This web article from Psychology Today looks at how we are falling short in treating trauma victims and what we can do to fix it. The article addresses how coping mechanisms for post-trauma are poorly understood even by those in the best situation to provide assistance, and that it is important to understand that victims of trauma might not always react or behave as one might expect. It further suggests that many factors including public education, early identification, and effective trauma treatment are necessary to break the cycle of violence, and that we need to intensify and expand the availability of trauma-informed care. Various examples of trauma are illustrated, along with how victims react differently and often unexpectedly to trauma, and that just because someone might not show a lack of emotion, it does not mean they have not been abused. Without shattering the myths that limit the understanding of trauma victims, providers will not be able to deliver assistance effectively.

This brief by the Center for the Study of Social Policy and supported by The Annie E. Casey Foundation is based on more than 80 interviews with organizations, their workers, and the youth that they support. The intent of the brief is to generate and share knowledge that is useful in dealing with youth that face serious challenges. Findings include that when youth face serious adversity, the relationship they establish with a worker is often incremental. The report looks at these “transitional relationships,” what workers actually do to forge successful relationships with the youth, and what their organizations do to create a culture for the workers to succeed. Interviewees for this report are between 16-25 years old and have faced serious challenges including child welfare involvement, substance abuse, and homelessness. Workers interviewed are leaders of organizations noted for their exemplary work and who have repeatedly formed bonds and relationships with such youth.

The Office of Family Assistance hosted a webinar entitled “Opioid Use Disorder, Treatment, and Barriers to Employment Among TANF Recipients” on March 29, 2018. Opioid use disorder in the United States has skyrocketed since 2010, yet little contemporary research has been conducted on this surge’s effects on the TANF population. Existing research about the opioid crisis primarily focuses on its impact on the general population, while TANF-centered studies almost exclusively examine general substance use. Moreover, research shows opioid and substance use disorders pose significant barriers to employment for low-income individuals. Such an information gap makes it difficult to properly address TANF recipients’ needs for effective opioid use treatment. This interactive webinar explored how opioid use disorder affects TANF recipients and TANF-eligible individuals, as well as emerging strategies for assessing and treating these populations.

The New Haven Mental Health Outreach for MotherS (MOMS) Partnership™ is a collaboration of agencies across the city of New Haven, Connecticut that work together to support the well-being of mothers and families living in the city. This partnership created a social media application called “MoMba™,” which connects new mothers locally to promote healthy mother-infant interaction, social connectedness, and community engagement. New mothers may feel socially isolated after giving birth, thereby making it more difficult to form a healthy mother-infant bond with their baby. The application focuses on promotion of social support and capital, maternal-infant attachment, and skill building related to parenting. Representatives of the collaboration shared an overview on how this application harnesses technology to enhance social capital among low-income mothers at the September 2015 OFA Gateway to Opportunity convening.

This resource sheet from the American Academy of Pediatrics contains a wealth of information about how to keep children healthy during flu season. The sheet links to videos, web articles, and printable sheets for child care providers to tailor and share with parents. The page covers topics such as vaccine information, children with chronic health conditions, how to fight germs and not spread illness, and how to tell when a child is too sick for school and needs to see a doctor.

In this report supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Manatt Health explores the opioid and mental health crises and how cities and counties are implementing local initiatives to address the human and economic impact of untreated serious mental illness and substance abuse disorders. The report profiles 13 local programs that address homelessness, criminal justice, and the frequent use of first responder and hospital emergency departments. It examines both the community impact and local response initiatives, paying particular attention to areas with gaps in treatment, such as the homeless community, and outlines success factors of these local programs.

This National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) article, authored by NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow, states that while the opioid crisis is a problem that can affect people from all walks of life, it has particularly impacted some of the poorest regions in the country where stress and other environmental and social factors may leave some individuals more vulnerable. Psychological factors such as increases in economic challenges and stress can play a role in addiction. Reasons may also include level of access to and the quality of health care received by people in economically disadvantaged areas. The article suggests that reversing the current opioid crisis and preventing future ones require not just addressing this issue from the supply-side, but will also entail addressing such issues as economic disparities, housing instability, poor education quality, and lack of access to quality health care--all areas that plague disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created this media toolkit to help partners communicate the importance of the flu vaccine. It includes posters, flyers, factsheets, and materials designed specifically for children, and images for use on social media. They are easily printable in PDF format, and some are available in both English and Spanish.

Socioeconomic status is often not taken into account when examining influenza rates in a geographic area. This study sought to explore this information and took place over the course of two different flu seasons; the study was a partnership among 14 states to examine influenza hospitalizations in geographic areas with census-tract level poverty. It was found that with this type of poverty, higher rates of severe outcomes and hospitalization from the flu occurred.

This study, published in the Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Journal, details the vaccination rates and attitudes towards the influenza vaccine among a low-income community in Central New York State. A total of 1,041 people were surveyed as part of the study, and 655 were found to be unvaccinated for the current flu season. Of those unvaccinated, 312 indicated they did not plan to receive the vaccine, and 46% of these respondents chose not to receive it because of misconceptions about the vaccine. Of those who intended to receive the vaccine but had not yet done so, 95% stated they had not received it because of a lack of access.