Show 14: Pediatric Mental Health

IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Mental health is how humans of all ages think, feel and act, and when there is something wrong, everyone deserves compassionate and competent care, especially children. What mental health services does Alaska currently offer, how can families and children get connected with these services and how do we treat our youngest members of society who are suffering from mental or behavioral health issues?

To discuss these questions, host Shana Sheehy is joined by guests: Mary Dallas Allen, Asst. Professor at the UAA School of Social Work and researcher on the topic of children’s mental health; Dee Foster, Director of Family Services at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services; and Allen Blair, Clinical Director and counselor at Denali Family Services.

RESOURCES FROM THIS SHOW:

• UAA School of Social Work
• Anchorage Community Mental Health Services
• Denali Family Services
• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration)
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study - from the CDC and Kaiser Permanente

FEATURED STORIES: Contributor Jessica Cochran reports on the Bring the Kids Home project which seeks to return to Alaska those children who are being treated for mental health issues out-of-state. It is a joint effort between the AK Department of Health & Social Services and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. Those on both sides of the debate (to bring them home or not) weigh in, and we hear from one young woman who received care both in-state and out.

As part of a larger continuum of early childhood mental health services, thread Alaska, in partnership with Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, is training childcare providers how to properly work with special needs children ages birth to 5 years. Producer, Sarah Gonzales, spoke with thread’s CEO, Stephanie Berglund, about the Early Childhood Consultation Project (opens as a PDF).

Our resident pediatrician, Dr. KTD, Michelle Laufer addresses your questions about pediatric mental health. Do you have a question about general pediatric health care? Ask Dr. KTD!