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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesWriter Asks What You Know About Children, Poverty

Writer Asks What You Know About Children, Poverty

Did you know that four children out of every ten live in poverty in the U.S Virgin Islands? According to Kids Count 2003, more than 12,600 of the territory’s children live in poverty. Did you know that there are clear links to future psychological disturbance in this extremely vulnerable at-risk population?
Did you know that two of the territory’s psychiatric providers each have caseloads of over 200 patients?
In April the Congressional Black Caucus’ Braintrust’s Mental Health Roundtable 2004 – The Bridge to Wellness was held on St. Thomas and St.Croix. The focus: mental health in the Virgin Islands, cultural attitudes, and integration and collaboration of our health systems. Participants in the roundtable forum included concerned citizens, consumers, families of consumers and mental health professionals – two of whom had more than 200 cases each.
Did you know that the Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., serves as a national think-tank and training organization to improve the social and emotional outcomes of young children? Materials from the Center are developed in collaboration with universities in Colorado, Connecticut and Florida and are available by request in several formats and languages. Funded under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, the Center provides information and training to support local programs over time, and collaboration with state and territorial planning teams.
Judith Slosky,
St. Thomas,
Editor's Note: Slosky serves as senior advocate for VIA, Virgin Islands Advocacy. It is an advocacy group for people with disabilities in the Virgin Islands. For information, contact 772-1200 or 776-4303.

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