ACF Releases New Resources on Behavioral Health for Young Adults, Families, and Professionals

As Acting Assistant Secretary, I have the honor of traveling to diverse communities around the country to meet with young people, parents, caregivers, and others to learn from them how ACF can better support thriving families and communities. One consistent message I hear in those conversations is the importance of mental health. At a roundtable with trafficking survivors and their parents in New York, I heard about the need for whole family supports to enable those families to heal. Young people who had experienced homelessness in Philadelphia told me how having a peer who had also struggled and could listen and offer advice helped them through very difficult times. In Uvalde, Texas I heard from parents of children in Head Start about the importance of having culturally and linguistically appropriate resources to help their children process big feelings. 

At ACF, we are working urgently to strengthen the well-being of children, youth, and their families by integrating behavioral health services into the existing supports they rely on, such as social services and early childhood programs. Additionally, ACF is developing new resources to support the prevention, treatment, and recovery from behavioral health challenges and conditions.

As part of these efforts, ACF is excited to announce an improved behavioral health webpage, a tip sheet for parents and caregivers (PDF), and a series of short videos about mental health. These videos, which were developed in partnership with Youth.gov and SAMHSA, feature parents, caregivers, and young adults who share their expertise and personal experiences. We encourage you to watch and share these videos.

For Young Adults:

• Helping a Friend: The Power of Asking and Listening
  Peer support can serve an important role in addressing mental health challenges. In this video, Cass talks about a time when they noticed a peer was struggling and how they helped connect them with support. It also highlights federal resources to learn more about youth mental health and to get support.
   
• Our Culture Makes Us Stronger
  Connection to one’s culture and community can be a powerful tool in promoting well-being. This video features young Indigenous people in the community of Akwesasne who share how their connection to their culture has contributed to their well-being.

• Let’s Talk About Mental Health
  Young people who have experienced mental health challenges share how they sought support and offer their tips to find support for other young people. The video highlights federal resources to learn more about youth mental health and getting help.

 For Parents and Caregivers:

• Should I be Concerned? Understanding and Talking about Mental Health with Your Child
  It can be hard for parents and caregivers to know when and how to talk to their child about mental health. In this video we explore what parents and caregivers can do if they are concerned about their child’s mental health. It features parents and caregivers from around the country who talk about how they noticed and responded to their children’s mental health concerns. The video also shares parenting resources, signs of mental health concerns, and where to get help. 

For Mental Health Professionals:

• Young People and Families Share Insights to Mental Health Professionals
  This video for mental health professionals features young people and families who share their experiences accessing and receiving mental health care. They share insights and tips for mental health professionals about creating opportunities to provide supportive and affirming care that empowers both young people and their families to be actively involved in their treatment plan.

In addition to these videos, young people who have faced mental health challenges created a helpful tip sheet (PDF) for parents and caregivers. They shared their own experiences and provided insights on what parents and caregivers should say and do when discussing mental health. This practical tool is designed to help parents and caregivers start conversations about mental health with children and teens.

The enhanced ACF behavioral health webpage also includes audience-specific pages with resources about mental health and substance use for:

• Teens and young adults
• Parents and caregivers
• American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
• Service providers 
• Grant recipients 
• Early childhood professionals 

At ACF, we understand that listening to parents, caregivers, and young people, as well as states, providers, tribal communities, and other partners is the best way to develop solutions to improve the behavioral health outcomes of children, young adults, and families. As we developed these behavioral health resources, we engaged young people and families through listening sessions and a survey that received nearly 700 responses, as well as other activities to understand what they would find most helpful and make sure this set of resources was responsive to their needs. ACF values and welcomes your partnership to support behavioral health of children, youth, and families. Together, we will keep working to ensure all children, young people, and families can thrive.