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• 161. [Article] An Exploration of Fiscal Resources and Systems Needs related to Autism Spectrum Disorder Services and Supports in Ohio: Fiscal Analysis and Parent/Caregiver Interview Results

  In order to advocate for policies that align and leverage funding streams in service to the needs of families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the Educational Service Center ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: An Exploration of Fiscal Resources and Systems Needs related to Autism Spectrum Disorder Services and Supports in Ohio: Fiscal Analysis and Parent/Caregiver Interview Results Author: Anderson-Butcher, Dawn, Drew, Hilary, Moodie-Dyer, Amber, Hoffman, Jill A. Year: 2012 In order to advocate for policies that align and leverage funding streams in service to the needs of families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio (ESCCO) and the Center for Systems Change at the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence disorders (OCALI) commissioned the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University to conduct a fiscal analysis of ASD funds and to explore parent / caregiver perceptions of the ASD service delivery system in Ohio. There were two purposes of this work: To identify federal and state funding streams that are available or may be used to support autism spectrum disorders in Ohio and To explore stakeholder (particularly parents / caregivers) experiences with the ASD service delivery system and related informal social supports. The findings from both research components provide insights into ways in which the ASD service delivery system might be improved, as fiscal mapping data inform resource investments and consumer perspectives’ drive continuous improvements. Title: An Exploration of Fiscal Resources and Systems Needs related to Autism Spectrum Disorder Services and Supports in Ohio: Fiscal Analysis and Parent/Caregiver Interview Results Author: Anderson-Butcher, Dawn, Drew, Hilary, Moodie-Dyer, Amber, Hoffman, Jill A. Year: 2012 In order to advocate for policies that align and leverage funding streams in service to the needs of families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio (ESCCO) and the Center for Systems Change at the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence disorders (OCALI) commissioned the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University to conduct a fiscal analysis of ASD funds and to explore parent / caregiver perceptions of the ASD service delivery system in Ohio. There were two purposes of this work: To identify federal and state funding streams that are available or may be used to support autism spectrum disorders in Ohio and To explore stakeholder (particularly parents / caregivers) experiences with the ASD service delivery system and related informal social supports. The findings from both research components provide insights into ways in which the ASD service delivery system might be improved, as fiscal mapping data inform resource investments and consumer perspectives’ drive continuous improvements. Close

• 162. [Article] Predicting Positive Education Outcomes for Emerging Adults in Mental Health Systems of Care

  Emerging adults who receive services based on positive youth development models have shown an ability to shape their own life course to achieve positive goals. This paper reports secondary data analysis ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Predicting Positive Education Outcomes for Emerging Adults in Mental Health Systems of Care Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Nygren, Peggy, Stephens, Robert L., Croskey, Adrienne Year: 2016 Emerging adults who receive services based on positive youth development models have shown an ability to shape their own life course to achieve positive goals. This paper reports secondary data analysis from the Longitudinal Child and Family Outcome Study including 248 culturally-diverse youth ages 17 through 22 receiving mental health services in systems of care. After 12 months of services, school performance was positively related to youth ratings of school functioning, and service participation and satisfaction. Regression analysis revealed ratings of young peoples’ perceptions of school functioning and their experience in services added to the significant prediction of satisfactory school performance, even controlling for sex and attendance. Finally, in addition to expected predictors, participation in planning their own services significantly predicted enrollment in higher education for those who finished high school. Findings suggest that programs and practices based on positive youth development approaches can improve educational outcomes for emerging adults. Title: Predicting Positive Education Outcomes for Emerging Adults in Mental Health Systems of Care Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Nygren, Peggy, Stephens, Robert L., Croskey, Adrienne Year: 2016 Emerging adults who receive services based on positive youth development models have shown an ability to shape their own life course to achieve positive goals. This paper reports secondary data analysis from the Longitudinal Child and Family Outcome Study including 248 culturally-diverse youth ages 17 through 22 receiving mental health services in systems of care. After 12 months of services, school performance was positively related to youth ratings of school functioning, and service participation and satisfaction. Regression analysis revealed ratings of young peoples’ perceptions of school functioning and their experience in services added to the significant prediction of satisfactory school performance, even controlling for sex and attendance. Finally, in addition to expected predictors, participation in planning their own services significantly predicted enrollment in higher education for those who finished high school. Findings suggest that programs and practices based on positive youth development approaches can improve educational outcomes for emerging adults. Close

