This guide from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides information to parents and caregivers on how the COVID-19 outbreak might affect their families both physically and mentally and how to help them cope. Information is provided on: COVID-19 cause and its transmission, preventative strategies, steps families can take to be better prepared, including information and communication strategies and awareness of community resources and emergency contacts, how to reduce families’ risk, and ways to help families cope with stress including suggestions for parent and caregiver self-care. A chart features reactions that children might have to the outbreak according to age group and the best ways that parents and caregivers can respond.

This research-to-practice brief profiles Kentucky’s Addiction Recovery Care program, which offers workforce development services for individuals with a history of substance misuse. The brief notes how individuals with opioid use disorder often encounter concurrent issues at the time of recovery, including poverty, homelessness, and low-level education attainment. The brief also identifies that workforce development services are not tailored to individuals with opioid use disorder and that these individuals need skills to maintain recovery and support self-sufficiency.

This report identifies a nexus between the physical, social, and economic conditions of low-income neighborhoods and the health and financial well-being of the people who live in these communities. Included are the importance of aligning these sectors to improve these community residents’ prospects as well as examples of where these alignments exist. The report also highlights opportunities for collaboration and integration across community, public health, and financial sectors and discusses challenges of fostering this alignment.

This post provides the most up-to-date information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about ways to prevent COVID-19 at home and in the community and answers frequently asked questions. There is also a set of resources about how to discuss COVID-19 with young children and how community- and faith-based organizations can get prepared to address service needs.

This research article illustrates the origins, processes and strategies of health coaching and motivational interviewing as well as identifies the similarities and differences within these approaches. The article also points how these approaches might be used in tandem or taken individually to support improvements in physical and emotional health.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance seeks applications for technical assistance and training providers for Second Chance Act (SCA) grantees to improve reentry and reduce recidivism. Providers are sought to support site-based SCA grantees in one of the following three categories of technical assistance: Corrections and Community Engagement; Education, Employment, and Community Engagement; and Behavioral Health, Housing, and Family Support. Submissions are due by April 28, 2020.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance has announced a grant funding opportunity for projects that establish, expand, and improve treatment for individuals with substance use disorders during incarceration and reentry into the community. Applications are due by April 27, 2020.

This brief identifies challenges for addressing families in rural areas who fall within the child welfare system and who also encounter substance misuse. It also illustrates several challenges that include a lack of family-centered options as well as transportation and technological limitations in addressing the needs of parents with substance abuse. The brief also points out the need for collaboration in rural areas between child welfare agencies and substance use treatment providers.

The Office of Family Assistance hosted a webinar on Wednesday, February 26 entitled Improving Employment Outcomes for TANF Recipients with Substance Use Disorders. The webinar outlined employment-focused strategies that can contribute to, rather than inhibit, substance use treatment and featured experts with backgrounds in research and practice on working with TANF recipients who have substance use disorders. Speakers discussed national trends in substance use disorders and strategies to move those with substance use disorders towards treatment, employment, and economic stability.

Speakers included:

• Dennis Romero, Regional Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Dr. Christine Cauffield, Chief Executive Officer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Managing Entity, Lutheran Services Florida

• Kim Griswold Releford, University of Kentucky, Opioid Use Disorder Project, Targeted Assessment Program

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued this guide to assist health care providers, health care systems, and community leaders who seek knowledge about strategies and approaches to prevent substance misuse among young adults, ages 18 to 25. The guide includes research findings, identifies emerging and best practices, and points out knowledge gaps and challenges to implementing these practices within communities. The guide also lists resources on how to monitor outcomes and conduct evaluations, and guidance on how to improve quality of existing practices.