On December 18, 2009, 16-month-old Salina Shanks, was rushed to a Colorado Springs Hospital, unresponsive with what doctors noted as a “non-accidental” injury. The toddler had severe trauma to her head, according to medical reports provided to TARGET 13, and she needed a high level of care…. Did DHS Fail at Protecting A Child? Posted: March 3, 2010 08:27 PM PST Updated: March 8, 2010 07:32 AM PST By Target 13 Investigative Reporter Tak Landrock t.landrock@krdo.com www.krdotv.com
http://www.adoptionqa.com/blog/videos/foster-care-child-abuse-wmv/
Isabella Brooke Knightly and Austin Gamez-Knightly
In Memory of my Loving Husband, William F. Knightly Jr. Murdered by ILLEGAL Palliative Care at a Nashua, NH Hospital
Monday, June 7, 2010
Organizations that offer help to others need your help, too-CASA
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Organizations that offer help to others need your help, too
By JOHN BACHMAN
Angel skipped school more often as this year’s prom season approached. Her grades slid, threatening to reduce her already slim college hopes beyond her reach. She remembered the pain of 2009 when the school buzzed with anticipation of the prom and then the stories of after-prom parties and fun.
Angel did not participate last year because she could not afford a gown or even a decent dress. She was miserable and hated the thought of repeating the experience.
A senior year prom is an important event for a 17-year-old girl, and Angel was having a bad experience for lack of a gown. Then her mother spotted a news article.
“Look at this, Angel,” she said. “Maybe this will help.”
Angel read the report about the Cinderella Project of New Hampshire as her mother narrated: “They will give you a gown, no charge. Shoes and purses and even jewelry.”
Angel smiled for the first time in weeks. She smiled that big, beautiful smile that had disappeared under worry.
Her Mom called one of the Cinderella Project volunteers and made an appointment to visit the boutique in Allenstown. Soon Angel was the proud owner of a beautiful, like-new gown with matching shoes and appointments. She could not be happier and could not wait to get to school to talk prom talk with her friends.
Her grades improved, and she resolved to get into college. Her mother noticed how she dove into homework with a vengeance. A gown had changed her life.
I made this story up, but similar ones happen hundreds of times every year, peaking during prom season, but also occurring before weddings and other dressy events. The Cinderella Project of New Hampshire makes it all possible, at no cost to its clients. There can be no more local charity than this. It touches teens and restores their dreams.
The Cinderella Project has plenty of gowns, and is always willing to take more, but cash needed for rent, electricity, racks and incidental expenses is short. The volunteers not only give their time, they also occasionally pull out their checkbooks.
You can support this very worthy cause by sending a donation to The Cinderella Project of New Hampshire, 266 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, NH 03275, or visit www.thecinderella projectofnh.org.
* * *
Abused children live a very confusing and dangerous life and are often left without much reliable help. The cases can be horrendous: a 12-week-old baby with 32 broken bones, a 20-month-old girl who had been sexually molested. It takes a strong person to deal with such cases, but there are volunteers who do it and do it well.
When the state Division for Children, Youth and Families determines that a case requires action to protect the child, it petitions the court. The resulting hearings can be a confusing blur of lawyers, a judge and a very bewildered and besieged child.
The parents always have lawyers, often court appointed. The DCYF lawyers are there. Who represents the child? CASA is who.
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates for children. When a judge sees that the child needs an advocate, he chooses from the available CASA volunteers. That volunteer has a tough job, one that can be emotionally draining.
CASA volunteers must learn how to represent a child in a room full of lawyers who are representing their clients. But they have an advantage – they spend hours in the courtroom without pay because it is their passion.
CASA volunteers cannot let their emotions divert them from the job they have to do. They do it extremely well, and the lawyers know that. They also know that the judge appointed the these volunteers and listens to them.
CASA of New Hampshire Executive Director Marcia Sink has been quoted as saying: “For many kids, these CASA volunteers are their lifeline.”
You can help support these angels of mercy with a generous donation at www.casanh.org/donate/personaldonation or call Kathy Vachon, director of development at 800-626-0622.
