ADDICTIONS

NIAAA Creates Website to Assess & Address Drinking Risks
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has created a new website, Rethinking Drinking, designed to help users define their drinking patterns and develop strategies and options for dealing with alcohol-related problems. The website utilizes an interactive form that allows users to enter daily and weekly drinking amounts to determine how their consumption compares with national averages. The site has a drink-size chart and a content calculator to aid in determining what comprises a "standard" drink. The new website is part of a broader effort to increase understanding of the array of alcohol-related disorders and redefine the way terms like "abuse" and "dependence" are used.

Source: Join Together

Study Examines Quality of Adolescent SUD Treatment Programs
According to a study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, most adolescent-only addiction treatment programs only achieve a moderate level of quality and that many addiction treatment programs exclude adolescents from admission or integrate them with adults seeking treatment, thus not addressing the unique needs of adolescents. Researcher Dr. Hanna Kanudsen of the University of Kentucky’s Dept. of Behavioral Science points out that the current system is good at assessing the need for treatment, but is lacking in a broad array of treatment options for adolescents.
Source: Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly

Investing $1 in Addiction Prevention Strategies Could Save $10 in Societal Costs
According to researchers who studied the Iowa Strengthening Families Program and the Life Skills Training Program, investing in addiction prevention programs yields a 10-1 return for society. Findings of the study were presented at a conference sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Health Organization.

CRIMINAL/JUVENILE JUSTICE

Publication on Barriers to Employment for Formerly Incarcerated Women
The Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law announces the publication of "A Higher Hurdle: Barriers to Employment for Formerly Incarcerated Women."  The report's authors encourage policymakers to consider adopting and strengthening laws that allow for the sealing and expungement of criminal records under certain circumstances, ban discrimination on the basis of criminal history, and restrict the use of background screening to only the most sensitive occupations.

Toolkit for Second Chance Act Demonstration Project Grant Applicants
The Council of State Governments Justice Center has developed a toolkit for state and local governments and Indian tribes interested in responding to the solicitation for state and local reentry demonstration projects released on February 27, 2009, by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice.  The toolkit, developed with support from the Public Welfare Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Joyce Foundation, and Open Society Institute, includes materials that can help potential applicants think through the questions asked in the solicitation and design or enhance their reentry initiative. Although new resources will be added to the toolkit as they become available, it currently includes a checklist for applicants to ensure that they are meeting all application requirements and a resource guide listing publications, reports, and tools that may be helpful in developing a successful re-entry initiative.

STATE WATCH

NY: Study Examines Program to Support Regional HIT Alliances
In a study published in Health Affairs, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College examine an ambitious, innovative New York State program that is helping regional alliances of healthcare stakeholders pursue implementation of HIE, interoperable electronic health records, or electronic prescribing. They say that the Healthcare Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers Capital Grants Program (HEAL NY)—which plans to invest $250 million in health IT—has changed the state's health care landscape. All alliances that received grants in 2006—which averaged $1.8 million each—remain in operation, the researchers say, in contrast with the high failure rate found in other states. Still, only about one-third of grantees had users, reflecting the newness of the initiatives and the difficulties of implementing the technologies.

PA: Governor Redirects Funds to Health Care & Other Programs to Assist Residents
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) on Monday said that he will redirect millions of dollars for health care and other programs to help families affected by the economic recession. Rendell said he would immediately extend adultBasic coverage to an additional 16,000 people on the waiting list for the program, which provides health insurance to lower-income adults. More than 200,000 residents are on the waiting list, 25,000 of whom were added in February. Administration officials said no new funding would be required immediately for the expansion. Rendell said that the state also has created a Web site, www.parxpricefinder.com, that allows residents to find the lowest-cost prescription drugs in stores in their areas.

