Population-based surveillance for birth defects potentially related to Zika virus infection including 3-year mortality and developmental outcomes, and Early Intervention Program service use-New York City, 2016 birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: In response to the 2015-2017 Zika virus outbreak, New York City (NYC) identified and monitored infants with birth defects potentially related to congenital Zika virus. METHODS: Administrative data matches were used to describe the birth characteristics of children born in 2016 meeting screening criteria for birth defects potentially related to congenital Zika virus infection relative to other NYC births and to monitor mortality and Early Intervention Program use through age 2. RESULTS: Among 120,367 children born in NYC in 2016, 463 met screening criteria and 155 met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's case definition for birth defects potentially related to congenital Zika virus infection (1.3 per 1000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.5). Post-neonatal deaths occurred among 7.7% of cases (12) and 5.2% of non-cases (8). Odds of referral to the Early intervention Program among children who met screening criteria were lower among children of mothers who were married (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.37-0.97) and among children not classified as cases whose mothers were born in Latin America and the Caribbean (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-1.09). DISCUSSION: Prevalence of birth defects potentially related to congenital Zika virus infection was similar to that seen in other jurisdictions without local transmission. Birth defects attributable to congenital Zika virus infection may also have been present among screened children who did not meet the case definition.

[Clinical characteristics of seizure-predominant autoimmune encephalitis and utility of anti-neuronal antibody scores for early treatment].

We analyzed 20 patients diagnosed with autoimmune neurological diseases with seizure predominance. In these patients, we examined the usefulness of Antibody Prevalence in Epilepsy and Encephalopathy (APE2) score and Antibodies Contributing to Focal Epilepsy Signs and Symptoms (ACES) score in autoimmune encephalitis (AE) for facilitating early treatment. APE2 score was positive in 19 of 20 patients. ACES score was positive in 15 of 20 patients, and 4 of 5 of the patients with negative ACES score did not have AE. Comprehensive assessment including the use of the above scores is desirable in the early stage of AE.

Monthly engagement with EIP keyworkers was associated with a five-fold increase in the odds of engagement with psychosocial interventions.

BACKGROUND: Early intervention in psychosis (EIP) supports people who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis (FEP). A new Model of Care (MoC) for EIP services was launched in Ireland in 2019. Three EIP demonstration sites were chosen to test this MoC through a 'hub and spoke' approach. These services were a new way of organising care for people experiencing FEP, based upon a recovery model of care, and which sought to standardise care, improve access by clinically led multidisciplinary teams. This included newly created EIP keyworker roles whereby keyworkers assumed responsibilities regarding assessment, comprehensive individual care planning and coordination of care. METHODS: A mixed methods design utilising the UK Medical Research Council's process evaluation framework. Purposive sampling techniques were utilised. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression were performed to examine how increased keyworker engagement influenced the use of other psychosocial interventions within the EIP demonstration sites. Thematic analyses was used for qualitative data. RESULTS: There was a strong positive relationship between keyworker contacts and psychosocial interventions offered. Specifically, the odds of achieving at least monthly engagement with cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp; (5.76 (2.43-13.64), p < 0.001), and behavioural family therapy (BFT; (5.52(1.63-18.69, p < 0.006)) increased by fivefold with each additional monthly keyworker contact. For individual placement support (IPS) each additional monthly keyworker contact was associated with a three-fold increase in the odds of achieving monthly attendance with IPS (3.73 (1.64-8.48), p < 0.002). Qualitative results found that the EIP keyworker role as viewed by both service users and staff as a valuable nodal point, with a particular emphasis on care coordination and effective communication. CONCLUSIONS: This study advances the understanding of keyworker effects through qualitative evidence of keyworkers functioning as a "linchpin" to the service, while the positive response association between keyworker contacts and engagement with other services provides quantitative support for keyworkers reducing the organisational or structural barriers to service access. Given the importance of these positions, health systems should ensure that EIP programmes identify qualified and experienced staff to fill these roles, as well as allocate the appropriate funding and protected time to support keyworker engagement and impact.