* * *
Adult and child victims of sexual and domestic violence often do not know where to turn. They can be constantly threatened, even their lives, and have no safe haven.
Such victims can get support, protection and advice from Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support. Bridges operates offices in Nashua and Milford, serving 15 communities across southern New Hampshire. Bridges operates a 24-hour hotline, conducts legal and hospital visits, and provides emergency housing in a safe, secret location.
Bridges also operates an active and wide-ranging school and community educational program designed to reduce the occurrence of the events that require its other services.
But Bridges, like all other charities, is feeling the pinch of the poor economy. You can support them at www.bridgesnh.org/donate.htm or contact Pamela at 603-889-0858.
* * *
Americans are the most charitable people on Earth. In times like these, charities are squeezed by increased need and decreased donations. Local charities are often overlooked.
Help your neighbors, your community and ultimately yourself by donating generously to these effective and worthwhile organizations. All donations are deductible on your federal income tax return.
I am familiar with these groups because my wife and daughter are volunteers in them all, and we cut them checks every year. Please join us.
John Bachman is an Amherst businessman and freelance columnist. His column appears on the first Sunday of the month. E-mail him at john@anatek.mv.com.
Click here to enjoy the convenience of The Telegraph delivered to your home seven days a week for just 50 cents a day.
IMPORTANT: The Telegraph's comments policy is changing. Verified accounts are now required for posting. Details here http://blogs.nashuatelegraph.com/webnotes/2010/04/23/changes-to-the-comments . Please verify your email address in Disqus or by signing up for a Telegraph account to allow immediate posting of comments.
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Post as unhappygrammy
Showing 3 comments
unhappygrammy 3 hours ago
Letter from A former GAL/CASA worker to Maggie Bishop,NH DCYF-A MUST READ!
The Author of this letter has given permission to forward this letter far and wide. Please see attachment.
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=47167b6cfa...
Edit Reply
unhappygrammy 3 hours ago
CASA would be a good program to support if they weren't being coerced by DCYF. When they don't follow DCYF orders, they are replaced by a CASA worker who will.
Edit Reply
unhappygrammy 20 hours ago
It's nice to donate to organization's that help children, but CASA only help's DCYF, not the children their supposed to be helping. If CASA did NOT work hand in hand with DCYF, they might be more worthwhile in helping children. CASA stand's by every one of DCYF's deceitful practice' s and so do the Judges. If CASA goes against DCYF, they are replaced with a CASA that will do as DCYF tells them. CASA is no better than many of the court-appointed Lawyer's that are supposed to be working for the parents, but don't. When the court-appointed Lawyer is asked why he didn't fight for the parent, his answer's include, "I have more important client's, the state doesn't pay me enough and the court is my boss." When a parent can't afford to hire their own Lawyer, this is what they get. A court-appointed puppet whose paid out of the DCYF fund. Very seldom is a parent afforded a Lawyer who will really fight. This is why parents and families in family court get railroaded. The parent is in a courtroom with NO support, fighting a losing battle!
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinion/perspectives/759899-263/organizations-that-offer-help-to-others-need.html
Organizations that offer help to others need your help, too
By JOHN BACHMAN
Angel skipped school more often as this year’s prom season approached. Her grades slid, threatening to reduce her already slim college hopes beyond her reach. She remembered the pain of 2009 when the school buzzed with anticipation of the prom and then the stories of after-prom parties and fun.
Angel did not participate last year because she could not afford a gown or even a decent dress. She was miserable and hated the thought of repeating the experience.
A senior year prom is an important event for a 17-year-old girl, and Angel was having a bad experience for lack of a gown. Then her mother spotted a news article.
“Look at this, Angel,” she said. “Maybe this will help.”
Angel read the report about the Cinderella Project of New Hampshire as her mother narrated: “They will give you a gown, no charge. Shoes and purses and even jewelry.”
Angel smiled for the first time in weeks. She smiled that big, beautiful smile that had disappeared under worry.
Her Mom called one of the Cinderella Project volunteers and made an appointment to visit the boutique in Allenstown. Soon Angel was the proud owner of a beautiful, like-new gown with matching shoes and appointments. She could not be happier and could not wait to get to school to talk prom talk with her friends.
