New Chair of the Iowa Child Advocacy Board
L to R: Judge WIlliam S. Owens, Beth Myers, Marc Elcock, and Mike Steele
On May 1, 2022, Judge William S. Owens will assume the chair role of the Iowa Child Advocacy Board. He comes to us with a wealth of experience in the child welfare world and is always on the forefront with identifying trends, employing best practices and constantly asking what more we can do for children who are in the child welfare system. He is the co-author of the "4 questions" many Iowa judges now ask to determine if/how children can remain with their family of origin. Several board members gathered to celebrate and plan this change. He takes over for Beth Myers, who has held the chair role since 2018. Beth was instrumental during the past 4 years in leading ICAB through several big initiatives including hiring a new administrator, overseeing the creation of ICAB’s strategic plan, and ensuring programming continued throughout the pandemic. She will be greatly missed. Time was also taken to recognize the work of Mike Steele, who has so graciously served children through our Foster Care Review Board program for the past 18 years, with 16 of those years serving on the State Board as well. Also pictured is Marc Elcock, who is extremely passionate about ICAB programming and serving children. He is in his second term serving on the State Board.
 Welcome to Our New Volunteers!
| Tamara Bertini, CASA |
Debra Erickson, CASA |
Kelly Genners, CASA |
| Barbara Gluesing, FCRB |
Kristi Hager, CASA |
Marianne Han, CASA |
| Judy Hentges, CASA |
Mary Hogan, CASA |
Miranda Hughes, CASA |
| Tina Indrelie, CASA |
Linda Jenkins, CASA |
Darla Jones, CASA |
| Meghan Kincade, CASA |
Tracy Krise, CASA |
Michelle Larson, CASA |
| Elizebeth Logsdon, CASA |
Delanie Mader, CASA |
Chris McClure, CASA |
| Marilyn Musser, CASA |
Scott Palmberg, CASA |
Kimberly Richardson, CASA |
| Danielle Rodriguez, FCRB |
Mattie Rooney, CASA |
Krista Smith, CASA |
| Daniel Wozniak, CASA |
|
|
| |
|
|
May is mental health awareness month!
On April 12, 2022, The U.S Preventive Services Task Force, a panel of volunteer experts appointed by a federal government agency to make recommendations to health care providers about clinical preventive care, issued draft new guidelines based on research. The new recommendation is that all children ages 8 to 18 receive a screening for anxiety, one of the most common mental health disorders in childhood and screening for depression should start at age 12. “Fortunately, we found that screening older children for anxiety and depression is effective in identifying these conditions so children and teens can be connected to the support they need,” Martha Kubik member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said. “The pandemic caused significant stress and social disruption for kids that likely exacerbated these problems, as we’re seeing a growing number of young people face mental health concerns,” Mott Poll co-director and pediatrician Gary L. Freed said in a news release. “This places a heavier burden on parents, health providers and other trusted adults in their lives to be aware of potential warning signs.”
|
What can Advocates and Board Members do? During National Children’s Mental Health Week, May 1-7, 2022, get to know the signs of mental health issues and advocate through your recommendations for screenings; attend trainings that the address mental health issues, and use available resources to learn more! In addition, watch this helpful 5-minute Video: In Brief: Early Childhood Mental Health from the Center on the Developing Child Harvard University and dig deeper in their Working Paper.
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2008/2012). Establishing a Level Foundation for Life: Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood: Working Paper No. 6. Updated Edition. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu.
|
Additional Resources:
CDC Children's Mental Health
NMIH: Children and Mental Health: Is this Just a Stage?
APA Children’s Mental Health
Child Welfare Information Gateway: Working with Children and Youth
National CASA Psychotropic Medication and Children in Foster Care
Your Life Iowa: Children's Mental Health
Iowa NAMI: Find Local Affiliates
The 2022 ICAB Speaker Series
To support your continuous learning journey within our organization and your advocacy efforts as a CASA or FCRB volunteer, please consider attending our upcoming learning session!
Ending the Silence Iowa NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will present on two dates an engaging presentation that helps audience members learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if you or a loved one are showing symptoms of a mental illness. This session includes a lead presenter who shares an informative presentation and a young adult with a mental health condition who shares their journey of recovery. Audience members can ask questions and gain understanding of an often-misunderstood topic. Through dialogue, we can help grow the movement to end stigma. Please register for only one event as the content will remain the same. Save the links for your preferred date to use on the day/time of the event. No pre-registration is needed. These sessions will not be recorded. May 10th Noon to I pm or May 19th 5pm- 6 pm
AMP: Achieving Maximum Potential. Giving Older Youth a Voice Learn more about the benefits older youth receive from participating in AMP. Terri Bailey, Program Coordinator, will share information on programs and services offered to youth through AMP, upcoming youth events, and how to support older youth in connecting to their local councils. June 23, 2022 3 - 4 pm. Click here to register! As this session will be recorded, please only register to attend the live session.
|
|
