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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, April 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 8, 2004 Grant will help with parent-child mental health By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Troubled families of children ages newborn to 8 will benefit from a $300,000 grant given to Jackson County to boost bonding and improve mental health among the very young. The county was one of four in Oregon recently awarded scarce mental health funds through the state Department of Human Services, said Carin Niebuhr, who heads the local Commission on Children and Families. The money will pay for mental health treatment, consultation and training for 179 children, parents and providers, Niebuhr said. It’s granted through the Oregon Children’s Plan aimed at reaching families at risk for substance abuse, domestic violence and other problems with long-range consequences. The funds will provide psychotherapy for parents and kids, consultation and training for providers, support services and even infant massage classes, she said. In the classes, parents will learn to give their babies massages, a practice that proponents believe increases bonding and attachment, communication and empathy, and provides physical benefits as well. Advertisement "One of the goals is to really have a positive, strong bonding relationship between parent and child," Niebuhr said. Services will begin this month. Potential clients will be referred through existing social service agencies, although interested people can call Becky Longie at 774-7800 for more information. County staff members were pleased and excited to receive the grant, especially during a time of such tight state budgets. About $2 million originally was targeted to early mental health services; budget revisions cut that by about half. Competition for the grant was fierce, Niebuhr said. She said it is heartening that the state maintained funds during the most difficult budget crisis in history. "Obviously there’s a lot of commitment for them not to let go of it all," she said. The Oregon Children’s Plan was a pet project of former Gov. John Kitzhaber, who originally requested $66 million to fund programs for kids from newborns to age 8. He and others argued that research shows that many anti-social behaviors stem from poor bonding with parents and other care providers early in life. Spending money to intervene early saves society money in the long run, proponents have said. The county will work with several local agencies to provide services, including Southern Oregon Head Start and OnTrack Inc., among others. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times