An analysis of interagency collaboration: Lessons learned from Colorado's early intervention program.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to describe interagency collaboration in Part C Early Intervention (EI) programs. METHODS: Between 18 April and 9 May 2022, 48 EI service coordinators (SCs) from 14 programs in one state completed adapted versions of the Interagency Collaboration Activities Scale (IACAS) and Relational Coordination Survey (RCS). Assessing perceptions of shared structures (IACAS) and coordination quality (RCS), these combined measures summarized interagency collaboration with 11 organizations. Mean (SD) survey responses were estimated and ranked. RESULTS: Sample SCs represent a breadth of professional disciples and vary substantially in their current and desired collaborations. The quantity of SCs collaborating with organizations ranged from 0% to 98%. Nearly all (98%) reported collaborating with the school districts, few (15%) reported collaborating with insurance, and none reported collaborating with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The majority of SCs expressed desire to increase their collaborations with most of the listed organizations. The perceived quality of collaborations varied substantially at both individual and organizational levels. When comparing SC perceptions of shared structures and coordination quality, SCs reported more favourable collaborations with school districts (IACAS rank: first and RCS rank: first) and less favourable collaborations with insurance (IACAS rank: ninth and RCS rank: seventh). Some organizations rankings varied across both scales, including pediatric primary care (IACAS rank: third and RCS rank: eighth) and hospitals (IACAS rank: sixth and RCS rank: second). Overall, SCs reported low perceived existence of shared structures while coordination quality varied by organization. Opportunities for collaborative growth were identified. DISCUSSION: Despite its importance and required implementation in EI, perceptions of interagency collaboration varied substantially within and between EI programs. There is a suggested need to increase the quantity of SCs that collaborate and identified opportunities to increase the quality of collaborations that already exist.

Evaluating skills for psychological recovery with gunshot injury survivors in a hospital-based early intervention program.

Gun violence is a serious public health problem that places surviving victims at increased risk for a variety of mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Recognizing that many gunshot injury survivors lack access to mental health care in the early aftermath of a shooting, there has been growing interest in the use of early, preventive mental health interventions to help prevent long-term mental health complications like PTSD as part of routine care for survivors in acute medical settings, where initial outreach to survivors may be more successful. This study evaluates clinical outcomes associated with one such early intervention-Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR)-provided to gunshot injury survivors as part of a hospital-based early intervention program embedded in a Level 1 trauma center in the Midwestern United States. Clinic data from 100 survivors (74.0% male, 78.0% Black/African American) who received SPR were included in the present study. Results suggest that receiving SPR in the early aftermath of a shooting is associated with statistically significant reductions in both PTSD, F(1, 26.77) = 22.49, p < .001, and depression, F(1, 29.99) = 6.49, p = .016, symptoms. Outcomes did not vary as a function of either PTSD risk status or intervention delivery method (i.e., in-person, telehealth). These findings support the effectiveness and acceptability of SPR as an early intervention for gunshot injury survivors when delivered as part of a hospital-based early intervention program. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Usefulness of Key Word Methods to Execute Early Requests for a Physician-Staffed Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Dispatch to Facilitate Early Medical Intervention by Physicians.

OBJECTIVE: A physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service is called a doctor helicopter (DH) in Japan. We retrospectively investigated this service using a data bank provided by the Japan DH registry system. METHODS: The following details of the dispatch activity were collected: patient age and sex, vital signs (Japan Coma Scale [JCS], systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate) at the scene measured by emergency medical technicians (EMTs), dispatch of the DH before the EMTs made contact with patients (key words group) or after (control group), and the survival outcome at 1 month. RESULTS: During the investigation period, 28,357 patient records were analyzed (key words group, n = 13,861; control group, n = 14,496). The age, JCS, and respiratory rate were significantly smaller in the key words group than in the control group. The rates of male sex and survival in the key words group were significantly greater than those in the control group. In the multivariate analysis, dispatch of the DH after EMTs made contact with the patients (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55-0.92), female sex (OR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.75-0.98), older age (OR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.97), elevated respiratory rate (OR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.97-0.98), and high JCS (OR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-0.99) were associated with a decreased 1-month survival (P > .0001). CONCLUSION: This is the first report to describe the key words method as a potential factor influencing optimal outcomes/potential survival rates in patients evacuated by the DH using the JDRS. Our study results suggest that the firefighting central command room should consider adopting the key words method when the helicopter emergency medical service is used.

Speech and Language Delay in Children.

