Center for School Mental Health Analysis and Action

The Center for School Mental Health Analysis and Action (CSMHA) is specifically designed to strengthen policies and programs in school mental health to improve learning and promote success for America`s youth. All of the issue briefs, articles, and newsletters offered on their site are developed to address the unique challenges facing the educational community. Particularly helpful are the Resource Packets offering guidance on topics such as funding, program development, crisis response, and quality assessment.

Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health

This national family-run organization is dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of children and helping their families achieve a better quality of life. Publications available through their website include Tips for Developing Sustainable Family-Run Organizations, Principles of Family Support, Involving Families of Youth Who are In Contact with the Juvenile Justice System, and other materials focusing on engaging families in efforts to support children’s mental health. There is also a great deal of information and guidance on implementing and participating in a System of Care approach which involves strengthening the partnerships among families, schools, and community-based agencies to better meet the mental health needs of the children they serve.

National Alliance For The Mentally Ill

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Among the many resources included on the NAMI website, you’ll find links to local support groups, recent research, current legislative alerts, and personal stories of those living with mental illness. There’s also information about NAMI’s StigmaBusters initiative that challenges the media’s often inaccurate, hurtful representations of mental illness. The Child and Adolescent Action Center section of the site features a number of helpful guides focusing on teenage depression, suicide prevention, and coping with the aftermath of Katrina.

National Association of School Psychologists

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) promotes children`s healthy development and learning through programs and services that prevent social, academic, and emotional problems. Through the NASP Center on their website, you can download articles, brochures, pamphlets and other materials designed for teachers, administrators, parents, and even students themselves. Some of the topics covered include exemplary mental health programs, autism, depression, self-mutilation, obsessive-compulsive disorder, threat assessments, and much more.

National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice

The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ) was established to promote awareness of the mental health needs of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system and to assist the field in developing improved policies and practices to respond to these needs based on the best available research and practice. Their site allows you to access online trainings, e-newsletters, data trends, and listservs on working with this population. Two particularly noteworthy sections of the site include the reviews of evidence-based practices and an overview comparing the prevalence of mental health disorders among youth in the juvenile justice system versus those in the general population.

National Center for Mental Health In Schools

Operating under the auspices of the School Mental Health Project at UCLA, the National Center for Mental Health in Schools was established in 1995. Their mission and aims are to improve outcomes for young people by enhancing the field of mental health in schools. Their site offers an extensive collection of resources and information on topics of current interest, policy issues, model programs, and professional development.

National Mental Health Association

The National Mental Health Association is the country`s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans, especially the 54 million people with mental disorders, through advocacy, education, research and service. As a sponsor for National Mental Health Month, their website features a number of planning tools for this event. Their site also provides fact sheets, news reports, and advocacy tips.

National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health

TheNational Technical Assistance Center for Children`s Mental Health assists states, tribes, territories,and communities in developing innovative and collaborative solutions that improve the social, emotional, and behavioral well being of children and families. Here you’ll find a wealth of materials on evidence-based practices, cultural competence, early childhood mental health services, and other important topics. The site also features a collection of Powerpoint and PDF presentations from various workshops, keynote addresses, and conference calls sponsored by the Center.

Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children ‘s Mental Health

The Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children`s Mental Health is dedicated to promoting effective community-based, culturally competent, family-centered services for families and their children who are, or may be affected by emotional or behavioral disorders. In the Research section of their site, you can find updates on ongoing research concentrating on expanding the career aspirations of youth with mental and emotional disorders, transforming transitions to kindergarten when children have emotional/behavioral challenges, partnerships in individualized planning, and more. An enormous number of documents are available for download in the Publications section of the site, as well. They cover a wide range to subjects, such as childcare for children with emotional and behavioral challenges, assessing social supports, multicultural assessments, and building family strengths.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Mental Health Information Center

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration`s (SAMHSA) National Mental Health Information Center provides information about mental health via a toll-free telephone number (800.789.2647), more than 600 publications , and this web site. Under the Children’s Mental Health section will guide you to an overview of child and adolescent mental health issues, a communications campaign highlighting ways to promote children’s mental health, and other resources such as the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and a Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug-free. The site also features a collection of links to mental health websites designed for children, teens, parents, and other family members.