• 163. [Article] It’s Not as Simple as it Sounds: Problems and Solutions in Accessing and Using Administrative Child Welfare Data for Evaluating the Impact of Early Childhood Interventions

  In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using administrative data collected by state child welfare agencies as a source of information for research and evaluation. The challenges of obtaining ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: It’s Not as Simple as it Sounds: Problems and Solutions in Accessing and Using Administrative Child Welfare Data for Evaluating the Impact of Early Childhood Interventions Author: Green, Beth L., Ayoub, Catherine, Bartlett, Jessica Dym, Furrer, Carrie Jeanne, Von Ende, Adam, Chazen-Cohen, Rachel, Klevens, Joanne, Nygren, Peggy Year: 2015 In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using administrative data collected by state child welfare agencies as a source of information for research and evaluation. The challenges of obtaining access to and using these data, however, have not been well documented. This study describes the processes used to access child welfare records in six different states and the approach to combining and using the information gathered to evaluate the impact of the Early Head Start program on children’s involvement with the child welfare system from birth through age eleven. We provide “lessons learned” for researchers who are attempting to use this information, including being prepared for long delays in access to information, the need for deep understanding of how child welfare agencies record and code information, and for considerable data management work for translating agency records into analysis-ready datasets. While accessing and using this information is not easy, and the data have a number of limitations, we suggest that the benefits can outweigh the challenges and that these records can be a useful source of information for policy-relevant child welfare research. Title: It’s Not as Simple as it Sounds: Problems and Solutions in Accessing and Using Administrative Child Welfare Data for Evaluating the Impact of Early Childhood Interventions Author: Green, Beth L., Ayoub, Catherine, Bartlett, Jessica Dym, Furrer, Carrie Jeanne, Von Ende, Adam, Chazen-Cohen, Rachel, Klevens, Joanne, Nygren, Peggy Year: 2015 In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using administrative data collected by state child welfare agencies as a source of information for research and evaluation. The challenges of obtaining access to and using these data, however, have not been well documented. This study describes the processes used to access child welfare records in six different states and the approach to combining and using the information gathered to evaluate the impact of the Early Head Start program on children’s involvement with the child welfare system from birth through age eleven. We provide “lessons learned” for researchers who are attempting to use this information, including being prepared for long delays in access to information, the need for deep understanding of how child welfare agencies record and code information, and for considerable data management work for translating agency records into analysis-ready datasets. While accessing and using this information is not easy, and the data have a number of limitations, we suggest that the benefits can outweigh the challenges and that these records can be a useful source of information for policy-relevant child welfare research. Close

• 164. [Article] An Intervention to Improve Sibling Relationship Quality Among Youth in Foster Care: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

  Sibling programming is an important part of a prevention framework, particularly for youth in foster care. After children are removed from their families and placed into foster care in the aftermath of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: An Intervention to Improve Sibling Relationship Quality Among Youth in Foster Care: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial Author: Kothari, Brianne H., McBeath, Bowen, Sorenson, Paul, Bank, Lew, Waid, Jeff, Webb, Sara Jade, Steele, Joel Year: 2017 Sibling programming is an important part of a prevention framework, particularly for youth in foster care. After children are removed from their families and placed into foster care in the aftermath of maltreatment, the sibling relationship is often the most viable ongoing relationship available to the child, and may be critical to a youth's sense of connection, emotional support, and continuity. The promise of dyadic sibling programming in particular rests on the ability of interventions to enhance the quality of sibling relationships; yet little research exists that suggests that sibling interventions can improve relationship quality among foster youth. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the effects of a specific dyadic sibling-focused intervention for older and younger siblings on sibling relationship quality. One hundred sixty four dyads (328 youth) participated in the study, with each dyad consisting of an older sibling between 11 and 15 years of age at baseline and a younger sibling separated in age by less than 4 years. Hierarchical linear models were applied to self-reported, observer-reported and observational data over the 18-month study period. Findings suggest that the sibling intervention holds promise for improving sibling relationship quality among youth in foster care. Implications and future directions for research are discussed. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd Title: An Intervention to Improve Sibling Relationship Quality Among Youth in Foster Care: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial Author: Kothari, Brianne H., McBeath, Bowen, Sorenson, Paul, Bank, Lew, Waid, Jeff, Webb, Sara Jade, Steele, Joel Year: 2017 Sibling programming is an important part of a prevention framework, particularly for youth in foster care. After children are removed from their families and placed into foster care in the aftermath of maltreatment, the sibling relationship is often the most viable ongoing relationship available to the child, and may be critical to a youth's sense of connection, emotional support, and continuity. The promise of dyadic sibling programming in particular rests on the ability of interventions to enhance the quality of sibling relationships; yet little research exists that suggests that sibling interventions can improve relationship quality among foster youth. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the effects of a specific dyadic sibling-focused intervention for older and younger siblings on sibling relationship quality. One hundred sixty four dyads (328 youth) participated in the study, with each dyad consisting of an older sibling between 11 and 15 years of age at baseline and a younger sibling separated in age by less than 4 years. Hierarchical linear models were applied to self-reported, observer-reported and observational data over the 18-month study period. Findings suggest that the sibling intervention holds promise for improving sibling relationship quality among youth in foster care. Implications and future directions for research are discussed. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd Close