Childhood speech and language concerns are commonly encountered in the primary care setting. Family physicians are integral in the identification and initial evaluation of children with speech and language delays. Parental concerns and observations and milestone assessment aid in the identification of speech and language abnormalities. Concerning presentations at 24 months or older include speaking fewer than 50 words, incomprehensible speech, and notable speech and language deficits on age-specific testing. Validated screening tools that rely on parental reporting can serve as practical adjuncts during clinic evaluation. Early referral for additional evaluation can mitigate the development of long-term communication disorders and adverse effects on social and academic development. All children who have concerns for speech and language delays should be referred to speech language pathology and audiology for diagnostic and management purposes. Parents and caretakers may also self-refer to early intervention programs for evaluation and management of speech and language concerns in children younger than three years.

Sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt during a 2-year early intervention program for first-episode psychosis.

BACKGROUND: Identifying risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempt among first-episode psychosis patients is essential to prevent suicide in this high-risk population. We investigated risk factors at admission for suicidal ideation and attempt during a 2-year early intervention program. METHODS: Our sample included patients aged 18-35 years who were consecutively admitted to an early intervention program (2003-2017). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were obtained from a longitudinal study, while data on suicidal ideation and attempt were collected via systematic file review. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions assessed the association of these variables with suicide ideation and attempt. RESULTS: Of 446 participants, 35 (7.8 %) attempted suicide during the 2-year follow up, including two resulting in death (0.45 %), and 168 (37.7 %) reported solely suicidal ideation. Multivariable analyses indicated living alone (OR = 4.01, CI = 2.11-7.63), affective psychosis (OR = 1.95, CI = 1.22-3.14) and depressive symptomatology (OR = 1.45, CI = 1.13-1.86) were associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation. Attempting suicide close to admission (OR = 10.29, CI = 3.63-29.22), living alone (OR = 4.17, CI = 1.40-12.35), and depressive (OR = 1.67, CI = 1.06-2.63) and positive symptomatology (OR = 1.60, CI = 1.02-2.50) were associated with increased risk for suicide attempt. Attempting suicide close to admission (OR = 11.65, CI = 4.08-33.30), being part of an ethnic minority (OR = 3.71, CI = 1.59-8.63), and presenting lower anxiety (OR = 0.58, CI = 0.36-0.94) were the only factors specifically associated with suicide attempt compared to ideation. CONCLUSION: Close monitoring of patients who recently attempted suicide, live alone, are part of an ethnic minority, and present with affective and positive symptomatology may help reduce the risk of suicide-related outcomes during early intervention programs.

Early intervention in youth psychosis: Novel approaches to understanding change.

Untreated psychosis in adolescents and young adults is associated with significant and progressive impairment. Early intervention to provide support and treatment for those at risk of psychosis is essential. Several early intervention models have been developed for those at-risk and those who are victims of a recent episode - including the Portland Identification and Early Referral model (PIER; McFarlane, 2001). This study extends previous work demonstrating a variety of positive treatment outcomes achieved by PIER in the context of a large-scale implementation across the state of Delaware. The sample included 108 youth and young adults who were either at risk for psychosis or had already experienced a first episode within the past two years. Participants received the PIER treatment model and were followed from baseline to six months after they were discharged from treatment. Researchers predicted that PIER participants would experience an increase in functioning and a decrease in positive psychosis symptoms. Change over time was examined through the lens of two analytic techniques: the Reliable Change Index (RCI) analyses and Growth Curve Modeling (GCM). Results show improvement on a number of outcomes over the course of the intervention as expected. Clinical implications, limitations, and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Development and Pilot Testing of a Nurse Care Manager Role in Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis.

Coordinated specialty care (CSC) improves mental health and functional outcomes among individuals with first-episode psychosis but lacks a standardized approach to addressing chronic disease risk. The authors used community-based participatory intervention mapping with nine CSC teams to implement a nurse care manager role for the team in order to identify and address chronic disease risk factors. The role was piloted at one CSC site to explore its feasibility and acceptability. The nurse care manager role was highly acceptable to clients, team members, and leadership. More than one-quarter of the nurse's time was spent on nonbillable activities, and lack of a clear plan for financial sustainability was the primary barrier to implementation.

