The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59246

Leslie Goldman, MA, Freya Kaufman, MA, CHES, and Danna Ethan, MA, MSW. Office of School Health Programs, The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-822-7265, lgoldman@nyam.org

The traumatic events of September 11, 2001 drew attention to the mental and emotional health status of New York City youth and the need for promoting mental and emotional health at school. New realities coupled with the ongoing mental and emotional health needs of youth in the public schools call for long-range school-based preventive efforts to enhance children’s ability to cope with stress and change, manage strong feelings, and be resilient in adversity. In response, the New York Academy of Medicine is implementing Moving From Crisis To Hope And Well-Being, a proactive, multidimensional approach to strengthening the well-being of school communities. The program addresses mental and emotional health promotion at school in support of literacy and academic achievement. The program supports the empowerment and resilience of school staff, students and families and emphasizes essential emotional health skills needed to cope with a wide range of life situations. Moving From Crisis To Hope And Well-Being includes partnering with nationally recognized mental health specialists, needs assessment, curriculum development, staff development, workshops for families, Internet resources, technical assistance and evaluation. The New York Academy of Medicine Office of School Health Programs has a demonstrated history of providing a wide array of comprehensive health education programs to the New York City public schools and was uniquely positioned to provide an effective, long-term program in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The Academy maintains a coalition of public and private funders to support comprehensive health education programs in New York City public schools.

Learning Objectives:

• At the close of the session, participants will be able to:
• Describe strategies to integrate mental and emotional health education into school communities.
• Recognize opportunities to form partnerships in the areas of mental health and school health education.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.