Friday Update 3-6-15

Greetings faithful readers. Let's start off this edition of Friday Update with a most inspirational address by Malala Yousafzai, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. As a young girl, Malala Yousafzai defied the Taliban in Pakistan and demanded that girls be allowed to receive an education. She was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in 2012 but survived. I can't think of a better reminder of all that is good in this world, than this acceptance speech. Enjoy the speech, get inspired, and then get to readin' Friday Update, cuz we got work to do!

Most important reads for this week  

Childhood trauma is the elephant in the classroom 
In this Morning Zen post, Daun Kauffman addresses the power and prevalence of childhood trauma in an impassioned letter to the Governor of Pennsylvania. This post is an example of how any of us, armed with passion, good data, and a pen, can be an effective advocate. 

"Now is the Time" Project AWARE-Community Grants 
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2015 "Now is the Time" Project AWARE-Community (Short Title: NITT-AWARE-C) grants. The purpose of this program is to support the training of teachers and a broad array of actors who interact with youth through their programs at the community level, including parents, law enforcement, faith-based leaders, and other adults, in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) or Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA). There is a May 1 deadline, so get movin'! 

Write An essay, change the world 
It's that time of year again! The International Bipolar Foundation is conducting their global essay contest for middle school and high school students. The essay contest is one of our favorite events of the year. One way to fight stigma is by learning the facts and sharing them with others. To help middle school and high school students do that, International Bipolar Foundation sponsors an annual contest that encourages students from around the world to write essays that educate others about bipolar disorder. A student chooses a topic from the list of suggestions, researches it, and then writes an essay of 500-800 words. Essays are judged by a panel of mental health authors. The winner earns a cash prize of $500, with smaller cash prizes for second and third places. The deadline to submit essays is May 1st. 

American Psychiatric Foundation announces Typical or Troubled grant program 
The American Psychiatric Foundation is now accepting applications from community organizations, schools, and school districts to apply to implement the Typical or Troubled?®  program in middle and high schools. The deadline is March 31st, so you will need to get on it! 

9th World Congress on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders announces Call for Papers 
The 9^th World Congress on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders is being held in Columbia, South Carolina, September 9 - 11, 2015. Join your colleagues from all over the world to promote local change through global knowledge exchange! The Call for Papers closes on March 20^th so sharpen that #2 pencil and get busy! 

Serena Goldsmith: A story of hope and recovery 
Our colleagues at the International Bipolar Foundation are out with another timely webinar. Serena's story will inspire you. Check it out, Network faithful! 

Step up to the plate for school meals 
Thanks to our friends at Trust for America's Health for this tasty morsel... The American Heart Association has launched Step Up to the Plate for School Meals, a microsite on child nutrition reauthorization. The site "contains information on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act; the latest news on child nutrition; success stories showcasing where nutrition standards have benefited students, parents, schools, and communities, as well as a place to submit more success stories; an interactive and easy advocacy opportunity to contact lawmakers; a Twitter feed; external resources; and a map with state-level data on school and health information as it related to school nutrition."

FFCMH Call for Papers now online 
The National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health invites you to submit presentations for their 26th Annual Conference. This year, they are designing distinct tracks to address the most current issues facing children, youth and young adults with mental health challenges and their families. 

Apply for the 2016 Young Scholars Program 
Okay, this is for research faithful who are packing their suitcase for the 28th Annual Research & Policy Conference in Tampa, Fl. Be sure to pack that quill and ink set you got in your holiday basket so you can complete your application for the Young Scholars program. Eligible researchers will have received their doctoral degrees (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D., M.D., J.D., etc.) within one to seven years of application submission. Ten years for physician applicants.

28th Annual Research & Policy Conference just around the corner! 
Speaking of the Research & Policy Conference... it really is just around the corner! Still time to register for one of the pre-conference intensives. When you get to Tampa, be sure to stop by the Children's Mental Health Network exhibit table and tell us how much you love bein' a part of Network Nation!

Resources 

• Resources on Tai Chi as a Mind-Body Practice 
  Have you ever tried tai chi or been interested in learning more about this mind and body practice? The NCCIH Web site features information - including a video - on tai chi and qi gong, exercise therapies that are generally considered to be safe self-care approaches used to promote a healthy lifestyle. 

• Treat Stress and Anxiety Early for Successful Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Recovery 
  This blog post summarizes a recent Defense Centers of Excellence on Psychological Health and TBI (DCoE) webinar on the proper identification and early treatment of psychological concerns of individuals with TBI. 

• Mindfulness Meditation Can Help Your Brain Handle Stress 
  This is the first in a series of DCoE blog posts on mindfulness meditation, a popular form of meditation that helps treat various psychological health concerns. This article describes the approach and clinical evidence of its effectiveness. Future posts will feature mindfulness meditation techniques and how the practice can help treat various health concerns.

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Scott Bryant-Comstock
President & CEO 
http://cmhnetwork.org