Due to its high prevalence and associated risk of poor academic and health outcomes, adverse childhood experiences and trauma are considered a public health epidemic. In response, there has been a surge of initiatives aimed at helping institutions and individuals serving people with histories of trauma to adopt a trauma-informed care (TIC)…

This article provides a behavioral systems approach to improve operational performance in health and human service organizations. This article provides six performance truths that are relevant to any organization and a case study from a community mental health network of agencies. A comprehensive analysis, as described here, will help health and…

Since publication of the U.S. Surgeon General's report "Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity--A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001), several federal initiatives signal a sustained focus on addressing African American-White American disparities in mental health…

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…

The cost of health care services and supports for mental health and addictions is important to know. In order to calculate it, one must know "who" is receiving "what" is being provided by "whom" at what "price". Without tracking these types of data, it is difficult to know the cost of the activities being…

The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 was designed to address the wide variation in local authority provision for care leavers and to promote a more multi-dimensional approach to the process of leaving care. Care leavers are likely to be at greater risk of mental health difficulties than other young people and the transitional period from leaving…

In North America, 40-50 per cent of older adults are actively involved as formal volunteers in providing diverse health and human services. We review empirical studies concerning older adults' motivations for volunteering, as well as the health and morale benefits they derive from this expression of altruism. Knowledge of the exact nature and…

Notes that Managed Care, in health and mental health services, is latest building block presented as necessary for development of organized human services system. Identifies health maintenance organizations (HMOs) as fastest growing element in such systems. Attempts to collate latest information as to how mental health and substance abuse care is…

The rapid expansion of community mental health programs calls for exploring the primary task, the nature of inputs and outputs, environmental conditions, and subsystem interactions as they affect a community mental health program. The differences between programs organized according to a medical practice model and a human services model are also…

At some point, one out of every five children will need help containing and managing strong emotions or severe stress. Problems multiply when these youth break the law. Too often children with mental health problems are locked away instead of receiving appropriate treatment. An estimated 50-75% of youth in detention facilities suffer from mental…

In this article, we attempt to bridge the gap between practice (service delivery) and philosophy (trauma theory, empowerment, and relational theory). Specifically, we identify 10 principles that define trauma-informed service, discuss the need for this type of service, and give some characteristics of trauma-informed services in eight different…

Of grave concern to all who are involved in the delivery of health and mental health services are two recently-observed trends in the drug and alcohol abusing population: the emergence of formerly hidden individuals in need of treatment (among them women, children and the elderly), and the increasing incidence and severity of emotional problems…

Schools are moving toward a human service approach that encompasses the physical and mental needs of its students on top of the traditional role of educating. School-based collaboratives are one delivery model that satisfies this expanding role. Lacking in the research on this emerging setting, particularly in the realm of mental health, is…

After asserting that minorities do not have the health resources available to them in quantity or quality as do members of the dominant society, this paper describes and discusses six features which should characterize appropriate mental hygiene services for minorities: (1) cultural relevance; (2) a holistic orientation; (3) an organizational…

Paper One discusses a training program for community mental health workers which was developed utilizing the "New Careers" concept in which the poor are trained to serve the poor. The intention is to share the lessons learned through the generic training program with others engaged in New Career Training Programs. A description of the…