Intervención educativa sobre la COVID-19 en los trabajadores del Centro de Investigaciones Científicas de la Defensa Civil / Educational intervention on COVID-19 in the personnel of the Civil Defense Scientific Research Center

Introducción: La COVID-19 creó desafíos sin precedentes para la comunidad y los trabajadores de la salud, por lo que contribuir a incrementar la percepción del riesgo mediante la capacitación fue una premisa elemental en tiempos de la pandemia. Objetivo: La investigación tuvo la finalidad de contribuir a incrementar el conocimiento en aspectos importantes sobre la COVID-19 en los trabajadores del Centro de Investigaciones Científicas de la Defensa Civil. Métodos: Se realizó una evaluación antes y después de la intervención en el período de febrero a abril de 2021. La muestra estuvo conformada por 50 trabajadores divididos en dos grupos: 1) investigadores y técnicos; 2) personal de apoyo. La investigación se desarrolló en tres etapas: diagnóstico, intervención y evaluación. Se conformó una base de datos con la información recopilada y para su análisis se empleó el método de comparación de proporciones de las respuestas entre los grupos, antes y después de la evaluación. Se calculó el porcentaje de apropiación de conocimientos con nivel de significación (p < 0,05) y se aplicó el t-Student para muestras dependientes. Resultados: De 50 trabajadores 35 (70 %) eran del sexo femenino; predominó el nivel escolar universitario con un total de 33 (66 %). Se observó un incremento estadísticamente significativo, tanto en la apropiación del conocimiento en ambos grupos, como en las preguntas adecuadas, después de la intervención (p < 0,05); siendo superior en el grupo del personal de apoyo. Conclusiones: La intervención educativa contribuyó a incrementar los conocimientos acerca de la COVID-19 en los trabajadores del centro, lo que tuvo un impacto favorable.

Introduction: COVID-19 created unprecedented challenges for the community and health workers; therefore, contributing to increase risk perception through training was an elementary premise in times of the pandemic. Objective: The research aimed at increasing the knowledge of important aspects of COVID-19 among the personnel of the Civil Defense Scientific Research Center. Methods: An evaluation was carried out before and after the intervention from February to April 2021. The sample consisted of 50 workers divided into two groups: 1) researchers and technicians; 2) support personnel. The research comprised three stages: diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation. A database was created with the information collected. For its analysis, the compare proportions test of responses between the groups, before and after the evaluation, was used. The percentage of knowledge appropriation was calculated with significance level (p < 0.05), and the t-Student was applied for dependent samples. Results: Out of 50 workers, 35 (70%) were female; 33 (66%) had a university education level. A statistically significant increase in both knowledge acquisition and appropriate questions was observed in the groups after the intervention (p < 0.05), which was higher in the support staff group. Conclusions: The educational intervention contributed to increasing knowledge about COVID-19 among the workers of the center, which had a favorable impact.

The implementation of the screening tool for autism in toddlers in Part C early intervention programs: An 18-month follow-up.

LAY ABSTRACT: The early detection of autism spectrum disorder can lead to access to autism spectrum disorder-specific services that have been shown to have a large impact on a child's overall development. Although a stable diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder can be made by age 2 years, most children are not diagnosed until much later. To address this issue, this study examined the effectiveness of training Part C Early Intervention providers to use an interactive autism spectrum disorder screening tool, the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers. Sixty-nine providers attended a 1-day training workshop on the use of the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers. After the workshop, providers reported increased knowledge about recognizing the early signs of autism spectrum disorder, and about 45% of the providers reported using the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers with families in their caseloads 18 months after the training. These results suggest that the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers is feasible for use within Early Intervention settings. In addition, they suggest that specific providers might serve as a screening "point-person," rather than expecting the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers to be used by all providers. Future research should aim to identify specific characteristics of agencies or providers that might be best suited for using the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers.

A naturalistic study on the effectiveness of long-acting antipsychotics in an early intervention program for patients with recent-onset psychosis.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) on the risk of hospitalization and the length of hospitalization in the setting of an early intervention program for patients with recent-onset psychosis. METHODS: Observational, retrospective study conducted under routine clinical practice conditions. We included all patients admitted from July 2015 to April 2020 to the Early Intervention Program in Psychosis. We analysed the incidence of hospitalization and hospitalization days before and after treatment with LAIs and calculated the incidence rate ratio (IRR). We also compared the outcomes of patients treated with LAIs with those of the patients maintained on oral antipsychotics using a binomial negative regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients were included in the program. Of them, 34 (20%) received LAIs (aripiprazole [n = 22], and paliperidone/risperidone [n = 12]). There was an 89% reduction in the incidence of hospitalizations after treatment with LAIs (IRR 0.11, 95%CI 0.05-0.21; p < .0001). The IRR for LAIs vs. oral antipsychotics was 0.87 (95%CI, 0.24-3.18; p = .829). The presence of a substance use disorder significantly increased the rate of hospitalizations by 123% (IRR 2.23, 95%CI 1.31-3.78). Analyses of hospitalization days showed similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that LAIs are useful for the management of patients with recent-onset psychosis who fail treatment with oral antipsychotics. Whether LAIs are superior to oral antipsychotics as first-line treatment of patients with early psychosis and/or could play a special role in managing patients with early psychosis and comorbid substance use disorders should be further evaluated.