• 165. [Article] Salem Teen Mother Program : a follow-up study

  Society has, historically, reacted to teenage pregnancies with a mixture of embarrassment, apathy and neglect. It wasn't until the 1960's that an attempt was made to design and implement programs to meet ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Salem Teen Mother Program : a follow-up study Author: Barton, Frances L., Berman, Florence C., Bertoli-Nordlof, Sharon M., Cooper, Marilyn L., Murray, Claire K., Peratrovich, Rosanne, Showell, Arlene M., Velazquez, Julio C. Year: 1980 Society has, historically, reacted to teenage pregnancies with a mixture of embarrassment, apathy and neglect. It wasn't until the 1960's that an attempt was made to design and implement programs to meet the needs of pregnant adolescents. An example of such a program is the Salem Teen Mother Program. This program was begun in 1966 and is affiliated with the local YWCA. If offers a comprehensive program to approximately 150 students each year. The services it offers include day care, social services and counseling, education, health services, parenting skills and employment counseling. The following chapters include a literature review which describes the problems facing teenage mothers in the nation. Programs that have been implemented to deal with those problems and the results of related research studies are also discussed. Subsequent chapters are devoted to the follow-up study of the Salem Teen Mother Program. First a description of the program is presented followed by chapters on methodology, data analysis, results and the conclusions from the study. Title: Salem Teen Mother Program : a follow-up study Author: Barton, Frances L., Berman, Florence C., Bertoli-Nordlof, Sharon M., Cooper, Marilyn L., Murray, Claire K., Peratrovich, Rosanne, Showell, Arlene M., Velazquez, Julio C. Year: 1980 Society has, historically, reacted to teenage pregnancies with a mixture of embarrassment, apathy and neglect. It wasn't until the 1960's that an attempt was made to design and implement programs to meet the needs of pregnant adolescents. An example of such a program is the Salem Teen Mother Program. This program was begun in 1966 and is affiliated with the local YWCA. If offers a comprehensive program to approximately 150 students each year. The services it offers include day care, social services and counseling, education, health services, parenting skills and employment counseling. The following chapters include a literature review which describes the problems facing teenage mothers in the nation. Programs that have been implemented to deal with those problems and the results of related research studies are also discussed. Subsequent chapters are devoted to the follow-up study of the Salem Teen Mother Program. First a description of the program is presented followed by chapters on methodology, data analysis, results and the conclusions from the study. Close

• 166. [Article] Oregon Community-Based Care Survey: Assisted Living, Residential Care, and Memory Care