Her grades improved, and she resolved to get into college. Her mother noticed how she dove into homework with a vengeance. A gown had changed her life.
I made this story up, but similar ones happen hundreds of times every year, peaking during prom season, but also occurring before weddings and other dressy events. The Cinderella Project of New Hampshire makes it all possible, at no cost to its clients. There can be no more local charity than this. It touches teens and restores their dreams.
The Cinderella Project has plenty of gowns, and is always willing to take more, but cash needed for rent, electricity, racks and incidental expenses is short. The volunteers not only give their time, they also occasionally pull out their checkbooks.
You can support this very worthy cause by sending a donation to The Cinderella Project of New Hampshire, 266 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, NH 03275, or visit www.thecinderella projectofnh.org.
* * *
Abused children live a very confusing and dangerous life and are often left without much reliable help. The cases can be horrendous: a 12-week-old baby with 32 broken bones, a 20-month-old girl who had been sexually molested. It takes a strong person to deal with such cases, but there are volunteers who do it and do it well.
When the state Division for Children, Youth and Families determines that a case requires action to protect the child, it petitions the court. The resulting hearings can be a confusing blur of lawyers, a judge and a very bewildered and besieged child.
The parents always have lawyers, often court appointed. The DCYF lawyers are there. Who represents the child? CASA is who.
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates for children. When a judge sees that the child needs an advocate, he chooses from the available CASA volunteers. That volunteer has a tough job, one that can be emotionally draining.
CASA volunteers must learn how to represent a child in a room full of lawyers who are representing their clients. But they have an advantage – they spend hours in the courtroom without pay because it is their passion.
CASA volunteers cannot let their emotions divert them from the job they have to do. They do it extremely well, and the lawyers know that. They also know that the judge appointed the these volunteers and listens to them.
CASA of New Hampshire Executive Director Marcia Sink has been quoted as saying: “For many kids, these CASA volunteers are their lifeline.”
You can help support these angels of mercy with a generous donation at www.casanh.org/donate/personaldonation or call Kathy Vachon, director of development at 800-626-0622.
* * *
Adult and child victims of sexual and domestic violence often do not know where to turn. They can be constantly threatened, even their lives, and have no safe haven.
Such victims can get support, protection and advice from Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support. Bridges operates offices in Nashua and Milford, serving 15 communities across southern New Hampshire. Bridges operates a 24-hour hotline, conducts legal and hospital visits, and provides emergency housing in a safe, secret location.
Bridges also operates an active and wide-ranging school and community educational program designed to reduce the occurrence of the events that require its other services.
But Bridges, like all other charities, is feeling the pinch of the poor economy. You can support them at www.bridgesnh.org/donate.htm or contact Pamela at 603-889-0858.
* * *
Americans are the most charitable people on Earth. In times like these, charities are squeezed by increased need and decreased donations. Local charities are often overlooked.
Help your neighbors, your community and ultimately yourself by donating generously to these effective and worthwhile organizations. All donations are deductible on your federal income tax return.
I am familiar with these groups because my wife and daughter are volunteers in them all, and we cut them checks every year. Please join us.
John Bachman is an Amherst businessman and freelance columnist. His column appears on the first Sunday of the month. E-mail him at john@anatek.mv.com.
Click here to enjoy the convenience of The Telegraph delivered to your home seven days a week for just 50 cents a day.
IMPORTANT: The Telegraph's comments policy is changing. Verified accounts are now required for posting. Details here http://blogs.nashuatelegraph.com/webnotes/2010/04/23/changes-to-the-comments . Please verify your email address in Disqus or by signing up for a Telegraph account to allow immediate posting of comments.
Like
Add New Comment
Post as unhappygrammy
Showing 3 comments
unhappygrammy 3 hours ago
Letter from A former GAL/CASA worker to Maggie Bishop,NH DCYF-A MUST READ!
The Author of this letter has given permission to forward this letter far and wide. Please see attachment.
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=47167b6cfa...
Edit Reply
unhappygrammy 3 hours ago
CASA would be a good program to support if they weren't being coerced by DCYF. When they don't follow DCYF orders, they are replaced by a CASA worker who will.
