The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) created the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) to combat opioid overdose-related deaths throughout California. The NDP aims to address the opioid crisis by reducing opioid overdose deaths through the provision of free naloxone. 

Schools are eligible to receive FREE Naloxone. Apply today!

Child Trends is hosting a webinar focused on creating and maintaining supportive communities for Black children and their families, aiming to address racial inequities and promote the conditions necessary for their overall well-being and success by bringing together experts from various fields to discuss strategies and share their visions for protective communities.

Register today!

The psychological impact of climate change is often overlooked, but it affects individuals, especially young people, who report feeling a sense of doom due to climate change. To address this issue, SAMHSA has compiled resources that explore the connection between climate change and mental health.

Research shows that youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth have elevated suicide risk, highlighting the need for tailored prevention strategies. Child Trends’ new brief Communities Must Tailor Youth Suicide Prevention Efforts to Those Who Need Them Most offers three recommendations to help community-based organizations tailor their youth suicide prevention efforts to these populations’ unique needs and strengths:

• Center youth voice by prioritizing their leadership and input in developing youth suicide prevention programs. 
• Identify youth suicide risk factors and promote protective factors that capitalize on a population’s strengths. 
• Partner with other organizations in youth’s communities to coordinate efforts and leverage each group’s unique strengths.

Supporting the mental health of our young people is more important than ever. The California Department of Health and Human Services (CalHHS) has created a Youth Mental Health Resource Hub to promote a #GoldenStateOfMind. From resources on coping with stress to toolkits that support well-being, this resource hub is a valuable tool for parents, educators, youth & everyone who cares about improving the mental health of our young people. 

Thoughtful menu planning can ensure healthy, nutritious meals. CACFP has created a helpful infographic on best practices for meal planning. When planning your menu be sure to strive for balance, create contrast on the plate, think about color, emphasize variety, and consider eye appeal. With all these in mind you can create a nutritious meal that also looks delicious to your kids! 

SAMHSA is issuing an alert about the risks associated with xylazine, a non-opioid agent increasingly found in combination with opioids like fentanyl, which can cause severe circulatory changes and tissue damage. Xylazine is known as “tranq” or “tranq dope” in the illicit drug market and poses dangers including drowsiness, respiratory depression, and potentially life-threatening skin wounds. SAMHSA emphasizes the need for practitioners to be aware of xylazine risks, manage patients accordingly, and provide counseling and harm reduction advice. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a report emphasizing the importance of supporting and affirming LGBTQI+ youth. The report, Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth highlights the resilience of LGBTQI+ youth when they receive support but also acknowledges the mental health crisis caused by discrimination, rejection, and bullying. 

The report emphasizes that it is normal and healthy for children to identify as LGBTQI+ and that all children should have their sexual orientation or gender identity affirmed and supported.