National Children's Bureau’s Post

If you have a child, know a child, or ever were a child, you know how important youth mental health is. In the midst of the nation's largest youth mental health crisis, funding for programs crucial to youth well-being is on the cusp of being cut. If you're in California, you can make a difference. Sign the petition below to to urge Governor Newsom to prioritize funding for youth mental health. #savecaliforniayouth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthmatters

Introducing our Change Readiness phase in the Youth and Adults at Risk 4-phase model! Here, we tackle crucial barriers, individuals experiencing homelessness face, during recovery. We are bringing about positive changes within the individual by addressing substance use and street trauma. In this phase, we focus on building a foundation for change, offering social services, developmental sessions, and assistance with essential documents like IDs and bank accounts. This prepares the individuals for future work rehabilitation and access to vital services. Beneficiaries receive support for substance abuse rehabilitation and identification of other necessary pathways, such as psychiatric or health evaluations. Graduates may transition to our Work Readiness programme upon successful participation and evaluation. #MouldEmpowerServe #ChangetheHeartoftheCity

Through proactive screening and intervention and by using assessments and skills to identify warning signs of adolescent suicide, social workers can be instrumental in the lives of adolescents and their families. Learn about risk factors and warning signs here: https://bit.ly/3vy4sik

It's well-known that children raised in families experiencing financial stress face greater risks of psychological, educational, and behavioural problems. What if we provided these families with $26,000 in their child's first year? MCRI's Changing Chances Project, led by Professor Sharon Goldfeld, conducted a study published in Social Science & Medicine to investigate. The study utilised existing data to examine the impact. The financial boost improved children's social, emotional and physical health and educational progress, showing promising results. Additionally, parents' mental health also improved. While income support didn't eliminate all inequalities, it significantly helped. Read the full The Conversation Australia + NZ article authored by Sharon Goldfeld AM, Elodie O'Connor and Sarah Gray ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g5Qv-snw #IncomeSupport #FinancialStress #Families #ChildHealth #MCRIresearch

Every child should have the right to grow up safe, happy, and hopeful. But right now, too many teenagers are struggling unnoticed until a crisis emerges. A new government presents an opportunity for a reset – by taking action to focus on early intervention and prevent teenagers being swept into crisis. This is why we are calling on the new UK government to commit to #ActionBeforeCrisis and… Act to overturn the decline in children’s mental health and wellbeing Better protect teenagers from harm Commit to ending child poverty But, we need your help. Send a postcard to your MP and encourage your network to do the same. We must give young people the support they need to thrive: https://lnkd.in/eg-_cps3

Attended the launch of the Global Report on Children's Care and Protection 2024 by SOS Children's Villages International, titled "Understanding and preventing the separation of children from their families". I found the presentation to be very insightful. What stood out to me were the multi-dimensional factors that lead to child-parents separation, which included society level factors, like violence in the community, sociocultural norms, gender and poverty, and family level factors, like inter-generational and domestic violence, inter-generational depleted parental ability, and caregivers' mental health. This stresses the need for a systemic adoption of a preventative lens of child protection and development, which includes supporting caregivers by educating them on positive caregiving practices. For further details, please find the report here: https://lnkd.in/deHPD62Z Also, attaching a clipping of a quote by a kid in Kenya on the inter-generational aspect of violence and parenting.

Equally relevant and with urgency to be woven into policy, decision-making and practice in Aotearoa New Zealand right now.

Addressing mental health among homeless youth requires a multifaceted approach that begins with early intervention strategies aimed at identifying at-risk individuals and providing timely support. Accessible mental health services tailored specifically to the needs of homeless youth are crucial, ensuring that they can easily access counseling, therapy, and other necessary resources. Implementing trauma-informed care practices is essential, as many homeless youth have experienced significant trauma that must be addressed sensitively. Peer support networks and mentorship programs play a pivotal role in providing a sense of belonging and understanding, allowing youth to connect with others who share similar experiences and offer mutual support. Central to this approach is the Housing First model, which prioritizes securing stable housing as a foundational step in addressing mental health needs. Integrated service delivery across various sectors, including housing, healthcare, and education, is vital to providing comprehensive support to homeless youth. Efforts to reduce stigma surrounding homelessness and mental illness are also critical, empowering youth to seek help without fear of judgment or discrimination. Sustainable funding and supportive policies are necessary to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of these initiatives, enabling communities to create lasting positive change in the lives of homeless youth, fostering their resilience and empowering them to overcome adversity. #HomelessYouth #MentalHealthAwareness #TraumaInformedCare #PeerSupport #HousingFirst #IntegratedServices #StigmaReduction #YouthEmpowerment #CommunitySupport #PolicyAdvocacy

❓ I’ve done my bit for the future of our children and many more generations. Have you done your part to make our country a safe space for children? ❓ The reality is stark: over one in four Australians (28.5%) have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA), according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) by Queensland University of Technology. For women, the number rises to 37.3%. And these are not isolated cases—78% of survivors report multiple incidents, with 42% stating it happened over six times during their childhood. Beyond the trauma, CSA has a massive economic impact: The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that 95% of survivors reported long-term mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, resulting in higher healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and greater reliance on social services. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that survivors are 3.9 times more likely to self-harm and 4.6 times more likely to attempt suicide than those who have not experienced abuse. The ripple effect doesn’t stop there. Survivors often face barriers in education, employment, and economic stability, limiting their potential and placing additional economic strain on society. The overall cost—factoring in healthcare, legal proceedings, and social services—amounts to billions in long-term losses. 🌏 This is why we must act now. 🌏 We cannot afford to ignore these realities any longer. By investing in prevention, enhancing support services, and reforming suppression orders, we can build a safer, more transparent society that prioritizes justice for survivors. 💡 Join the Movement 💡 Have you done your bit to make a difference? Sign the petition and stand with us in creating a safer future. Together, we can build a nation where every child is safe, heard, and protected. https://lnkd.in/g9FUqeWQ 📢 Share this post and take action today. Let’s transform our communities and ensure no child faces such horrors again. #ProtectOurKids #CSAReform #EndSuppressionOrders #JusticeForSurvivors #RisewithHeena #Democracyfirst #HeenaForMenzies Angeline Achariya FTSE GAICD FAIFST Dr. Sarifa Alonto-Younes Lisa Walker Tanya Bishop Amy Hall Khatija Halabi Abbey Mag Tharini Rouwette Minwen Wu Elena Hong Guo Vern Hughes David Carruthers Richard Henderson Yiu Kin Cheung Georgia Babatsikos Renee F. Eva Hussain JP Yiu Kin Cheung

Very excited to share with you all news of an upcoming conference in Armidale.   Our conference aims to bring together leaders and practitioners from Government and Non-Government organisations across the New England to discuss, learn and share how we all get better at preventing and responding to children and young people who are at risk of violence, homelessness and poor mental health.   Key sessions across the three streams include: •         What young people are calling for to protect themselves from violence and reduce their risk of homelessness •         What are the key approaches to reduce violence against young people - utilising the World Health Organisation’s approaches •         Intersections of homelessness, juvenile justice, out of homecare and violence against young people •         The role that culture plays in mental health supports for Aboriginal young people •         How to better involve young people in your organisation to protect them from harm as well as improve your programming •         How to utilize a right based approach to get better outcomes for young people   We’d love you to be here for the conference.   You can get more information and register by going to https://lnkd.in/gaZceEty