APA Media Advisory
October 6, 2007
Contact: Pam Willenz
(202) 336-5707

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH

Panel of Psychologists to Address Key Issues

WHAT:

A panel of expert psychologists will discuss critical issues regarding access to mental health services for children and adolescents; early intervention and prevention; cultural and linguistic competence in children's mental health care; school mental health; prevention of violence and school shootings; and work force shortages in children's mental health care. This panel is sponsored by the American Psychological Association in conjunction with members of Congress.

WHO:

Jane Knitzer, Ed.D., Director, National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University (Moderator)
Janice Cooper, Ph.D., Director, Child Health and Mental Health, National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University
Kimberly Hoagwood, Ph.D., Director, Bureau on Youth Services Research, State of New York Office on Mental Health
Ken Martinez, Psy.D., Former State Director, Children's Behavioral Health, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
William Pelham, Ph.D., Director, Center for Children and Families, State University of New York at Buffalo
Patrick Tolan, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Juvenile Research, University of Illinois-Chicago

WHERE:

Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-369

WHEN:

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 12 noon – 2 p.m. (lunch will be provided)

BACKGROUND:

The quality and accessibility of children's mental health services has received widespread attention in recent years, including major reports by the Surgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental Health and the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.. The national response has begun, and Congress is addressing these critical needs through numerous bills and the reauthorizations of No Child Left Behind and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.