More than 14 million children and adolescents in the United States, or 1 in 5, have a diagnosable mental health disorder that requires intervention or monitoring and interferes with daily functioning.¹ While many children with mental health disorders are not being diagnosed, primary care clinicians have been identifying children with emotional and behavioral disorders at an increasing rate. The need for primary care clinicians to manage children with mental health concerns only will continue to increase in the future. Primary care clinicians are, and will continue to be, an important first resource for parents who are worried about their child's behavioral problems.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day New
Join the AAP, co-sponsor of the May 8, 2008 National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, an initiative of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in celebrating this event. For more information, please call 847/434-7787 or email mentalhealth@aap.org.

Chapter Action Kit Contract Awardees
Five AAP chapters were recently awarded contracts to plan or implement strategies outlined in the Chapter Action Kit in an effort to improve children’s mental health programs and services at the community and state levels. Brief abstracts of each state project are now available. For more information, please call 847/434-7119 or email mentalhealth@aap.org.