Source: Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

UT: Governor Signs Law Which Creates Lower Cost Health Plan
Utah Governor Huntsman recently signed HB 188 which creates a new health plan, called NetCare, that insurers will be able to offer at one-half to one-third the cost of the average large-group health insurance premium. The plan will be exempted from certain state coverage mandates and will include wellness incentives, higher deductibles and caps on preventive care. The measure also allows small employers to give workers the choice of enrolling in an employer-sponsored health plan or using an employer contribution to purchase coverage on their own. Insurance companies would be required to cover workers regardless of pre-existing health conditions, and the Utah Health Re-Insurance Pool would provide assistance to insurers who experience a spike in costly claims. In addition, the legislation allows employers to offer NetCare rather than COBRA as an option for state residents transitioning from group coverage to individual health plans.

Source: Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

AK: Governor Signs Bill to Expand SCHIP Eligibility Criteria
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe signed a bill into law that expands ARKids, the state’s CHIP program, to children of working class families with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL), up from 200% of FPL. The likely increase in number of children enrolled in the program is being covered by some of the $86 million in revenues generated from an increase in the tobacco tax. Estimates of how many children will be added to the program vary widely.

Source: BNA Health Care Policy Report

OH: Survey Finds Fewer Uninsured Kids, More Uninsured Adults Since 2004
According to a survey conducted by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and the Ohio State University College of Medicine, the number of Ohio children with health insurance increased over the past four years, but more adults have become uninsured as unemployment rates increased and people lost their employer-sponsored coverage. More specifically, 17% of adults surveyed said they were uninsured, compared to 2% in 2004. The uninsured rate for children dropped from 5.4% in 2004, to 4% in 2008.

Source: Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

FL: Governor Places 15% Across-the-Board Freeze on State Spending
According to the Miami Herald, Governor Charlie Crist froze 15% of state spending for the rest of FY09. Estimates suggest that this will result in the state holding back $800 million from agencies. The Governor’s state budget office has stated the money may be released as federal stimulus money comes to the state.

NAMI Releases Grading the States 2009; 14 States Improve, 12 States Fall Backwards
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has released a new report, Grading the States 2009, assessing the nation's public mental health care system for adults and finding that the national average grade is a D. NAMI's grades for states include six Bs, 18 Cs, 21 Ds and six Fs, based on 65 specific criteria such as access to medicine, housing, family education, and support for National Guard members.

GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Council of Nonprofits Provides Useful Resources on ARRA Funding Opportunities
The Council of Nonprofits, a network of state and regional nonprofit associations, has created a useful resource listing the potential funding opportunities for nonprofits in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The summaries include links the relevant ARRA text. In addition, they have created another resource which provides grant application information and tips.

SAMHSA 2009 Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program
SAMHSA is currently accepting applications for the program, which is designed to address the needs of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma-related disorders involved in the justice system. Funds will support local jail-diversion programs for veterans and their replication statewide. Six grants of up to $412,500 annually will be made. States may apply for the awards. Applicants must provide at least a 25-percent match. The application deadline is May 8.

President Obama Announces $2B in ARRA Funding for the Byrne JAG Program
President Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced $2 billion in Recovery Act 2009 funding allocations for state and local law enforcement and criminal justice assistance available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. JAG Program funds can be used for a variety of efforts such as hiring law enforcement officers; supporting drug and gang task forces; funding crime prevention and domestic violence programs; and supporting courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics, in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of funding. No announcement is currently available; stay tuned for updates.

SAMHSA Adult Drug Court Grants
SAMHSA will award $34.5 million in grants to support programs that direct offenders with addiction problems to treatment rather than prison, via drug courts. Funding from the Adult Treatment Drug Courts Grants can be used to expand and enhance treatment services, recovery support, screening, assessment, case management, and program coordination in conjunction with adult drug courts. The application deadline is May 8, 2009.

