Widely accepted estimates of the prevalence of BD in adults range from 1%-2% (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000), and incidence is similar in adolescents (Wolf & Wagner, 2003). BD is considered one of the most heritable mental illnesses: children of parents with BD are more likely to develop a mood disorder. Other risk factors include rapid onset of depressive symptoms with psychotic features (e.g., delusions), family history of mood disorders, and history of manic or hypomanic symptoms following antidepressant treatment (Faedda, Baldessarini, Glovinsky, & Austin, 2004). In addition, research has shown that children treated with stimulants may experience early onset manic symptoms (Giedd, 2000).  Full article.

Adolescents and Borderline Personality Disorder    

Legitimate Power, also know as earned or respect power, is a combination of respect, reputation, and your history. Reputation is the sum total of how you have conducted yourself in your professional and personal affairs. If you have shown respect, integrity, and character in all your dealings, people will know it.

Legitimate Power is the type of power an individual has when they are placed in special regard because of their honorable character. As a result of being honorable, other people trust and respect these individuals, willingly following them. This type of power is earned through one's track record, stability, and use of past power. It precedes a person and remains to influence others, even when their physical presence is gone. It exaggerates strengths and can create an aura that instills respect, even awe.  Learn more.

Being Demonized As A Leader    

Most organizations abound with acolytes for the status quo. The status quo is simply the existing state of an organization. What's wrong with the status quo? A great deal. In fact, the status quo of any organization is usually wrong. 

The trouble with the status quo isn't that it gets poor results. After all, if you know you're getting poor results, you can start taking steps to turn them into good results.  The trouble with the status quo is that it gets mediocre results but represents them as good results. And poor results are less harmful to an organization than mediocre results misrepresented as good results.

The acolytes may worship at a lot of altars: the funding of inefficient, wasteful, pet programs; the misplaced craving of the employees to bring back the "good ole days"; the people's championing a poisonous culture of unrealistic entitlements. And so on.  If you start demolishing the altars or even questioning the status quo's orthodoxy, the acolytes may very well resort to a common status quo tactic that throws most leaders off balance: They'll demonize you.  Note I don't say "criticize," I say "demonize."   Continue here.

For years, social service, healthcare and educational institutions have sought to collaborate

with other organizations in their communities-to create screening and referral systems, to coordinate services and to advocate for policy changes-all in the interest of serving clients more effectively. The pace of these efforts has increased noticeably over the past 10 years, culminating in several recent large-scale federal initiatives explicitly designed to foster collaboration within communities. The Department of Education's Promise Neighborhood grants, for example, engage multiple agency partners in creating a "cradle to career" continuum of services, designed to break down silos and better meet the needs of local children and families. Likewise, the Department of Housing and

Urban Development's Choice Neighborhoods program supports neighborhood transformation

through extensive collaboration among housing, economic development, education and social service providers.  Foundations are also investing in collaborative efforts.  Read full report.

This short term vs. long term dichotomy is playing out in the debate over how to best address the nation's literacy gap. Lawmakers in at least four states (Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico and Tennessee) want to hold back students who aren't reading at grade level by the end of third grade. But educators and researchers say while that might seem like a short-term solution, it could do long-term harm to a child's social and educational development. 

Empathy is a critical skill in a world defined by rapid change--one that is foundational to the social, teamwork and leadership skills required to contribute succesfully to society.  As the pace of change accelerates, the level of empathy required to collaborate in the workplace, or on other types of teams that bring change to the world, is higher than ever before.

If you aren't proficient in empathy, you're severely limiting your opportunities to contribute to society, and are at risk of being left behind. If we are to create a world where everyone can be a player, provide input, and create value, we must grasp, practice, and develop empathy.  Empathy is more than just awareness and concern. It is about cultural sensitivity and conflict resolution. It's about the ability to communicate effectively and understand the motivations of others. Empathy is about standing up, not standing by, uncovering what's below the surface through active listening and putting words into action.  Deadline:  March 30, 2012.  Details. 

ING Unsung Heroes Award  

ING Unsung Heroes began in 1995as a way for ING to demonstrate its commitment to the education community. Grants are given to K-12 educators utilizing new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning.  Each year, educators submit applications for an ING Unsung Heroes grant by describing projects they have initiated or would like to pursue. Each project is judged on its:

innovative method, creativity, and ability to positively influence the students.  All K-12 education professionals, whether or not they are clients of ING, are eligible. Specifically, these individuals must be:  (1)  Employed by an accredited K-12 public or private school located in the United States, or (2)  Full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, orclassified staff with effective  projects that improve student learning.  Deadline:  April 30, 2012.  Details here.  

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes    

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, founded by author T. A. Barron in honor of his mother, celebrates outstanding young leaders. Each year the Barron Prize honors 25 inspiring young people who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet.  These outstanding young leaders have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings and/or on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment. Maximum award: $2,500. Eligibility: youth 8-18. Deadline: April 30, 2012.  Nomination information here.