Edit Reply
unhappygrammy 20 hours ago
It's nice to donate to organization's that help children, but CASA only help's DCYF, not the children their supposed to be helping. If CASA did NOT work hand in hand with DCYF, they might be more worthwhile in helping children. CASA stand's by every one of DCYF's deceitful practice' s and so do the Judges. If CASA goes against DCYF, they are replaced with a CASA that will do as DCYF tells them. CASA is no better than many of the court-appointed Lawyer's that are supposed to be working for the parents, but don't. When the court-appointed Lawyer is asked why he didn't fight for the parent, his answer's include, "I have more important client's, the state doesn't pay me enough and the court is my boss." When a parent can't afford to hire their own Lawyer, this is what they get. A court-appointed puppet whose paid out of the DCYF fund. Very seldom is a parent afforded a Lawyer who will really fight. This is why parents and families in family court get railroaded. The parent is in a courtroom with NO support, fighting a losing battle!
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinion/perspectives/759899-263/organizations-that-offer-help-to-others-need.html
Curbing needless foster care: Does the Obama Administration even have a clue?
NCCPR Child Welfare Blog
News and commentary from the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform concerning child abuse, child welfare, foster care, and family preservation.
MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010
Curbing needless foster care: Does the Obama Administration even have a clue?
INDIFFERENCE AND/OR HOSTILITY THREATEN CHILD WELFARE WAIVERS
Ok, I get that with two wars, the worst environmental disaster in our history, health care, the economy, etc. President Obama may not be paying a lot of attention to child welfare. But is it too much to ask that his administration not make things even worse?
For starters, the Administration took the terrible financial incentives that encourage foster care and discourage better alternatives and did, indeed, make them worse. I don't think they did it on purpose. Rather, my guess is they were intent on increasing state reimbursement for Medicaid and weren't paying attention to the fact that this also automatically increases reimbursement for foster care. (The House and Senate have split on whether to continue this increase, so here's a modest proposal for a compromise: Extend the increase for Medicaid, but not foster care.)
Now, according to The Columbus Dispatch, the Administration may refuse to extend a waiver that gives 18 counties in Ohio the same flexibility that has allowed Florida to vastly improve its system. (That success, already cited by The New York Times, also was a key focus of an Associated Press story Friday.)
The "ProtectOhio" waiver has been around for 12 years. It's due to expire at the end of July, and there's no word from the federal Department of Health and Human Services concerning whether they will grant another extension.
PROMISING EARLY RESULTS…
An early evaluation found that, on average, the counties did not perform as well as Florida. But that changed. And even early on there were improvements; and, in two counties, the improvements were particularly significant.
What made the difference in those counties? In a word: Leadership.
As we discuss in our report on Ohio child welfare, according to the evaluation:
The two most successful counties…share a pattern of strong leadership and careful planning of systemic reforms. Both demonstrated an early and ongoing commitment to expanding resources for child welfare activities other than foster care board and maintenance, well beyond the flexible funds generated by Waiver participation. They also sharply reduced placement utilization, instead serving children in-home or through referral to community agencies.
The evaluation found that, in Lorain County, the child welfare agency had been engaged in a comprehensive planning process, geared toward safely reducing entries into foster care, even before the waiver. So the county knew how to make the best use of flexible funds to enhance services to families. In addition to reducing needless removals of children, when a child really needed to be taken from his or her parents, the county also significantly increased placements with relatives instead of strangers.
"Overall," according to the evaluation, "the flexibility of the Title IV-E waiver seems to have reinforced the reform agenda of Lorain County Children Services."
…AND NOW, EVEN MORE SUCCESS
The other counties learned from those early experiences. According to a new report from Casey Family Programs, now:
Demonstration counties in ProtectOhio have consistently shown briefer lengths of stay in children's first placements, greater success in completing permanency plans for children in long-term foster care, higher rates of adoption, and a higher proportion of children exiting foster care to extended family caregivers without a decline in child safety measures. For the two-year period ending September 30, 2009, the ProtectOhio demonstration group generated internal savings of 329,441 placement days.
