ALK Newsletter: Congressional duty to protect our kids, mental health panel, and more.

Can't read or see images? [View this email in a browser]( [] [ Greetings! Summer is winding down, and a new school year will soon begin! With that in mind, we have a huge opportunity to step up to the plate and ensure that our young people are as supported as possible this year. To that end, here’s what I’ve been working on: Authored “Congress can help parents protect kids from TikTok, IG, YouTube and other social media giants” Following revealing Senate hearings regarding Facebook and Instagram’s dangerous practices, on February 26, CT Senator Richard Blumenthal and TN Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The bill would establish a duty of care to protect minors from ill mental health effects and sexual trafficking, among other safeguards. I’m hopeful that one day, we’ll find a way to strike a healthy balance when it comes to social media use and the well-being of our kids. But we’re not there yet. Legislation holding social media companies accountable will be critical to finding our way. You can read my entire op-ed [here](. Contributed to The Kennedy Forum Illinois’s Children’s Mental Health in Turbulent Times Panel On August 8, I contributed to a national conversation about the systems we need to support mental wellness for children and youth through stronger school-based approaches, more support for healthy family systems, and trauma-informed practices in the face of violence and social divisiveness. For this discussion, I was joined by Chief Justice Anne M. Burke with the Illinois Supreme Court, Dr. Colleen Cicchetti with Lurie Children’s Hospital Center for Childhood Resilience & Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and Dr. Orson Morrison with DePaul University. You can watch us dig into this crucial topic via [this link](. Hopeful Futures Releases State-by-State Recent Legislation Tracker Hopeful Futures is a coalition of leading mental health organizations, including The Kennedy Forum, dedicated to shedding light on the youth mental health crisis, and how to best support young people at the place they spend so much of their lives – school. To that end, Hopeful Futures released its first-ever [legislative tracker]( detailing the initiatives that bolster youth mental health taken by each state in recent months. I’m glad to note that New Jersey led the charge on three fronts, thanks to the respective legislative efforts of Senator Joseph Cryan, Senator Teresa Ruiz, Senator Sandra Cunningham, Senator Kristin Corrado, and Assemblyman Herb Conaway. Led Back to School & Eating Disorders Webinar with Equip On August 2, I led a conversation with Dr. Katherine Hill, Equip's Vice President of Medical Affairs, and Oona Hanson, Equip Family Mentor, to discuss warning signs of eating disorders inside and outside of the classroom, and how parents and educators can best support our youth. Our full conversation is now available online and can be watched [here](. Attended U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Children’s Behavioral Health Stakeholder Meeting Late this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), released three key announcements on children’s behavioral health during a stakeholder meeting. Of these announcements, CMS reaffirms that mental health is a core component of early screening and prevention services, encourages states to invest in school-based mental health services, and mandates a metric tracking how Medicaid and CHIP coverage are meeting the needs of community members. Such great news! These announcements give us a much-needed outlet to provide greater care nationwide. I’m looking forward to another academic year of driving sustainable, positive change for students. Beyond pencils and binders, we can thoroughly assure our youth’s success by equipping them with life skill tools and overall support. All the best, Amy Kennedy Pronouns: She/Her [Visit My Website]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [LinkedIn]( [Instagram]( [Instagram]( This email was sent by amy@amylkennedy.com to {EMAIL} Not interested? [Unsubscribe]( | [Update profile]( The Kennedy Forum | 14 Central Avenue, PO Box 319 | Island Heights, NJ 08732