  In Oregon, community-based care (CBC) communities include assisted living (AL), residential care (RC), and memory care (MC) communities. These settings provide residential, personal care, and health-related ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Oregon Community-Based Care Survey: Assisted Living, Residential Care, and Memory Care Author: Carder, Paula C., Tunalilar, Ozcan, Elliott, Sheryl DeJoy, Dys, Sarah, Neal, Margaret B. Year: 2017 In Oregon, community-based care (CBC) communities include assisted living (AL), residential care (RC), and memory care (MC) communities. These settings provide residential, personal care, and health-related services, primarily to older adults. As the population of Oregonians aged 65 and older is estimated to increase from 16 percent in 2015 to nearly 23 percent in 20501, the availability of CBC settings will continue to be an important source of long-term services and supports. This report provides an in-depth look at Oregon’s CBC settings. Because no central dataset of CBC services, staff, and residents is available, as opposed to nursing facilities, information for this report was collected using a questionnaire that CBC providers (e.g., administrators, directors) were asked to complete. CBC settings provide long-term services and supports to many older Oregonians and their families. These services include daily meals, housekeeping and laundry, assistance with personal care needs, medication administration, monitoring of health conditions, communication with residents’ health care providers, and social and recreational activities. Of the 517 AL, RC, and MC communities licensed as of fall 2016, 60 percent (308) returned a questionnaire. The data described in this report are based upon these 308 communities unless noted otherwise. The goals of the project described in this report included: Describe assisted living, residential care, and memory care community characteristics, including staffing types and levels, policies, and monthly charges and fees Describe current residents’ health and social characteristics Compare current results with prior Oregon surveys and national studies of similar setting types to identify changes and possible trends Compare setting types for differences that might affect access, quality, or costs Title: Oregon Community-Based Care Survey: Assisted Living, Residential Care, and Memory Care Author: Carder, Paula C., Tunalilar, Ozcan, Elliott, Sheryl DeJoy, Dys, Sarah, Neal, Margaret B. Year: 2017 In Oregon, community-based care (CBC) communities include assisted living (AL), residential care (RC), and memory care (MC) communities. These settings provide residential, personal care, and health-related services, primarily to older adults. As the population of Oregonians aged 65 and older is estimated to increase from 16 percent in 2015 to nearly 23 percent in 20501, the availability of CBC settings will continue to be an important source of long-term services and supports. This report provides an in-depth look at Oregon’s CBC settings. Because no central dataset of CBC services, staff, and residents is available, as opposed to nursing facilities, information for this report was collected using a questionnaire that CBC providers (e.g., administrators, directors) were asked to complete. CBC settings provide long-term services and supports to many older Oregonians and their families. These services include daily meals, housekeeping and laundry, assistance with personal care needs, medication administration, monitoring of health conditions, communication with residents’ health care providers, and social and recreational activities. Of the 517 AL, RC, and MC communities licensed as of fall 2016, 60 percent (308) returned a questionnaire. The data described in this report are based upon these 308 communities unless noted otherwise. The goals of the project described in this report included: Describe assisted living, residential care, and memory care community characteristics, including staffing types and levels, policies, and monthly charges and fees Describe current residents’ health and social characteristics Compare current results with prior Oregon surveys and national studies of similar setting types to identify changes and possible trends Compare setting types for differences that might affect access, quality, or costs Close

• 167. [Article] The Impact of Domestic Violence on Depression in Teen Mothers: Is the Fear or Threat of Violence Sufficient?

  The purpose of this study was to assess whether the fear or threat of intimate partner violence (IPV) impacted depression and peer support among a population of pregnant and parenting female adolescents, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Depression in Teen Mothers: Is the Fear or Threat of Violence Sufficient? Author: Sussex, Barbara Mary, Corcoran, Kevin Year: 2005 The purpose of this study was to assess whether the fear or threat of intimate partner violence (IPV) impacted depression and peer support among a population of pregnant and parenting female adolescents, and whether cessation made a difference. The sample consisted of 286 teen mothers participating in a substance abuse prevention intervention. Data were self-report assessed at 6-month intervals from entry through 18 months. IPV was defined by a report of avoidance of another within the past 6 months out of fear or threat of violence and was also assessed for those aged 18 and older with measures from the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS). Depression and peer support were measured using modified versions of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, respectively. At baseline, 26.5% of participants reported avoiding someone out of fear or threat of violence in the past 6 months, and by the end of the study, 36.9% reported avoidance at some time over 18 months. Mothers reporting IPV both subjectively (i.e., fear or threat) and directly (i.e., AAS) had significantly higher depression at the 12- and 18-month assessment periods, and those in continuous fear of IPV and new cases also had higher depression at 12 and 18 months. Cessation of IPV did not significantly affect depression scores. Regarding peer support, young women in IPV situations at baseline reported significantly less peer support at both baseline and the 6-month period. Additionally, findings suggest that peer support improves when the fear or threat of violence ends. Finally, correlations between peer support and depression show that as scores on peer support decreased, there was a concomitant increase in depression. Title: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Depression in Teen Mothers: Is the Fear or Threat of Violence Sufficient? Author: Sussex, Barbara Mary, Corcoran, Kevin Year: 2005 The purpose of this study was to assess whether the fear or threat of intimate partner violence (IPV) impacted depression and peer support among a population of pregnant and parenting female adolescents, and whether cessation made a difference. The sample consisted of 286 teen mothers participating in a substance abuse prevention intervention. Data were self-report assessed at 6-month intervals from entry through 18 months. IPV was defined by a report of avoidance of another within the past 6 months out of fear or threat of violence and was also assessed for those aged 18 and older with measures from the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS). Depression and peer support were measured using modified versions of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, respectively. At baseline, 26.5% of participants reported avoiding someone out of fear or threat of violence in the past 6 months, and by the end of the study, 36.9% reported avoidance at some time over 18 months. Mothers reporting IPV both subjectively (i.e., fear or threat) and directly (i.e., AAS) had significantly higher depression at the 12- and 18-month assessment periods, and those in continuous fear of IPV and new cases also had higher depression at 12 and 18 months. Cessation of IPV did not significantly affect depression scores. Regarding peer support, young women in IPV situations at baseline reported significantly less peer support at both baseline and the 6-month period. Additionally, findings suggest that peer support improves when the fear or threat of violence ends. Finally, correlations between peer support and depression show that as scores on peer support decreased, there was a concomitant increase in depression. Close