In other words, children spent a total of 329,441 fewer days in foster care than they would have had there been no waiver – with no compromise of safety. And that includes the children who had zero days in foster care because, thanks to the waiver, the services were available to keep them out of foster care in the first place.
It also probably helped that Ohio's largest county, Franklin, eased out the mediocre longtime leader of its child welfare agency. His replacement has done a better job taking advantage of the waiver. That's the whole point of reforming child welfare financing: It can't make up for mediocre leadership. But it allows good leaders to swim with the tide instead of against it.
Speaking of mediocre leadership: HHS apparently hasn't been paying attention. No surprise there. The federal leadership team on child welfare is incomplete and what there is of it is undistinguished.
HHS: THE MEDIOCRITY STARTS AT THE TOP
The problem goes all the way to the top. When the secretary of HHS, Kathleen Sibelius, was governor of Kansas, a state with one of the highest rates of removal in the nation, she turned a blind eye as her state fudged the figures it sent to HHS. She also didn't lift a finger when the head of her human services agency was caught in a bald-faced lie. (We don't know which of two flatly contradictory statements was the lie, we just know he lied. Details are in our report on Kansas child welfare.)
The one time I heard the HHS Assistant Secretary in charge of the Administration for Children and Families, Carmen Nazario, speak on the funding issue, her comments amounted to: I can't wait to give the Child Welfare League of America exactly what it wants! Since CWLA is the giant trade association for agencies, including many that live off a steady supply of foster children, that's always bad news for kids. For details, see our report on child welfare financing.
And now, whether through indifference or hostility, HHS is threatening one of the few areas where federal child welfare policy actually has helped children – waivers from federal funding rules that provide a huge, perverse incentive to place children in foster care and keep them there.
So, if the people who occasionally pay attention to child welfare in the Obama Administration (if any) really are too distracted to do comprehensive reform of child welfare – like making the Florida waiver the way child welfare is financed nationwide, or at least making such a waiver available to any state that wants one – could they at least let the states and counties that were smart enough to get these waivers in past years keep them?
It's simple. Just sign the relevant forms. Then you can go back to the wars, the oil spill, the economy and all the rest.
http://nccpr.blogspot.com/2010/06/curbing-needless-foster-care-does-obama.html?utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter
News and commentary from the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform concerning child abuse, child welfare, foster care, and family preservation.
MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010
Curbing needless foster care: Does the Obama Administration even have a clue?
INDIFFERENCE AND/OR HOSTILITY THREATEN CHILD WELFARE WAIVERS
Ok, I get that with two wars, the worst environmental disaster in our history, health care, the economy, etc. President Obama may not be paying a lot of attention to child welfare. But is it too much to ask that his administration not make things even worse?
For starters, the Administration took the terrible financial incentives that encourage foster care and discourage better alternatives and did, indeed, make them worse. I don't think they did it on purpose. Rather, my guess is they were intent on increasing state reimbursement for Medicaid and weren't paying attention to the fact that this also automatically increases reimbursement for foster care. (The House and Senate have split on whether to continue this increase, so here's a modest proposal for a compromise: Extend the increase for Medicaid, but not foster care.)
Now, according to The Columbus Dispatch, the Administration may refuse to extend a waiver that gives 18 counties in Ohio the same flexibility that has allowed Florida to vastly improve its system. (That success, already cited by The New York Times, also was a key focus of an Associated Press story Friday.)
The "ProtectOhio" waiver has been around for 12 years. It's due to expire at the end of July, and there's no word from the federal Department of Health and Human Services concerning whether they will grant another extension.
PROMISING EARLY RESULTS…
An early evaluation found that, on average, the counties did not perform as well as Florida. But that changed. And even early on there were improvements; and, in two counties, the improvements were particularly significant.
What made the difference in those counties? In a word: Leadership.
As we discuss in our report on Ohio child welfare, according to the evaluation:
The two most successful counties…share a pattern of strong leadership and careful planning of systemic reforms. Both demonstrated an early and ongoing commitment to expanding resources for child welfare activities other than foster care board and maintenance, well beyond the flexible funds generated by Waiver participation. They also sharply reduced placement utilization, instead serving children in-home or through referral to community agencies.
