Approaches to the Treatment of Mania
A new CME unit from Medscape - " Bipolar disorder is an episodic illness treated in phases, with each phase presenting its own set of challenges to the treating physician. Mania is frequently associated with behavioral disturbances that can have serious consequences for patients and those around them. Rapid control is important, even though many manic patients are uncooperative. As time goes by and behavioral problems decrease, the type and intensity of treatments change, as do the goals for therapy. Other factors come into play, including the involvement and education of family. Through all phases of the illness, the clinician needs to be vigilant about suicide risk. This article discusses current approaches to the pharmacologic and psychosocial treatment of bipolar disorder in its different phases for both adults and children, as well as strategies for the assessment and management of suicide risk." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
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State Fiscal Conditions and Health Coverage: An Update on FY2004 and Beyond
A page summarizing and indexing new resources from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, which recently released three new reports "...on how states are coping with the fourth year of fiscal stress. The third annual survey of the 50 states reveals a far-reaching impact on health coverage for low-income families at a time when enrollment is increasing due to sluggish economic conditions." See especially the three reports - States Respond to Fiscal Pressure: State Medicaid Spending Growth and Cost Containment, Medicaid Spending: What Factors Contributed to the Growth Between 2000 and 2002? and The Current State Fiscal Crisis and Its Aftermath (all in Adobe Acrobat format).  
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States Awarded Federal Grants to Fund Youth Anti-Drug Programs
SAMHSA press release - "Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced that the governors’ offices in 14 states and territories will receive State Incentive Grants to reduce illegal drug, alcohol and tobacco use among children, youth, and young adults. There are two types of grants -- one-year grants for planning programs and three-year grants for enhancing operating programs. The grants support statewide planning and strategies to reach children, youth, young adults, parents and families with effective substance abuse prevention programs."  
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Report Reveals Problems Facing Disabled Parents (UK)
Story at PNN.com - "According to a new report released in the UK, social services, the National Health Service (NHS) and schools working with disabled parents and their children, need to radically re-think attitudes and procedures that are undermining family life. Inadequate support, unequal access to services and the negative views of staff can be as much a barrier to good parenting as disability itself, according to a task force established by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The task force, made up of representatives from Government, social services, voluntary groups and disabled parents' organizations, spent two years taking evidence from parents, professionals and researchers. Its final report identifies examples of good practice, but also lists a catalogue of policy and practice failures that have placed disabled parents and their families under stress." See also the related resources at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation web site.  
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