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| Greetings!
As always, a hearty thank-you from the ENGAGE Team for taking time to view the information in this issue of the ENGAGE e-News as the new school year begins.
Please let us know your impressions of ways to improve the e-News and e-Blast publications by writing our interactive mailbox at: engage@ccf.state.ny.us.
And remember:
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Hooray! Back to School
This week, many children return to school and that means there will be notes sent back and forth between home and school. Parent to Parent of NYS has compiled a List of Tips to help make home and school communication go smoother.
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YOUTH POWER!
Job Openings
YP! is currently seeking two full-time employees to advance the growth of our network on a regional level. One position will be based in
Albany and the other in Syracuse.
Please click here for the full job posting.
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Help Raise Awareness about
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
The New York State Chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG District II) is happy to provide -- free of charge -- a wide range of patient education materials designed to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This effort is part of an ACOG District II campaign to raise awareness about FASD, an umbrella term that describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank during pregnancy.
Thanks to a three-year grant from the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, ACOG District II is happy to provide the following for download and use:
For more information about the
Pregnant? Think, Don't Drink! campaign, contact: Sue Nigra, snigra@ny.acog.org Director of Communications and Outreach, ACOG District II 152 Washington Avenue, Suite 300 Albany, NY 12210 (518) 436-3461 Click here to learn about the NYS FASD Interagency Workgroup. |
NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Announces Public Hearings on 5-Year
Statewide Comprehensive Plan
OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez will be hosting a series of public hearings on the OASAS Statewide Comprehensive Plan 2011-2015. The public hearings have been scheduled at locations around the state in September, with the remaining dates noted below.
The public hearings are being conducted to allow counties, providers, stakeholders, and the general public to offer comments regarding the OASAS 2011 Outcomes Dashboard. The Dashboard identifies OASAS' system-wide priorities and forms the basis for the agency's Statewide Comprehensive Plan. The OASAS 2011 Outcomes Dashboard is available on the OASAS website at: (Click Here). Hearings will be held at the following sites around the state:
Buffalo Wednesday, September 14, 2011 10:30-12:00
Research Institute on Addictions
1021 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14203-1016
NYC Monday, September 19, 2011 10:20-12:00
NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
501 7th Avenue, 8th Floor Conference Room
New York, NY 10018-5903
Individuals wishing to present testimony should submit their statements in writing to OASAS prior to the hearing. Please note that speakers will be limited to a maximum of five minutes to present testimony at the public hearing.
Written testimony should be submitted via e-mail to: 5YearPlan@oasas.ny.gov.
Due to limited seating, pre-registration is required. To pre-register, please complete the online form at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VHSZNMW |
Colleges Embrace Mental Health Training
As our friends at Mental Health First Aid USA remind us--an innovative mental health program is helping stem the rising tide of mental health issues among students at colleges and universities in the U.S. With a recent survey finding the emotional health of incoming freshmen at a record low, colleges are offering Mental Health First Aid to teach students, staff and faculty how to help someone with the signs and symptoms of mental illness or in a mental health crisis. Follow the link to learn more about Mental Health First Aid: www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org and share Mental Health First Aid USA on Social Media: on Facebook and with these suggested Twitter posts: http://bit.ly/MHFA_USA for suicide prevention and http://bit.ly/MHFA_USA to help support emotional health of college freshmen, which has reportedly declined to its lowest level in 25 years!
Mental Health First Aid is the initial help given to a person showing symptoms of mental illness or in a mental health crisis until appropriate professional, peer or family support can be engaged. Mental Health First Aid USA is disseminated by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
To find a training program in your community or learn how you can certify as an instructor, visit www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org
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Safe and Supportive Schools TA Center
Substance Abuse Prevention Webinar
The Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools™ (OSDFS) Safe and Supportive Schools TA Center has rescheduled their August 24 and 25 webinar for October 12 (4:00 pm-5:30 pm EDT) and October 13 (11:00 am-12:30 pm EDT). This session will explore the latest information on effective practice in the field of substance abuse prevention and provide detailed guidance for the management and design of an alcohol and other drug prevention and intervention effort. The content will focus on strategies that improve overall school climate and, as a result, student academic results.
Those who were already registered have had their registration automatically rescheduled for the October dates. New participants should register for only ONE of the webinars. 
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Recognizing Youth Doing Community Service
They May be Eligible to win $1,000 - $5,000!
Click this link and forward this information to youth who do community service. They may be eligible to win $1,000-5,000! But, first they need to complete an online application and have it "certified" by an approved local organization.
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Federal Report Provides Statistics
on Child and Family Issues
The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has released America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well Being, 2011 (NCJ 235151). The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is one of the 22 Federal agencies that constitute the Forum.
Since 1997, the Forum has published this annual report, which provides detailed information on the welfare of children and families. This year's report provides detailed statistics about youth's family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. Findings from the 2011 report suggest that fewer 12th graders engaged in binge drinking, more 8th graders reported using drugs, and fewer teens died from injuries.
Resources: View the full report, available online. Print copies can be ordered online from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service. |
Guide to New Directive on Reproductive Health
and Services for Youth in Foster Care
A guide to New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)'newly issued Administrative Directive (ADM) on Reproductive Health and Services for Youth in Foster Care, "A Medical Guide for Youth in Foster Care"is available on line in both single page and booklet format. The booklet is a resource for youth in foster care.
Single Page Guide Booklet Format |
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Between 17 and 29 Years Old?
Check Out this Opportunity...
Applications are now available for new Board members for the State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB). Represent yourself and your  community as a member of a diverse group of 30 youth, aged 17-20. The Board is charged with managing and distributing $5 million per year in service-learning grants. Apply now for the YAB. Become a member of a group of engaged and motivated young people who harness the power that youth bring to today's society, and grant other youth the opportunity to spread service-learning across the United States and Canada. Please forward the information on to ANY 17-20 year old that you think would be interested in becoming a Board Member.
A passion for education and service makes a great candidate!
Applications must be submitted online by October 3.
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2011 Juvenile Case Planning and Reassessment Training
for YASI Users
Using Youth Assessment Survey Instrument (YASI) training information provided by local probation departments on Attachment E of their 2011 Annual Plans, the Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (OPCA) conducted three regional "Juvenile Case Planning and Reassessment Training" sessions during this summer. The first session was held on June 1st in Albany County for 27 participants from six local probation departments, DCJS Juvenile Justice staff, and Community Connections for Youth, a juvenile diversion program in the Bronx. The second session was held on June 9th in Ontario County for 42 participants representing twelve counties. The third session was held August 8th in Rockland County with 32 participants from seven counties.
OPCA is available to counties for YASI case planning and
reassessment technical assistance. To schedule a site visit or a conference call, please contact: Patti Donohue at either 518-485-5160 or Patricia.Donohue@DCJS.state.ny.us. |
There are so many exciting joint initiatives underway and we thank you for your interest in these cross-systems workings. Again, we welcome your ideas. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please e-mail us any time at engage@ccf.state.ny.us .
Sincerely,
Bill Przylucki
Director, NYS Children's Plan
Robin Miller Designer, ENGAGE Communications
The ENGAGE Newsletter is an information sharing service.
Information presented in this newsletter is not all inclusive and does not imply endorsement of any particular methodology or program.
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