Abstract
In the present chapter we strive to help readers understand the opportunities and impediments for child mental health advocacy. We emphasize the critical importance of enhancing public understanding of the science regarding children’s mental health for public investment in this area. We also build a case for the value of collaboration across stakeholders for effective advocacy and discuss one initiative in depth that is built on this premise—a Summit of child mental health scholars and experts partnering with communication scientists. The collaboration embodied by the Summit illustrates one promising approach to advocacy supported by the scholarship regarding bridging research, practice, and policy.
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Notes
- 1.
The current members of the IDTF include the following divisions within APA: Developmental Psychology; Society of Clinical Psychology; Educational Psychology; School Psychology; Society for Community Research and Action: Division of Community Psychology; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice; Psychoanalysis; The American Psychology-Law Society; Family Psychology; Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology; Society of Pediatric Psychology.
- 2.
The summit planning group included: Barry Anton, Mary Campbell, Mary Ann McCabe (Chair), Karen Saywitz, Stephen Shirk, Patrick Tolan, and Donald Wertlieb.
- 3.
Summit funders included: SRCD, American Orthopsychiatric Association, APA, Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Society of Pediatric Psychology, Anne E. Casey Foundation, APA Division of School Psychology, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice, Society of Clinical Psychology, Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Society for Prevention Research, APA Division of Family Psychology. APA Division of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, APA Division of Psychoanalysis and the section on Childhood and Adolescence, the Child, Adolescent and Family Caucus of APA, Society for Community Research and Action, and the IDTF. Institutional Sponsors included the University of Denver and Nemours Health and Prevention Services.
- 4.
Note that the 2011 session is available as a Continuing Education module with APA (http://apa.bizvision.com/).
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McCabe, M.A., Wertlieb, D., Saywitz, K. (2013). Promoting Children’s Mental Health: The Importance of Collaboration and Public Understanding. In: Culp, A. (eds) Child and Family Advocacy. Issues in Clinical Child Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7456-2_3
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