Thursday, February 25, 2010
HiTOPS Announces New President, Board of Directors
HiTOPS is proud to welcome Nicole K. Martin, MPH, Esq, in her new role as President of HiTOPS Board of Directors. Elizabeth M. Casparian, Executive Director, notes, “I am so pleased to have the chance to work with Nicole in her new role as Board president. She brings energy, enthusiasm and passion for our work to her interactions with others. Nicole also possesses the drive needed to lead the Board as they meet their goals and continue to support HiTOPS’ work in the community.”
Nicole is an associate in the Health Care and Hospital Group of Wolff & Samson. She joined the HiTOPS Board of Directors in July 2008 and has served as co-chair for the 2009 Guardian Award Gala, and Board Vice-President.
Nicole is an associate in the Health Care and Hospital Group of Wolff & Samson. She joined the HiTOPS Board of Directors in July 2008 and has served as co-chair for the 2009 Guardian Award Gala, and Board Vice-President.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
HiTOPS Takes the Lead in Adolescent Mental Health
Youth who have eating disorders are far more likely to engage in additional high-risk behaviors such as smoking, drinking, drug use, having unprotected sex, cutting, and suicide attempts than their counterparts without eating disorders.
A UCLA study reports that 15-20% of young people suffer from clinical depression by age 18.(http://www.upi.ucla.edu/), and almost 17% of students in grades 9-12 have seriously considered suicide (Adolescent Health in the US 2007). Because of the impact of depression on quality of life and schoolwork, the link between depression and suicide, and that over 30% of youth have mental health needs and almost 20% of that need is unmet (second in unmet need only to dental care), it is critical to identify depressive symptoms early and help youth access treatment quickly and to ensure that treatment is within their financial means.
HiTOPS is the only adolescent healthcare provider in the Mercer County area that screens for depression and eating disorders. With its funding partner, Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, HiTOPS developed a screening tool to evaluate young people ages 13-26 and a directory of mental health providers with expertise working with adolescent populations.
In the first year, HiTOPS screened 682 clients, 40 of which warranted referral or evaluation of their ongoing treatment of depression; 12 warranted referrals and evaluation for eating disorders. HiTOPS Health Services Director, Sandra Zordan-Friedman, projects that 900 youth (males and females) will be screened before the end of the second year of the project. Ms. Zordan-Friedman notes, "Utilizing a short, validated depression and eating disorder screening tool for adolescents in varied healthcare settings is a tremendous asset. Adolescents, often for the very first time, can begin to articulate their feelings of depression and the conversation can help the healthcare provider make an appropriate mental health referral.”
A growing aspect of HiTOPS work to promote adolescent health and well-being is to share models of adolescent healthcare that it has developed and tested.
Two other such models are its peer sexual health education programs for middle and high schools, and its smoking cessation program iQuit! (http://www.iquitathitops.com/) which utilizes podcasting and texting to communicate support and reminders.
Within the year, Ms. Zordan-Friedman will pilot the model with 2 – 4 healthcare practices, providing education and training for the healthcare providers on the use of the tool and referral system. Sharing the tools and training has the potential to benefit at least 500 adolescent clients per site.
A UCLA study reports that 15-20% of young people suffer from clinical depression by age 18.(http://www.upi.ucla.edu/), and almost 17% of students in grades 9-12 have seriously considered suicide (Adolescent Health in the US 2007). Because of the impact of depression on quality of life and schoolwork, the link between depression and suicide, and that over 30% of youth have mental health needs and almost 20% of that need is unmet (second in unmet need only to dental care), it is critical to identify depressive symptoms early and help youth access treatment quickly and to ensure that treatment is within their financial means.
HiTOPS is the only adolescent healthcare provider in the Mercer County area that screens for depression and eating disorders. With its funding partner, Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, HiTOPS developed a screening tool to evaluate young people ages 13-26 and a directory of mental health providers with expertise working with adolescent populations.
In the first year, HiTOPS screened 682 clients, 40 of which warranted referral or evaluation of their ongoing treatment of depression; 12 warranted referrals and evaluation for eating disorders. HiTOPS Health Services Director, Sandra Zordan-Friedman, projects that 900 youth (males and females) will be screened before the end of the second year of the project. Ms. Zordan-Friedman notes, "Utilizing a short, validated depression and eating disorder screening tool for adolescents in varied healthcare settings is a tremendous asset. Adolescents, often for the very first time, can begin to articulate their feelings of depression and the conversation can help the healthcare provider make an appropriate mental health referral.”
A growing aspect of HiTOPS work to promote adolescent health and well-being is to share models of adolescent healthcare that it has developed and tested.
Two other such models are its peer sexual health education programs for middle and high schools, and its smoking cessation program iQuit! (http://www.iquitathitops.com/) which utilizes podcasting and texting to communicate support and reminders.
Within the year, Ms. Zordan-Friedman will pilot the model with 2 – 4 healthcare practices, providing education and training for the healthcare providers on the use of the tool and referral system. Sharing the tools and training has the potential to benefit at least 500 adolescent clients per site.
GSA Advisor Trainings
HiTOPS and GLSEN Central NJ hosted two Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) advisor trainings at HiTOPS on January 23rd and 30th. Twenty-eight NJ middle and high school teachers enjoyed the opportunity to discuss successes and challenges of starting and sustaining GSAs in their schools. The half-day training included a viewing of Straightlaced, a film on gender identity, a discussion of how to address cyberbullying with students and upcoming projects such as the GLSEN Days of Action. Feedback was very positive and participants said they were energized and inspired to do more. Requests for future trainings include how to start a GSA and cultural competency trainings on working with youth of color. The training ended with advisors creating an individual plan of action to take back to their schools.
HiTOPS has created a LGBTQ Activity Packet for teachers and GSA advisors. The packet includes many activities and projects used in HiTOPS' LGBTQ support group, First & Third, and lists online resources. Each packet can be purchased for $30. For more information, or to order a packet, contact Corrine O’Hara at corrine@hitops.org or 609-683-5155 ext. 217.
HiTOPS has created a LGBTQ Activity Packet for teachers and GSA advisors. The packet includes many activities and projects used in HiTOPS' LGBTQ support group, First & Third, and lists online resources. Each packet can be purchased for $30. For more information, or to order a packet, contact Corrine O’Hara at corrine@hitops.org or 609-683-5155 ext. 217.
Club HiTOPS
Club HiTOPS began at John Witherspoon Middle School! The after school group meets twice a month and is designed as a forum for 8th grade students to talk about a variety of “HiTOPS-related” issues such as: relationships and friendships, harassment and bullying, diversity and inclusion, healthy decision-making and the transition to high school. HiTOPS staff educators as well as peer educators from HiTOPS Teen Council, Princeton High School Gay-Straight Alliance, and Princeton High School Teen PEP, will run each meeting with structured activities and facilitated discussions. Refreshments are served and the club is open to all 8th grade students at the middle school. Club HiTOPS meets in the Health Room from 3-4pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month through May 2010. For more information contact Corrine O’Hara corrine@hitops.org or Elizabeth Casparian ecasparian@hitops.org.
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