The evaluation found that, in Lorain County, the child welfare agency had been engaged in a comprehensive planning process, geared toward safely reducing entries into foster care, even before the waiver. So the county knew how to make the best use of flexible funds to enhance services to families. In addition to reducing needless removals of children, when a child really needed to be taken from his or her parents, the county also significantly increased placements with relatives instead of strangers.
"Overall," according to the evaluation, "the flexibility of the Title IV-E waiver seems to have reinforced the reform agenda of Lorain County Children Services."
…AND NOW, EVEN MORE SUCCESS
The other counties learned from those early experiences. According to a new report from Casey Family Programs, now:
Demonstration counties in ProtectOhio have consistently shown briefer lengths of stay in children's first placements, greater success in completing permanency plans for children in long-term foster care, higher rates of adoption, and a higher proportion of children exiting foster care to extended family caregivers without a decline in child safety measures. For the two-year period ending September 30, 2009, the ProtectOhio demonstration group generated internal savings of 329,441 placement days.
In other words, children spent a total of 329,441 fewer days in foster care than they would have had there been no waiver – with no compromise of safety. And that includes the children who had zero days in foster care because, thanks to the waiver, the services were available to keep them out of foster care in the first place.
It also probably helped that Ohio's largest county, Franklin, eased out the mediocre longtime leader of its child welfare agency. His replacement has done a better job taking advantage of the waiver. That's the whole point of reforming child welfare financing: It can't make up for mediocre leadership. But it allows good leaders to swim with the tide instead of against it.
Speaking of mediocre leadership: HHS apparently hasn't been paying attention. No surprise there. The federal leadership team on child welfare is incomplete and what there is of it is undistinguished.
HHS: THE MEDIOCRITY STARTS AT THE TOP
The problem goes all the way to the top. When the secretary of HHS, Kathleen Sibelius, was governor of Kansas, a state with one of the highest rates of removal in the nation, she turned a blind eye as her state fudged the figures it sent to HHS. She also didn't lift a finger when the head of her human services agency was caught in a bald-faced lie. (We don't know which of two flatly contradictory statements was the lie, we just know he lied. Details are in our report on Kansas child welfare.)
The one time I heard the HHS Assistant Secretary in charge of the Administration for Children and Families, Carmen Nazario, speak on the funding issue, her comments amounted to: I can't wait to give the Child Welfare League of America exactly what it wants! Since CWLA is the giant trade association for agencies, including many that live off a steady supply of foster children, that's always bad news for kids. For details, see our report on child welfare financing.
And now, whether through indifference or hostility, HHS is threatening one of the few areas where federal child welfare policy actually has helped children – waivers from federal funding rules that provide a huge, perverse incentive to place children in foster care and keep them there.
So, if the people who occasionally pay attention to child welfare in the Obama Administration (if any) really are too distracted to do comprehensive reform of child welfare – like making the Florida waiver the way child welfare is financed nationwide, or at least making such a waiver available to any state that wants one – could they at least let the states and counties that were smart enough to get these waivers in past years keep them?
It's simple. Just sign the relevant forms. Then you can go back to the wars, the oil spill, the economy and all the rest.
http://nccpr.blogspot.com/2010/06/curbing-needless-foster-care-does-obama.html?utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter
Use of antidepressants during pregnancy and the risk of spontaneous abortion
CMAJ
Use of antidepressants during pregnancy and the risk of spontaneous abortion
Hamid Reza Nakhai-Pour 1, Perrine Broy 2, Anick Bérard 3
1 The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.; Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.; and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
2 Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.; École nationale de la statistique et de l'analyse de l'information, Rennes, France
3 The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.; Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.
Abstract
Background: The risk of relapse of depression or the diagnosis of some other psychiatric disorders during pregnancy necessitates the use of antidepressants despite possible adverse effects. Whether such use increases the risk of spontaneous abortion is still being debated. We evaluated the risk of spontaneous abortion in relation to the use of antidepressants during pregnancy.
Methods: Using a nested case–control study design, we obtained data from the Quebec Pregnancy Registry for 5124 women who had a clinically detected spontaneous abortion. For each case, we randomly selected 10 controls from the remaining women in the registry who were matched by the case's index date (date of spontaneous abortion) and gestational age at the time of spontaneous abortion. Use of antidepressants was defined by filled prescriptions and was compared with nonuse. We also studied the classes, types and doses of antidepressants.
