Rock Up: An initiative supporting students' wellbeing in their transition to secondary school

This paper reports the background and findings of the community-based pilot program ‘Rock Up’ to school. The Rock Up program was directed at a niche section of young students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 to respond to identified risk factors associated with disengagement from formal education. The Rock Up approach was to energise these students' connection to learning as they approach the difficult stage of transition from primary school to secondary school. Ultimately, Rock Up aims to assist those students in their development of wellbeing, within and outside of the school environment. The operational measures of wellbeing covered; academic, social, emotional, behavioural, and school absence. Thirteen students, who had been identified by their respective teachers, were invited to participate in individual and/or group activities that focused on their wellbeing and developing their readiness for secondary school. Written and verbal feedbacks from students, teachers, parents, and the program facilitator, were in the main very positive. Analysis of the data of the first round of the program using a three-wave questionnaire and a participatory action research approach indicated the need to proceed to a new round using more refined processes. When fully developed, Rock Up is intended to be the vanguard for collaborative practice between the education and community sectors throughout Victoria and to be an example of an efficient and effective model of transition for this age-group.     

Table of Contents

Funding Tops Issues of Concern for SA, MH Leaders Landmark Report Offers Recommendations on Improving Prisoner Re-Entry Systems Can SA, MH Fields Effectively Show Costs of Untreated Illness? The Underpinnings of a Successful Re-Entry Initiative Names in the News Resources Briefly Noted Coming Up     

Table of Contents

E-Therapy Seen as Having Many Applications on Treatment Continuum SAMHSA, Researchers Step Up Efforts to Treat Co-Occurring Disorders Manufacturers Focus on Tamper-Resistant Opioid Formulations SAMHSA Creates Customized e-Mails in New ‘eNetwork’ Program Profile Areas for eNetwork Hazelden Uses Equine Therapy for Some Extended-Stay Patients NREPP Briefly Noted State Watch Names in the News Resources Coming up     

Table of Contents

Will Addiction Field Get a Share of HHS Funding Increases? Outgoing SAMHSA Administrator Reflects on the Pastand Looks Forward to the Future As Baby Boomers Age, Treatment Centers Should Prepare Caron Seeks Sensible Ground on Addiction Medications Recovery Inside San Quentin Prison Study: Illegal Drug use Exacerbates Risk of Sexual Assault Briefly Noted Resources Coming Up     

Table of Contents

OIG Report Blasts Kane‐Cavaiola and Divides Treatment Community FDA Issues Public Health Advisory on Methadone for Pain Kane‐Cavaiola Responds Growing Abuse of Ingredients in Cough Medicines Worries Officials CADCA Announces Recipients of Coalitions of the Year Awards New Prescribing Language Briefly Noted Grants and Funding Coming Up     

Table of Contents

FADAA Includes Networks and Community Coalitions in Leadership Shift Rural Advisory Group Plans to Suggest Enhancements to SA Treatment, Prevention SAMHSA Alert on New Fentanyl Combination Coffee Protects Heavy Drinkers from Alcoholic Cirrhosis: Study NOMs Issue Brief Comes Out of NASADAD Meeting SAMHSA Releases TIP on Detoxification Vivitrol Commercially Available Briefly Noted Resources Call for Applications Coming Up     

Table of Contents

SAMHSA State‐By‐State Data Underscores Treatment Gap Prop.36 Cost‐Benefit Analysis Justifies Investment in Treatment New Events Sharpen Awareness Month's Focus on Youth Drinking Tribal Communities Need Services for Methamphetamine Addiction Prom, Graduation Season and the SADD Pledge Briefly Noted Requests for Applications Business Resources Coming Up     

Table of Contents

Methadone Painkiller Overdoses Causing PR Problem for Treatment Field Internet Availability Threatens to Worsen Rx Drug Problems Pharmacokinetics of Methadone Addiction Caucus Briefed on Workforce Issues NCADD Campaign for ‘Hope, Help & Healing’ Launched NASADAD Director Addresses Methamphetamine Treatment Before Souder Panel Student Illicit Drug Use Declining Benzodiazepines Most Widely Available on Internet Briefly Noted Resources Coming Up     