Early intervention in psychosis: An analysis of the characteristics and service needs of patients over the age of 35.

AIM: In 2016 NICE updated its guidance, extending the age to which early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services treat patients following their first episode of psychosis, to 65 years, from the previous cut-off of 35 years. The aim of this service evaluation was to identify differences in the demographic details, diagnoses, and treatments between patients below and above 35 years to identify any unmet needs in the latter age category. METHODS: A total of 100 patients from the caseload were randomly selected, with 50 from each age group, to analyse in further detail. Descriptive statistics was predominantly used due to the relatively small sample size. RESULTS: The over 35 s were predominantly female (62%), whilst the under 35 s were predominantly male (66%). There was a statistically significantly higher rate of substance misuse in the under 35 s. Whilst schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis in both groups, higher rates of delusional disorders and psychosis NOS were observed in the over 35 s. In both age groups, a median of two different medications was used per patient. However, amongst the over 35 s there is less use of psychological therapy and of support, time and recovery workers (STR workers). CONCLUSION: There are distinct differences between the two age groups including demographic and diagnostic features. Being historically youth based, EIP services needs to ensure that treatments offered are tailored to meet the need of the older age demographic who have different needs.

"There's more love between us": The parental experience of attending Mellow Babies, a targeted, early intervention program for parents and their babies.

It is recognized that parenthood in the context of psychosocial adversity can have negative implications for infant development. Parenting programs are the first line of intervention to improve outcomes for families; however, evidence for the effectiveness of group-based, targeted early interventions is still scarce. Preliminary findings indicate Mellow Babies (MB) as a promising group-based parenting program for families at risk for parenting difficulties. Using thematic analysis, we aimed to understand: (i) the aspects of the intervention that enabled parents to complete the program and (ii) the relational and behavioral changes perceived as valuable for parents and their babies post-intervention. In total, 68 parents residing in the United Kingdom were interviewed after completing MB (49 mothers and 19 fathers; 88% self-identified as British). Three themes and six subthemes were generated from the data. Parents identified several intervention components as beneficial, including the facilitators' interpersonal skills and multi-dimensional, group-based approach. Participant reflections highlighted three underlying mechanisms that enabled positive change: (i) the sense of community cultivated within the group, (ii) the process of formulating and re-conceptualizing one's difficulties, and (iii) the opportunity to reshape interpersonal interactions. Findings are discussed within the context of perinatal and infant mental health.

Se reconoce que la paternidad/maternidad dentro del contexto de la adversidad sicosocial puede tener implicaciones negativas para el desarrollo del infante. Los programas sobre la crianza son la línea frontal de intervención para mejorar los resultados para las familias, sin embargo, la evidencia para la eficacia de las intervenciones tempranamente identificadas, con base en el grupo, es escasa. Los resultados preliminares indican que Bebés Apacibles (Mellow Babies / MB) es un prometedor programa de crianza con base en el grupo para familias bajo riesgo de dificultades en la crianza. Haciendo uso de análisis temáticos, nos propusimos comprender: i) los aspectos de la intervención que les permite a los progenitores completar el programa y ii) los cambios relacionales y de comportamiento que se percibieron como valiosos para los progenitores y sus bebés con posterioridad a la intervención. En total, se entrevistaron 68 progenitores residentes del Reino Unido después de completar MB (49 mamás y 19 papás; 88% autoidentificados como británicos). De la información surgieron tres temas y seis subtemas. Los progenitores identificaron como beneficiosos varios componentes de la intervención, incluyendo las habilidades interpersonales de quienes facilitaban la participación y el acercamiento multidimensional con base en el grupo. Las reflexiones de los participantes subrayaron tres mecanismos subyacentes que permitieron el cambio positivo: i) el sentido de comunidad cultivado dentro del grupo; ii) el proceso de formular y reconceptualizar las propias dificultades; y iii) la oportunidad de volver a darle forma a las interacciones interpersonales. Los resultados se discuten dentro del contexto de la salud mental perinatal y del infante.

