Each year, Citizens for Missouri's Children and the Annie E. Casey Foundation release a comparative state-by-state study of the well-being of America's children. The 2008 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks Missouri 32nd in the nation based on data of the economic, health, educational, and social conditions of America's children and families. To see how Missouri is ranked across 10 child well-being indicators, visit the new KIDS COUNT Data
Center, hosted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation at www.kidscount.org/datacenter/databook.jsp.
Scott Gee, Executive Director of Citizens for Missouri's Children, released the following response:

Why is Mediocre Okay?

The latest KIDS COUNT report on the well-being of U.S. children finds Missouri ranked 32nd among all states when it comes to child well-being. That we continue to languish in the bottom third of the country comes as no surprise; Missouri has been ranked between 30 and 34 since the dawn of this century. Worse, the number of Missouri children living in poverty has increased three times faster than the national average. Given the current state of the economy, we can only wonder how bad next year's numbers will be if nothing is done to address this issue. Why do we continue to accept that 31 other states do more to ensure the health and well-being of their children than we do? How can we bring our elected officials to make our children a higher priority, even in times of tight budgets and increasing competition for funds? Isn't our state motto "The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law"? Let's invest in our future. Before things get even worse, let's begin to say enough is enough, and change this cycle during this
year's elections. Don't hesitate to ask or find out where our candidates stand on issues regarding children's health, safety and well-being. There's no reason any of our children deserve mediocrity.
It's time to make our kids count. 

The Education Begins At Home Act (H.R. 2343/S. 667) is a bipartisan bill that would provide grants to states to help establish or expand voluntary home visiting programs for families with young children. This would be the first dedicated federal funding stream for such programs. Sponsored by Kit Bond (R-MO) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) in the Senate, and Danny Davis (D-IL) and Todd Platts (R-PA) in the House, the bill proposes to:

• Provide $400 million over three years to states for early childhood education (ECE) home visitation programs.
• Provide $50 million over three years for ECE home visitation services to families with English language learners.
• Provide $50 million over three years for ECE home visitation services to military families.
• Improve the early childhood home visitation component of Head Start.

Research has shown that home visiting programs can help prevent child abuse and neglect and reduce later crime and violence among participants. In addition, high-quality home visitation programs have been associated with positive outcomes such as increased school readiness, improved parenting practices, and healthier child development. Based on the significant benefits that these programs can yield, it makes sense to invest in the development of quality home visitation services. The Education Begins At Home Act would help states take significant steps in this direction. On June 18, the bill was passed by voice vote in the House Education and Labor Committee, but has seen little movement since then. 

In June, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report, Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness, to address the barriers this population faces when transitioning into adulthood. The report details what specific states and federal programs are doing to tackle this issue, and was requested by Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR). Both Stark and Smith are long-time mental health champions. The GAO estimates that in 2006, at least 2.4 million young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 had serious mental illnesses, acknowledging this is likely a low estimate due to the GAO's inability to comprehensively track those who are homeless, institutionalized, or incarcerated. The report finds that often young adults with serious mental illnesses have a difficult time navigating various support systems, many of which are vastly complicated.

In response to the report, Representative Stark, along with Senators Smith and Chris Dodd (D-CT), introduced the Healthy Transition Act of 2008 (H.R. 6375 and S. 3195), to help young adults age 18-26 with serious mental illness receive needed services and successfully transition to adulthood. Among its provisions, the Healthy Transition Act of 2008 would provide planning and implementation grants to states to develop statewide coordination plans to help adolescents and young adults with serious mental illness; establish a federal committee to coordinate service programs helping young adults with mental illness; and provide technical assistance to states.
To view the report, visit www.gao.gov/new.items/d08678.pdf. 

In the Spring of 2008, Annie Schulte, Missouri System of Care Social Marketer, and Debbie Zand, Evaluation Director for Youth In Transitions: Saint Louis System of Care, applied for the nationally recognized Excellence in Evaluation Award, sponsored by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration and Orc/Macro. Applicants were assessed on their use of system of care evaluation data to support local, state and national system of care efforts. The 2007 Statsblast was submitted and is now in the final round the competition. The Statsblast incorporates data from all of Missouri's federally funded system of care sites into one highly readable and visually pleasing brochure. It has been widely disseminated and has been used to inform both system of care practice and policy within the State of Missouri. Winners will be announced at the July, 2008 Training Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. 