Results: A total of 284 (5.5%) of the women who had a spontaneous abortion had at least one prescription for an antidepressant filled during the pregnancy, as compared with 1401 (2.7%) of the matched controls (odds ratio [OR] 2.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.83–2.38). After adjustment for potential confounders, we found that the use of antidepressants during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.38–2.06). Stratified analyses showed that use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors alone (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.28–2.04), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors alone (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.34–3.30) and combined use of antidepressants from different classes (OR 3.51, 95% CI 2.20–5.61) were associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. When we looked at antidepressant use by type versus no use, paroxetine use alone (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.31–2.34) and venlafaxine use alone (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.34–3.30) were associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion.
Interpretation: The use of antidepressants, especially paroxetine, venlafaxine or the combined use of different classes of antidepressants, during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion.
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/abstract/cmaj.091208v1
Use of antidepressants during pregnancy and the risk of spontaneous abortion
Hamid Reza Nakhai-Pour 1, Perrine Broy 2, Anick Bérard 3
1 The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.; Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.; and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
2 Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.; École nationale de la statistique et de l'analyse de l'information, Rennes, France
3 The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.; Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que.
Abstract
Background: The risk of relapse of depression or the diagnosis of some other psychiatric disorders during pregnancy necessitates the use of antidepressants despite possible adverse effects. Whether such use increases the risk of spontaneous abortion is still being debated. We evaluated the risk of spontaneous abortion in relation to the use of antidepressants during pregnancy.
Methods: Using a nested case–control study design, we obtained data from the Quebec Pregnancy Registry for 5124 women who had a clinically detected spontaneous abortion. For each case, we randomly selected 10 controls from the remaining women in the registry who were matched by the case's index date (date of spontaneous abortion) and gestational age at the time of spontaneous abortion. Use of antidepressants was defined by filled prescriptions and was compared with nonuse. We also studied the classes, types and doses of antidepressants.
Results: A total of 284 (5.5%) of the women who had a spontaneous abortion had at least one prescription for an antidepressant filled during the pregnancy, as compared with 1401 (2.7%) of the matched controls (odds ratio [OR] 2.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.83–2.38). After adjustment for potential confounders, we found that the use of antidepressants during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.38–2.06). Stratified analyses showed that use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors alone (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.28–2.04), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors alone (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.34–3.30) and combined use of antidepressants from different classes (OR 3.51, 95% CI 2.20–5.61) were associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. When we looked at antidepressant use by type versus no use, paroxetine use alone (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.31–2.34) and venlafaxine use alone (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.34–3.30) were associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion.
Interpretation: The use of antidepressants, especially paroxetine, venlafaxine or the combined use of different classes of antidepressants, during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion.
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/abstract/cmaj.091208v1
Antidepressants during pregnancy cause alarming 68 percent increased risk of miscarriage
Antidepressants during pregnancy cause alarming 68 percent increased risk of miscarriage
Monday, June 07, 2010 by: S. L. Baker, features writer
(NaturalNews) Back in 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that exposure to the antidepressant paroxetine (sold as Paxil, Paxil CR, and Pexeva) in the first trimester of pregnancy might increase the risk for birth defects, especially heart problems. Did this halt the widespread prescribing of paroxetine and other antidepressants for pregnant women? Unfortunately, the answer is no.
In fact, background information in a just published study in CMAJ (the Canadian Medical Association Journal) notes the drugs are frequently used in pregnancy. Almost 4 percent of pregnant women take them at some point during the first trimester -- and the result can be tragic. The new research concludes expectant moms taking antidepressants have an astounding 68 percent increase in the overall risk of miscarriage.
Most previous studies on the use of these medications in pregnancy have been small and haven't looked as miscarriages as a main outcome. But this large study by researchers from the University of Montreal and the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU Ste-Justine) evaluated the association between antidepressant use in pregnancy in detail -- analyzing classes, types and doses of the drugs and the risk of miscarriage.
