtain unavailable services. A question-and-answer format is used, with space…

This bulletin focuses on family participation in mental health policymaking and highlights state efforts to increase family involvement. Articles include: (1) "Promoting Family Member Involvement in Children's Mental Health Policy Making Bodies," which describes how different states are promoting family member involvement in various statutory and…

This report highlights the major issues discussed during a 2-day workshop on Medicaid funding for community-based mental health services for children and youth with severe emotional disturbances. The report opens with a brief description of the service needs of children and youth with severe emotional disturbances and the system of care that can…

Describes developmental and behavioral characteristics of homeless young children and their parents. Reports on how states and communities are attempting to meet the early education and care of young children in homeless families. Discusses the needs or problems that early education and care programs that include homeless children should address.…

This newsletter issue focuses on the theme of fostering collaboration between parents and professionals in meeting the mental health needs of children. Structured group interviews (focus groups) were held with both parents and professionals who have been members of decision making boards and committees. Interview excerpts illustrate findings that…

This report documents the failure of the educational and mental health systems to meet the needs of children with severe emotional disturbances and provides a guide for advocates at both the state and local levels. Part 1 identifies priorities obtained through a national survey and reports major thrusts, including a wider array of services,…

This resource guide provides information on organizations, publications, legislation, and other resources relating to autism. Sections include: (1) commonly used disability acronyms and definitions; (2) the educational definition of autism; (3) the medical definition of autism; (4) special education offices and special services of the Missouri…

Developed to assist policymakers and family service providers, this document is an inventory of programs for Nebraska children and families, focusing on service programs and excluding basic elementary and secondary education. The programs described fall into 16 areas: (1) abuse and neglect, including prevention and protection; (2) adoption; (3)…

In 2003, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) released a "Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Health." In recognition of the critical role states play in the development of early childhood initiatives and of the unique contributions that state Title V programs can make to these initiatives, the Bureau operationalized their…