Mississippi Kids Count: Child Abuse & Neglect in Mississippi

While the number of children subject to abuse or neglect has dropped over the past decade, it is undoubtedly the case that child abuse and neglect remains one of the most serious concerns for children in the United States. Nationwide, nearly 702,000 children (or 9.3 out of 1,000) were subject to some form of abuse in the Fiscal Year 2009, a drop from even the year before (10.3 victims per 1,000 children), and a significant drop from earlier recorded findings in 1995 (15 victims per 1,000). Still, the numbers remain alarmingly high, particularly given the dire consequences. A number of studies have noted that the impact of abuse and neglect can last an entire lifetime; it can include, among other things, physical health issues (such as damage to a child’s brain), psychological complications (such as cognitive delays, depression, and anxiety), behavioral consequences (such as increased likelihood of involvement in high-­‐risk behaviors and greater likelihood of juvenile crime and delinquency), and societal consequences (such as increased costs to maintain a robust child welfare system). In short, the victims of child abuse include not only the abused themselves, but society as a whole

Integrating Viral Hepatitis Screening and Prevention Services into an Urban Chemical Dependency Treatment Facility for American Indians and Alaska Natives

American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) patients at an urban residential chemical dependency treatment center participated in a viral hepatitis prevention project. Project activities integrated into patients’ treatment programs included viral hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk factor screening, education and counseling, laboratory testing, and hepatitis A and B vaccination. Of 928 AI/AN admissions, 585 (63%) completed risk factor screening assessment. Of these, 436 (75%) received at least one vaccination, viral hepatitis testing, or both. Of 322 patients tested, 91 (28%) were hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive. Lack of pre-existing immunity to vaccine-preventable viral hepatitis infection was common: 132 (45%) were susceptible to hepatitis A and 224 (70%) were susceptible to hepatitis B infection. Chemical dependency treatment centers serving urban AI/AN provide important opportunities for implementing viral hepatitis prevention programs for high-risk populations and for improving ongoing efforts to reduce the disparate impact of chronic liver disease in AI/ AN people

The Marriage Checkup: Adapting and Implementing a Brief Relationship Intervention for Military Couples

Given the significant negative impact of relationship distress on the health and well being of members of the military, preventative and accessible care is needed in order to provide crucial relationship support to service members and their families. This paper presents the rationale, key considerations, and feasibility for adapting the Marriage Checkup (MC), a brief intervention for enhancing marital resiliency, for use by internal behavioral health consultants (IBHCs) working in an integrated primary care clinic serving an active duty military population. We detail the adapted MC protocol, which was revised to contain military-centric content and fit into the fast-paced environment of primary care (e.g., streamlined to fit within three 30-minute appointments). IBHCs working in primary care were trained to offer the intervention at two air force bases. Twenty couples and 1 individual have completed the MC and a 1-month follow-up assessment. The MC intervention appeared to be well-received by both couples and IBHCs. In this paper, we provide specific guidance for clinicians and providers who are interested in integrating the Marriage Checkup into their practice

Addressing Relationship Health Needs in Primary Care: Adapting the Marriage Checkup for Use in Medical Settings with Military Couples

The overall objective of this study was to pilot the Marriage Checkup (MC), a brief intervention for enhancing marital resiliency tailored to a military population, for use by internal behavioral health consultants (IBHCs) working in an integrated primary care clinic. The MC was revised to fit into the fast-paced environment of primary care (e.g., streamlined to fit within three 30-min appointments), and military-relevant material was added to the content. IBHCs working in primary care were then trained to offer the intervention. Thirty participants were enrolled in the study and completed a relationship checkup and one-month follow-up questionnaires. Analysis of post-test and one-month follow-up data showed statistically significant improvements in participants’ marital health compared to pre-treatment. The MC intervention appeared to be well received by both couples and IBHCs

The Marriage Checkup: Adapting and Implementing a Brief Relationship Intervention for Military Couples

Given the significant negative impact of relationship distress on the health and well being of members of the military, preventative and accessible care is needed in order to provide crucial relationship support to service members and their families. This paper presents the rationale, key considerations, and feasibility for adapting the Marriage Checkup (MC), a brief intervention for enhancing marital resiliency, for use by internal behavioral health consultants (IBHCs) working in an integrated primary care clinic serving an active duty military population. We detail the adapted MC protocol, which was revised to contain military-centric content and fit into the fast-paced environment of primary care (e.g., streamlined to fit within three 30-minute appointments). IBHCs working in primary care were trained to offer the intervention at two air force bases. Twenty couples and 1 individual have completed the MC and a 1-month follow-up assessment. The MC intervention appeared to be well-received by both couples and IBHCs. In this paper, we provide specific guidance for clinicians and providers who are interested in integrating the Marriage Checkup into their practice

Addressing Relationship Health Needs in Primary Care: Adapting the Marriage Checkup for Use in Medical Settings with Military Couples

The overall objective of this study was to pilot the Marriage Checkup (MC), a brief intervention for enhancing marital resiliency tailored to a military population, for use by internal behavioral health consultants (IBHCs) working in an integrated primary care clinic. The MC was revised to fit into the fast-paced environment of primary care (e.g., streamlined to fit within three 30-min appointments), and military-relevant material was added to the content. IBHCs working in primary care were then trained to offer the intervention. Thirty participants were enrolled in the study and completed a relationship checkup and one-month follow-up questionnaires. Analysis of post-test and one-month follow-up data showed statistically significant improvements in participants’ marital health compared to pre-treatment. The MC intervention appeared to be well received by both couples and IBHCs