On reconnaît généralement que la parentalité dans le contexte d'adversité psychosociale peut avoir des implications négatives pour le développement du bébé. Les programmes de parentage sont la première ligne d'intervention afin d'améliorer les résultats pour les familles. Cependant les preuves de l'efficacité d'interventions précoces ciblées et basées sur un groupe sont encore rares. Des résultats préliminaires indiquent que Bébés d'humeur joyeuse, Mellow Babies (MB) est un programme de parentage basé sur un groupe prometteur pour les familles à risque de difficultés de parentage. En utilisant une analyse thématique nous nous sommes donné pour but de comprendre: i) les aspects de l'intervention qui permettent aux parents de finir le programme et ii) les changements relationnels et comportementaux qui sont perçus comme étant précieux pour les parents et leurs bébé après l'intervention. Au total 68 parents résidant au Royaume Uni ont été interviewés après avoir terminé le programme MB (49 mères et 19 pères; 88% s'étant auto-identifiés comme britanniques). Trois thèmes et six sous-thèmes ont émergé des données. Les parents ont identifié plusieurs composantes de l'intervention comme étant bénéfiques, y compris les compétences interpersonnelles du facilitateur ou de la facilitatrice et son approche multi-dimensionnelle, basée sur un groupe. Les réflexions des participants ont mis en lumière trois mécanismes sous-jacents qui permettait un changement positif: i) le sens de communauté cultivé au sein du groupe; ii) les processus de formulation et de ré-conceptualisation de ses propres difficultés; et iii) l'opportunité de refaçonner les interactions interpersonnelles. Les résultats sont discutés dans le contexte de la santé mentale du nourrisson et périnatale.

A Monitoring and Early Intervention Program for At-Risk Students on Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences.

Objective. To describe a monitoring and early intervention process for students at risk of substandard performance on advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).Methods. Using a dashboard of key indicators, students with potential deficits in knowledge, skills, or noncognitive attributes were identified as at risk of substandard performance on APPEs and placed on a list of students to be monitored during the APPE year. Employing a traffic light-based approach, at-risk students were initially designated with a monitoring status of red. If no issues were identified, students were de-escalated to yellow status and, subsequently, to green status. Monitored students who had issues or received a substandard evaluation on APPEs had a deficit-specific action plan implemented.Results. For the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years, 87 of 499 students entering APPEs were monitored. Of those 87 students, 77 (88.5%) completed experiences successfully on the first attempt, but 66 (75.9%) did require extended higher-level (red or yellow) monitoring. Over these two years, 54 (62.1%) of the 87 students deemed at risk did not have a substandard performance on APPEs, with 26 in the 2018-2019 year and 28 in the 2019-2020 year.Conclusion. A student monitoring and early intervention process may be beneficial in assisting at-risk students to successfully complete APPEs.

State Mental Health Authority Level of Involvement in Coordinated Specialty Care Clinics and Client Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: State mental health authorities (SMHAs) in all U.S. states and territories administer the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) set-aside funding for first-episode psychosis. Funds support implementation of coordinated specialty care (CSC) programs. The authors investigated the relationship between the level of SMHA involvement with CSC programs and clinical outcomes of clients in these programs. METHODS: As part of a mixed-methods study of 34 CSC programs, SMHAs from 21 states and one U.S. territory associated with the 34 CSC programs participated in a 1-hour interview (between November 2018 and May 2019) focused on SMHA involvement in administration of MHBG set-aside funds and the SMHA's ongoing relationship with funded CSC programs. SMHA involvement was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the highest involvement. Client outcome data were collected at the 34 study sites over an 18-month period. Multilevel random-effect modeling was used, controlling for response propensity (propensity score), client demographic variables, and program-level covariates (i.e., fidelity score, staff turnover rates, service area urbanicity, and number of clients enrolled). RESULTS: Clients in CSC programs with SMHAs that were the most involved (level 5) had significantly improved symptoms, social functioning, and role functioning, compared with clients in programs with which SMHAs were least involved (level 1). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that increased SMHA involvement in CSC programs is relevant for positive client outcomes. Levels of first-episode psychosis funding doubled in 2021 and 2022, and it is important to identify how SMHAs affect the success of CSC programs and the individuals served.