This Web site is a component of the SAMHSA Health Information Network

This Site Mental Health at HHS All Mental Health

Publications Related Links Resources Youth Violence Homepage  CMHS Programs:   Go to... Children's Campaign Community Support Emergency Services Financing HIV/AIDS Homelessness Managing Anxiety Mental Health Statistics Protection & Advocacy Special Programs State Planning Traumatic Events Suicide Prevention Programs Homepage  CMHS Activities:   Go to... 15+ School Violence Stigma Suicide Prevention Surgeon General

printer friendly page e-mail this page bookmark this page shopping cart  current or new account

This Web site is a component of the SAMHSA Health Information Network.

Background

The Congressional allocation of $40 million to the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) "to improve mental health services for children with emotional and behavioral disorders who are at risk of violent behavior" provides an excellent opportunity to develop the integrated continuum of prevention, early intervention, and treatment called for by the Congress, clinicians, researchers, and other advocates of effective and appropriate mental health services. It encourages planners to draw not only on the research regarding services for children who are already showing signs of aggressive and/or violent behavior but also on the research regarding the development in children of resilience to many different behavioral difficulties.

The need for an integrated system of care to enhance resilience and decrease violence is enormous, and the logical place to locate this system is within schools since that is where children spend a significant portion of their days. They must feel safe and be safe in order to learn. It is reasonable, therefore, to be especially concerned with the school environment and to consider schools as prime sites in which to offer resilience building and violence prevention initiatives. However, to be effective, interventions must not be targeted solely at children, but must also involve schools, families, and communities in a joint partnership.

The intent of the CMHS Enhancing Resilience Initiative is to fund programs that coordinate families, schools, and communities into a partnership to promote the development of healthy behaviors, competence, and resilience in school-aged children and youth in order to decrease the level of violence in schools. These programs not only must provide services to respond to violent acts already committed, but must also be proactive by identifying problems early, intervening early, and altering the course of the child's life in a positive direction.

Table of Contents | Next