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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Pat Davenport, FAST National Training and Evaluation Center, 2801 International Lane, Suite 105, Madison, WI 53704, 608-663-2382, fast@fastnational.org

This presentation will focus on the initiative implemented by the LaGrange School District in Illinois which has used FAST in establishing a system of mental health care that has benefited parents and students. This initiative, which has received the SAMHSA Mental Health Services Directors' Award, has established linkages between parents, teachers and mental health professionals, and schools have been able to establish an in-house approach to deal with mental health emergencies. In addition, participation in the FAST program has also led to numerous partnerships, such as the increased collaboration between the community agencies and the school.

Middle School FAST (Families and Schools Together) is a school-based, multi-family group intervention targeting 6th through 8th graders for the prevention of substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, school failure, child abuse and neglect and mental health problems. Self-administered questionnaires are used to evaluate changes experienced by youth and parents. Results of the evaluation after 10 weeks in FAST show statistically significant improvements in the classroom behaviors, home behaviors, and self-esteem of the youth and also in family closeness. After six months, gains are maintained and there is increased parent involvement in school, increased parent self-sufficiency, and decreased social isolation.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to list strategies for connecting families with school- and community-based mental-health resources.
• Participants will be able to describe Middle School FAST program activities that are used to strengthen family relationships.

Keywords: Adolescents, Mental Health Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Organization	Clinical/Research Area	Type of Relationship
FAST National Training	SAMHSA Model Program-Prev	Employment (includes retainer)

Any company-sponsored training?	Yes
Did the company pay your travel and lodging?	Yes
Were you provide you with slides as part of the training sessions?	Yes
Did you receive an honorarium or consulting fee for participating in the training?	No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?	No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Recorded presentation