Table of Contents

House Bill Focuses on Treatment Accountability, Harm Reduction State Grant and Employers Support New Private Treatment Program The Souder Report The ONDCP Annual Report Combat Methamphetamine Act Includes Treatment Provisions Advocacy Coalition Maintains Optimism on N.Y. Parity Measure Surveys: California Youths Discuss Appeal of ‘Alcopops’ Inhalants and Youth Briefly Noted Resources Coming Up     

Table of Contents

National Drug Strategy Focuses on Public Health Approach Mich. Providers Can Benchmark Client‐ and System‐Level Metrics Opioids and Florida: Rx ODs Down, but Heroin ODs Up Adolescent SBIRT Encouraged by National Council ‘Grants’ Veteran Methadone Treatment Provider Calls for Better Access Briefly Noted In the States Coming up     

Table of Contents

Providence Summit Attendees Strongly Endorse Destigmatization Concept Congress Looks to Change 30‐Patient Limit on Entities Prescribing Buprenorphine Calling on the Recovery Community to Break Out of Anonymity Bills Target Alcoholism and Binge Drinking Among Military Personnel Missouri Survey Finds Increase in 10th‐Grade Illicit Drug Use Current Requirements for Physicians to Prescribe Buprenorphine Resources Briefly Noted Coming Up…     

Table of Contents

Good News for Youth, Bad News for Adults Treatment Field Copes with Hurricane Aftermath in Face of Uncertainty on Funding How to Help Effect on Recovery Month Opiates Can Exacerbate Vulnerability to Stress, Says Study Researchers Optimistic Buprenorphine Can Help Cut HIV Spread Study with Rats Suggests Long‐Term Sensitization, Problems from Early Drug Experimentation Briefly Noted Resources Invitation for Participation Coming Up     

Table of Contents

Full Court Press for Addiction Field on Capitol Hill TC Programs See Benets of Offering Dental Services Access to HBO's Addiction Tobacco Up for FDA Regulation; GAO on State Use Funds Final NJ OIG Report Blasts Addiction Treatment Provider Group Briefly Noted Resources Call for Applications Names in the News Coming up     

Table of Contents

Kentucky Gives Grants to Reduce Parental Addiction and Cut Down on Foster Care New Study Shows Alcoholics' Memory Problems May Have Complex Etiology Tip Sheet on Substance Abuse for Kentucky Child Welfare Caseworkers Maine Conferences Could Fuel Initiatives to Stem Rx Abuse University Intervention for Problem Use Based on EAP Model Areas of the Brain Vulnerable to Damage by Alcohol Briefly Noted Resources Research Education Coming Up     

Table of Contents

Alcohol Use Study, National Meeting Bring Focus to Veterans' Problems Two Surveys On Teen Motivations for Drug Use Focus on Parents and Stress Appalachia Has Highest Rate of Opiate Treatment Admissions Binge Drinking Most Affected by Environment, Says Wechsler FDA Issues Alert on Vivitrol Injection Site Problems Survey Methodology Study Supports ‘Social Norms’ Marketing Value Briefly Noted State Watch Call for Participation Coming Up     

Table of Contents

University Collaboration Seeks to Improve SA Treatment in Managed Care House, Senate Committees Approve Versions of TANF Reauthorization Brandeis/Harvard Collaboration Includes Four Initiatives Biden Bill Would Train Health Professionals to Recognize Substance Use Ramstad Introduces Substance Abuse Parity Legislation Literature Review Yields Findings on Treatment Cost‐Effectiveness SAMHSA Releases Group Therapy Guide for SA Treatment Briefly Noted Coming Up     

Table of Contents

SAMHSA Document, Made Public in Error, Reveals Changes Planned for Block Grant NIH Panel Recommends Replacing NIAAA and NIDA With New Addictions Institute What the Contractor Would Have Done ‘Front Door’ to Treatment in Texas Endangered in Budget Process Recovery Researcher to Focus on Developing Science of Recovery What Was Missing: NIDA, NIAAA Perspectives Briefly Noted In the States Coming Up     

Table of Contents

Studies of 12‐Step Approach Scrutinized for Evidence Annapolis Coalition Report Anticipated to Provide Guidance on Workforce Shortage ‘Let's Talk Recovery’ Goes Public New Money Awarded in Multi‐Agency Initiative for Safe Schools Meth Treatment Needs Become Topic in Wyoming Governor's Race Briefly Noted Resources Names in the News Coming Up