Resolved: That each of us help a youngster find the way
The Philadelphia Inquirer
by Blondell Reynolds Brown

Here's a resolution for 2007 we could all adopt: Do something to promote a child's social and emotional health.

It's as simple as listening to a child, showing a child good study habits, or teaching a child how to make friends, express feelings, and cope with stress.

Sometimes it's one person who sets a child on the right path, but more often it's children, families and communities working together to make a difference.

This year we may not eliminate factors such as violence, poverty, and exposure to illicit substances that have an adverse impact on our children's social and emotional health, but we can resolve to better support children and families in tackling behavioral health problems.

Last year, I served as chairwoman of Mayor Street's Blue Ribbon Commission on Children's Behavioral Health. Along with my cochair, Family Court Judge Kevin Dougherty, we convened a group of 48 stakeholders - including children's advocates, educators, parents, mental health providers, researchers, city systems representatives, and youth - to find better ways to work together to promote better social and emotional health among the city's children.

This effort was distinct from the Child Welfare Review Panel recently formed to address the crisis in Philadelphia's child-welfare system.

Our panel was created in February last year.
Members agreed that children need skills to cope with situations such as a death in the family, a shooting in the neighborhood, or a parent struggling with behavioral-health issues or other challenges.

National research shows that the absence of healthy social and emotional development makes children vulnerable to risky behaviors. Scientific evidence suggests that activities that build on the social and emotional strengths of children, families and communities can prevent behavioral health problems.

Our mission was to develop a framework and set of recommendations for improving the Philadelphia community's ability to promote social and emotional wellness among children.

We invited community input and learned from the testimony of children and families at public hearings. Finally, we identified six goals and made 22 recommendations to the mayor for achieving those goals.

Some of the recommendations:
Parents, teachers, coaches, police officers, playground monitors and others who interact with children should get training in child development and how to intervene with children who may be aggressive or withdrawn.

Children who are exposed to significant abuse or neglect, who encounter violence in the home or in the community, or who have a parent with behavioral-health problems or who is incarcerated should get behavioral-health screenings and support for social and emotional health.

Children and families in need of behavioral-health services should be able to gain access to treatment in their neighborhoods, schools, recreational centers and day-care or health centers.

Intense cooperative efforts are required to make sure the tools are in place to get these things done. We look forward to the dedication of public and private resources to make this happen.

As individuals, we have the responsibility to hold all who interact directly with children accountable for promoting their social and emotional wellness.

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Blondell Reynolds Brown served as co-chair of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Children's Behavioral Health.