WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced $138,514 in competitive grants to invest in the Allen County Juvenile Court to create jobs and expand support services. The federal funds, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are allocated through the Department of Justice (DOJ) Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Expansion.

“The costs of this project are far outweighed by its benefits. It simply makes sense to reduce costly recidivism at a young age and ensure that young Ohioans can lead productive and crime-free lives,” Brown said. “It’s an investment in our youth as well as fiscal prudence.”

These funds will be used to expand the Court Assessment Services Team (CAST) Program. CAST is a team of mental health, diversion, probation and education professionals working in conjunction to serve court-involved youth. Grant funds will allow CAST to provide 250 eligible youth with more intensive services and all youth with initial problem identification screening.

Children who are nervous about the new school year can relax by practicing "mindfulness" during anxious moments, researchers say. Experts at Duke University, in Durham, N.C., recommend mindfulness, which is a technique borrowed from meditation, to help children transition into the new school year and deal with many academic and social pressures.

"Making a transition, whether it's to a new school, a new teacher or a new grade, signals change," said Dr. Michelle Bailey, a pediatrician at Duke Integrative Medicine, in a news release from the university. "When adults are stressed, they often turn to smoking or alcohol or food to pacify emotions. We need to teach kids how to handle stress in a healthy way."

Mindfulness encourages children to live in the moment and not fret as much about future events, Bailey said. In addition, practicing meditative techniques can help children sleep better, reduce anxiety and stay more focused.

·         Mindful walking: After dinner, take a walk and pay attention to all the sights, sounds and colors. Encourage the child to use this technique on the playground and at school.

·         Mindful breathing: Ask the child to take time in the morning and evening to pay attention to his or her breathing for 20 inhales and exhales. Steady breathing has a calming effect on the body.

·         Mindful listening: At the dinner table, ring a bell or play a note on a musical instrument to capture the family's attention, then give each person a turn to speak about their day while the rest of the family gives their full attention, to encourage active listening.

To get the best results, Bailey suggests that families go to an accredited, mindfulness-based, stress-reduction program offered at many clinics and hospitals.

"Mindfulness helps kids recognize their thoughts, reconnect with their emotions and understand how that impacts their behavior," Bailey said in the news release. "Ultimately, if we can heighten awareness of our thoughts, we can modify our emotions and that changes behavior."

For the full text of this article visit www.mentalhelp.net