Throughout 2019, the Change in Mind Institute continued to grow its presence, leadership, and reach in the alignment of brain science research throughout the human services sector.
The Institute partnered on the article For Better Adult Mental and Relational Health, Boost Positive Childhood Experiences, featuring a new study led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers and co-authored by Jennifer Jones, director of the Alliance’s Change in Mind Institute. The article notes that positive childhood experiences are associated with reduced chances of having adult depression and poor mental health. Initially published in JAMA Pediatrics, and later referenced in articles in The New Yorker and Boston Globe, these findings could encourage public health efforts and policies aimed at boosting positive childhood experiences.
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Reauthorization: In partnership with the National Child Abuse Coalition, the Alliance is promoting the incorporation of key changes into the reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). Many of these changes, recommended by the federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, were incorporated in the House of Representatives bill, which passed in the House with broad bipartisan support. The Alliance recruited four new champions to lead efforts to increase funding for CAPTA: Reps. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Sens. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).
Project THRIVE Campaign: The Alliance partnered on Project THRIVE, a multi-year national campaign to create a more equitable, inclusive support system and community for youth who identify as LGBTQ. Core goals of the campaign include promoting well-being for LGBTQ youth within youth-serving systems; increasing the proportion of LGBTQ youth experiencing permanent, supportive connections with caring adults and family networks; and reducing disparities in mental and physical health outcomes among youth who identify as LGBTQ.