APA members have played a major role in creating a new paradigm for children's mental health, beginning with their involvement in the 2001 Surgeon General's report that emphasized the urgency of the topic.
Following is a timeline of some of their activities, as well as links to further reading.
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2001: The 2001 Surgeon General's National Action Agenda for Children's Mental Health releases its report: https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/cmh/childreport.htmopens in new window.
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2001: APA Working Group on Children's Mental Health forms to develop a proactive, cross-directorate strategy to address the issues raised by the Surgeon General's report.
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2002-2003: Interdivisional task force of APA children's divisions continues the efforts of the 2001 working group and the 2003 task force.
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2003-2004: APA's 2003 Task Force on Psychology's Agenda for Child and Adolescent Mental Healthopens in new window releases its report in April 2004. The task force implemented a number of action steps that are already under way, including this cover package in the Monitor.
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2003-2004: APA members Larke Nahme Huang, PhD, and Stephen Wright Mayberg, PhD, co-chair the children and family subcommittee of President Bush's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. APA member Deanna F. Yates, PhD, also serves on the commission. See https://www.mentalhealthcommission.govopens in new window for the latest from the commission.
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Ongoing: A new APA interdivisional children's mental health task force chaired by University of California, Los Angeles, pediatric expert Karen Saywitz, PhD, will continue to implement medium- and long-term strategies outlined in the 2003 APA task force's report. Those interested in getting involved can contact Saywitzopens in new window.