The Missouri Mental Health Foundation and the Department of Mental Health (DMH) are accepting nominations for the 2009 Mental Health Champions recognition. Three persons will be selected as Mental Health Champions:

• an individual with a diagnosed mental illness
• an individual with a developmental disability, and
• an individual in recovery from substance or gambling addiction.

These individuals will be persons who have overcome their personal challenges to make life better for others and for their communities. This is the second year for the champions program, which was started because many Missourians have overcome the challenges of mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities, but very few of their stories are known. "There are many individuals with mental health needs who do exceptional things that inspire others to achieve and make life better for their communities," said Keith Schafer, director of the DMH. "The first mental health champion recognition produced many inspiring stories. I am confident that more will be brought forward this year." Nominations will be accepted until October 30, 2008. The winners will be honored at a Champions Banquet April 15, 2009, in Jefferson City.
Anyone may nominate someone as a Mental Health Champion. Information about the criteria used for selection and nomination forms are available at the DMH web site www.dmh.mo.gov or by calling the Office of Public Affairs at 573- 751-4423. All nomination forms submitted this year must be accompanied by a signed standard release form to allow the department to use the nominee's story and likeness in promotions for the event. Visitors to the website also can view the video tributes to the 2008 Mental Health Champions. 

This official memorandum officially begins DMH’s SFY 2010 budget development cycle. The information, divided into five sections, alerts consumers, families, advocates, community providers and DMH state programs to issues, constraints and opportunities for DMH in the SFY 2010 budget development process. read more ...

The Office of Transformation and Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services are partnering with Missouri's Center for Safe Schools and the Department of Health & Senior Services to increase availability of bullying prevention services across the state. Research demonstrates a correlation between bullying and several long and short term negative ramifications relative to health and mental health. This prevention program can reduce the occurrence of bullying and prevent it from developing.

Beginning with the national Training of Trainers for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in Kansas City April 1-3, the intent is to locate certified trainers across the state who will then be available to support elementary and middle schools who choose to implement this program. The internationally recognized Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a "Blueprint Evidence Based Program" utilizing a whole-school approach with strong results. The program targets youth who bully, youth who are bullied, youth who stand by, and parents. The program reduces bullying, vandalism, aggression, discipline referrals while improving school climate, attendance, grades, etc. Long-term evaluation reports have been positive.

An application will be available by the end of April for schools to apply for August 2008 implementation. 

Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that his Transformation Working Group has submitted Missouri's Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health to the federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for review and approval. read more ...

The Missouri legislature is moving to make Autism a high priority issue in Missouri. It's a disorder that Senator Scott Rupp refers to as "a tidal wave" of new diagnoses that will be hitting Missouri.  read more ...

Missouri SOC was featured in the most recent Technical Assistance Partnership Newsletter. Read more: http://www.tapartnership.org/news/feb08/default.asp 

The National Institute for Early Childhood Education Research says Missouri lags behind the national average in the resources it devotes to pre-kindergarten education. The group says it advocates quality pre-kindergarten education.

The Institute says Missouri reaches less than five-thousand children with the 12.6-million dollars it commits to pre-kindergarten education. It ranks Missouri 31st in total spending on pre-kindergarten and 32nd in providing access to four-year olds, but says Missouri is 13th in providing access to three-year old children.

Missourinet, March 19, 2008 

The National Institute for Early Childhood Education Research says Missouri lags behind the national average in the resources it devotes to pre-kindergarten education. The group says it advocates quality pre-kindergarten education.  read more ...

SAMHSA Awards $21.9 Million for Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grants read more ...

Since the passage of Senate Bill 1003 in 2004, The Department of Mental Health, in partnership with all of the Departments represented on the Children’s Services Commission, local community stakeholders and families have focused on developing a comprehensive children’s mental health service system.  read more ...

SB 501 signed into law in 2005 established within the Department of Mental Health (DMH), an "Office of Comprehensive Child Mental Health". read more ...