• 168. [Article] Fidelity and Adaptation of a Sibling Relationship Intervention for the Prevention of Antisocial Behavior

  The Supporting Siblings in Foster Care program (SIBS) utilizes a universal recruitment strategy for a RCT skills training program for siblings in foster care at high risk of poor health, disability, and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Fidelity and Adaptation of a Sibling Relationship Intervention for the Prevention of Antisocial Behavior Author: Marino, Casadi "Khaki" Year: 2013 The Supporting Siblings in Foster Care program (SIBS) utilizes a universal recruitment strategy for a RCT skills training program for siblings in foster care at high risk of poor health, disability, and conduct issues. This poster session will examine the process of program adaptation, review the components of intervention fidelity, and explore the challenges of intervention in the context of foster children's lives. Fidelity of implementation and program adaptation are essential to prevention program design. Program adaptation may be required for cultural fit and ecological factors. Focus group data from a group of intervention staff indicated that changes were made to program content and delivery in order to engage diverse youth with attention, developmental, and behavioral issues living in the flux of an overtaxed Child Welfare system, foster placement changes, and custody and reunification struggles. Recommendations for future implementation research include building flexibility into the curriculum and training staff in planned modification for the most common challenges. Competencies essential to effective sibling relationships and the core components of intervention programs will need to be elucidated as research progresses. Intervention fidelity is important for program dissemination and for interpreting the effects of an intervention. It will be necessary to explore the process of adaptation and identify specific factors that influence effectiveness with particular populations. Title: Fidelity and Adaptation of a Sibling Relationship Intervention for the Prevention of Antisocial Behavior Author: Marino, Casadi "Khaki" Year: 2013 The Supporting Siblings in Foster Care program (SIBS) utilizes a universal recruitment strategy for a RCT skills training program for siblings in foster care at high risk of poor health, disability, and conduct issues. This poster session will examine the process of program adaptation, review the components of intervention fidelity, and explore the challenges of intervention in the context of foster children's lives. Fidelity of implementation and program adaptation are essential to prevention program design. Program adaptation may be required for cultural fit and ecological factors. Focus group data from a group of intervention staff indicated that changes were made to program content and delivery in order to engage diverse youth with attention, developmental, and behavioral issues living in the flux of an overtaxed Child Welfare system, foster placement changes, and custody and reunification struggles. Recommendations for future implementation research include building flexibility into the curriculum and training staff in planned modification for the most common challenges. Competencies essential to effective sibling relationships and the core components of intervention programs will need to be elucidated as research progresses. Intervention fidelity is important for program dissemination and for interpreting the effects of an intervention. It will be necessary to explore the process of adaptation and identify specific factors that influence effectiveness with particular populations. Close