OJJDP to Award Grants to Support Local Youth Mentoring Programs
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in the U.S. Justice Department will award funds from the 2009 Recovery Act to support local youth mentoring programs. The OJJDP FY 09 Recovery Act Local Youth Mentoring Initiative is currently accepting applications from nonprofits, government entities, schools and others for the program. Grants will support "local organizations that develop, implement, or expand local mentoring programs leading to measurable, positive outcomes for at-risk youth." Application deadline and funding amount have not yet been determined. For more information, contact Kerri Strug, Program Manager, at (202) 305-0702 or Gwendolyn Williams, Program Manager, at (202) 616-1611.

OTHER RESOURCES

National Quality Forum Seeking Nominations for Consensus Standards Approval Committee
The Consensus Standards Approval Committee (CSAC), appointed by the NQF Board of Directors, is responsible for reviewing and approving proposed consensus standards, and periodically assessing and making recommendations regarding enhancement of NQF’s consensus development process. The CSAC meets in person 3-4 times per year in Washington, DC and by monthly conference call.   It is critical that members regularly participate in CSAC meetings. To learn more about criteria for nominations and materials needed, click here. The deadline for applications is 6 PM EST on April 6, 2009.

FDA Approves Lexapro for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescents
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the supplemental New Drug Application for Lexapro for the acute and maintenance treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescents, 12 - 17 years of age. The approval of Lexapro for the treatment of adolescent depression was supported by two placebo-controlled studies, one conducted in adolescent patients taking Lexapro and one conducted in children and adolescents taking citalopram. To learn more about these studies and to read a full press release, click here.

Poll Indicates that 21% of Americans Struggled to Pay Medical Bills in 2008; Greater Numbers for Certain Demographic Groups
As the economy fell, the percentage who reported having trouble paying for needed health care or medicines during the previous 12 months rose from 18% in January 2008 to 21% in December, according to a Gallup poll of 355,334 Americans. shows that struggles to pay crossed all socioeconomic lines but hit some Americans harder than others: More than half of the uninsured had trouble paying for health care or medications during the year. So did more than 30% of blacks and Hispanics, compared with 17% of whites and 13% of Asians. Overall, women had more trouble than men. Those who were divorced, widowed or in domestic partner arrangements fared less well than those who were married.

Source: Stateline

Details of One-Time Payment to SSI Beneficiaries; Online Informational Brochure
In May 2009, Social Security will distribute a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries nationwide. The payments are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Individuals who are not eligible for this payment are: 1) Individuals who receive benefits at a reduced rate
because they live in a nursing home or hospital, 2) Anyone living outside the United States or territories, 3) Persons who are not legal residents of the United States (but does not necessarily have to be a permanent resident), and 4) Persons whose benefits have been suspended for making false or misleading statements. The Social Security Administration has created an online brochure.

Source: Social Security Administration communications, NYAPRS email

Individuals with Disabilities Encouraged to Complete Survey onTransportation
In conjunction with a grant received from the Federal Transit Administration, Meeting the Challenge, Inc. is conducting a survey designed to collect information from people with disabilities regarding their experiences with public transportation. Information gathered will be used to determine what barriers still exist in public transportation for people with disabilities and will be used to create Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) technical assistance materials directed toward alleviating those barriers. This is an online survey, estimated to take between 5-15 minutes. Please complete the survey by March 31.

OTHER EVENTS

California’s 9th Annual National Information Management Conference & Exposition:  Addressing the Needs of Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Programs, Apr. 22-23
Don't miss taking advantage of early bird registration for California's Ninth Annual National Information Management Conference & Exposition:  Addressing the Needs of Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Programs.  The conference hosted by CiMH will take place April 22-23, 2009 at the Anaheim Crowne Plaza Hotel. This conference is the premier learning community for those making decisions about the selection, implementation and best uses of information technology for behavioral health programs.  Presenters  include national experts predicting policy trends and experienced implementers of electronic health record systems describing practical lessons learned.  Professions eligible for continuing education credits are listed on the web page. Register by March 31 to receive the Early Bird Special rate.