Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS)

Congressional Briefing

On May 7, 2009, the Bazelon Center co-hosted the National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day briefing on Capitol Hill. The briefing featured children’s mental health advocate, Goldie Hawn, who spoke about the importance of creating a healthy environment in schools where students are able to learn about and understand their own mental health. Laurel Stine, the Bazelon Center's director of federal relations, moderated the event and encouraged attendees to focus on this critical issue.

Ms. Hawn and Ms. Stine were joined by Kathryn Power, director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Using positive results from around the nation, Ms. Power made the case for effective school programs that nurture resilient and mentally healthy children. Finally, Howard Muscott, director of the New Hampshire Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports, spoke on successful results using programs like positive behavioral supports (PBS) in New Hampshire.

The briefing also emphasized the importance of the Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act and the Mental Health in Schools Act to congressional staff. These bills both stress the crucial link that must be made between schools and the community in order for children to receive the most integrated and effective mental health services.

For more on the importance of funding and supporting programs that create healthy environments for our children in schools, see the Bazelon Center's publication Way to Go and documents that were distributed at the briefing, listed at right.

At the briefing, Bazelon federal relations director Laurel Stine, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), co-chair of the congressional Mental Health Caucus, Goldie Hawn	Bazelon Center staff with Goldie Hawn, left to right, policy associate Allison Wishon Siegwarth, Goldie Hawn, communications director Emily McKee, Laurel Stine. Photo: Ralph Alswang