• 169. [Article] The Grand Challenge of Ending Homelessness

  The notion that homelessness in the United States can be ended, rather than managed, represents a fundamental shift in expectations that has occurred over the past three decades. Many U.S. cities now have ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Grand Challenge of Ending Homelessness Author: Henwood, Benjamin, Wenzel, Suzanne L., Mangano, Philip F., Hombs, MaryEllen, Padgett, Deborah K., Byrne, Thomas, Rice, Eric, Butts, Sarah, Uretsky, Mathew C, Year: 2015 The notion that homelessness in the United States can be ended, rather than managed, represents a fundamental shift in expectations that has occurred over the past three decades. Many U.S. cities now have plans to end homelessness. Yet homelessness and housing instability are substantial problems that afflict a diverse group of subpopulations such as families, youth, veterans, and chronically homeless single adults. Ending homelessness for each of these populations may require tailored interventions that are responsive to specific individualized needs. These factors make tackling homelessness a difficult task. Although evidencebased solutions exist for some subpopulations, such as housing first for chronically homeless adults, scaling up best practices remains a challenge. For other subpopulations, such as transitional aged youth, evidence-based interventions need to be developed. In this paper we argue that ending homelessness is a Grand Challenge that is big, important, and compelling—one that the profession of social work should be adopt. Meeting this challenge will require a focused, organized response from social work researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. Ending homelessness will require innovation and interdisciplinary or cross-sector collaboration. Title: The Grand Challenge of Ending Homelessness Author: Henwood, Benjamin, Wenzel, Suzanne L., Mangano, Philip F., Hombs, MaryEllen, Padgett, Deborah K., Byrne, Thomas, Rice, Eric, Butts, Sarah, Uretsky, Mathew C, Year: 2015 The notion that homelessness in the United States can be ended, rather than managed, represents a fundamental shift in expectations that has occurred over the past three decades. Many U.S. cities now have plans to end homelessness. Yet homelessness and housing instability are substantial problems that afflict a diverse group of subpopulations such as families, youth, veterans, and chronically homeless single adults. Ending homelessness for each of these populations may require tailored interventions that are responsive to specific individualized needs. These factors make tackling homelessness a difficult task. Although evidencebased solutions exist for some subpopulations, such as housing first for chronically homeless adults, scaling up best practices remains a challenge. For other subpopulations, such as transitional aged youth, evidence-based interventions need to be developed. In this paper we argue that ending homelessness is a Grand Challenge that is big, important, and compelling—one that the profession of social work should be adopt. Meeting this challenge will require a focused, organized response from social work researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. Ending homelessness will require innovation and interdisciplinary or cross-sector collaboration. Close

• 170. [Article] Addressing the Physical Health Challenges Impacting Young Individuals With Major Mental Illness

  Research has found that individuals who suffer from major mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are dying on average 15-25 years earlier than those who do not suffer from schizophrenia.1 Many causes for ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Addressing the Physical Health Challenges Impacting Young Individuals With Major Mental Illness Author: Melton, Ryan P. Year: 2012 Research has found that individuals who suffer from major mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are dying on average 15-25 years earlier than those who do not suffer from schizophrenia.1 Many causes for this shortened lifespan are suspected. Those causes include: lack of access to health care, suicide, poverty, substance use and side effects from anti-psychotic medications. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has challenged mental health providers treating major mental illness to address this disturbing trend by promoting their “10x10” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to increase the lifespan of individuals who suffer from major mental illness by ten years over the next ten years. One example of a program that has taken on this challenge is Oregon’s Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA). EASA is a systematic effort within Oregon to prevent early trauma and disability caused by schizophrenia-related conditions. The goal of EASA is to identify individuals in the earliest possible stage of a schizophrenia-related condition and provide rapid and intensive treatment to the individual experiencing the condition and to their family and/or primary support system. EASA programs are currently active in sixteen Oregon counties and are free to individuals who meet criteria for a new schizophrenia-related condition. Title: Addressing the Physical Health Challenges Impacting Young Individuals With Major Mental Illness Author: Melton, Ryan P. Year: 2012 Research has found that individuals who suffer from major mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are dying on average 15-25 years earlier than those who do not suffer from schizophrenia.1 Many causes for this shortened lifespan are suspected. Those causes include: lack of access to health care, suicide, poverty, substance use and side effects from anti-psychotic medications. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has challenged mental health providers treating major mental illness to address this disturbing trend by promoting their “10x10” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to increase the lifespan of individuals who suffer from major mental illness by ten years over the next ten years. One example of a program that has taken on this challenge is Oregon’s Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA). EASA is a systematic effort within Oregon to prevent early trauma and disability caused by schizophrenia-related conditions. The goal of EASA is to identify individuals in the earliest possible stage of a schizophrenia-related condition and provide rapid and intensive treatment to the individual experiencing the condition and to their family and/or primary support system. EASA programs are currently active in sixteen Oregon counties and are free to individuals who meet criteria for a new schizophrenia-related condition. Close