In all, the scientists investigated data on 5124 women in Quebec from a large population-based cohort of pregnant women who had miscarried by 20 weeks of gestation. Then they compared their findings to a large sample of women from the same registry who carried their babies full term. Of the women who lost their babies, 284 had taken antidepressants during pregnancy.
All the popular SSRI drugs were linked to miscarriage risk
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), especially paroxetine, were associated with the increased risk of miscarriage. Venlafaxine (sold under the brand names Effexor, Alventa, Argofan, and Trevilor), which is the sixth most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the U.S., belongs to another slightly different class of SSRIs called arylalkanolamine serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and, like paroxetine, it was also especially likely to cause miscarriages. In addition, higher daily doses of antidepressants and a combination of different drugs raised the risk substantially.
"These results, which suggest an overall class effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are highly robust given the large number of users studied," Dr. Anick Berard of the University of Montreal and the Director of the Research Unit on Medications and Pregnancy at CHU Ste-Justine wrote in the article.
Overall, an astounding number of Americans, some 27 million, now take SSRIs. However, as NaturalNews has previously reported, new dangers from these drugs continue to be uncovered. For example, last December Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers announced their findings that taking SSRIs significantly raises the risk of strokes and death in women after menopause (http://www.naturalnews.com/027841_S...).
For more information:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/doi/10.1503/...
http://www.naturalnews.com/028943_antidepressants_miscarriage.html
Monday, June 07, 2010 by: S. L. Baker, features writer
(NaturalNews) Back in 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that exposure to the antidepressant paroxetine (sold as Paxil, Paxil CR, and Pexeva) in the first trimester of pregnancy might increase the risk for birth defects, especially heart problems. Did this halt the widespread prescribing of paroxetine and other antidepressants for pregnant women? Unfortunately, the answer is no.
In fact, background information in a just published study in CMAJ (the Canadian Medical Association Journal) notes the drugs are frequently used in pregnancy. Almost 4 percent of pregnant women take them at some point during the first trimester -- and the result can be tragic. The new research concludes expectant moms taking antidepressants have an astounding 68 percent increase in the overall risk of miscarriage.
Most previous studies on the use of these medications in pregnancy have been small and haven't looked as miscarriages as a main outcome. But this large study by researchers from the University of Montreal and the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU Ste-Justine) evaluated the association between antidepressant use in pregnancy in detail -- analyzing classes, types and doses of the drugs and the risk of miscarriage.
In all, the scientists investigated data on 5124 women in Quebec from a large population-based cohort of pregnant women who had miscarried by 20 weeks of gestation. Then they compared their findings to a large sample of women from the same registry who carried their babies full term. Of the women who lost their babies, 284 had taken antidepressants during pregnancy.
All the popular SSRI drugs were linked to miscarriage risk
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), especially paroxetine, were associated with the increased risk of miscarriage. Venlafaxine (sold under the brand names Effexor, Alventa, Argofan, and Trevilor), which is the sixth most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the U.S., belongs to another slightly different class of SSRIs called arylalkanolamine serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and, like paroxetine, it was also especially likely to cause miscarriages. In addition, higher daily doses of antidepressants and a combination of different drugs raised the risk substantially.
"These results, which suggest an overall class effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are highly robust given the large number of users studied," Dr. Anick Berard of the University of Montreal and the Director of the Research Unit on Medications and Pregnancy at CHU Ste-Justine wrote in the article.
Overall, an astounding number of Americans, some 27 million, now take SSRIs. However, as NaturalNews has previously reported, new dangers from these drugs continue to be uncovered. For example, last December Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers announced their findings that taking SSRIs significantly raises the risk of strokes and death in women after menopause (http://www.naturalnews.com/027841_S...).
For more information:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/doi/10.1503/...
http://www.naturalnews.com/028943_antidepressants_miscarriage.html
Sunday, June 6, 2010
National Reunification Day -A Word NH DCYF Doesn't Know The Meaning Of!
National Reunification Day
This year, a number of national organizations are working together to organize the first National Reunification Day on June 19, 2010. The goal of National Reunification Day is to celebrate families and communities coming together and to raise awareness about the importance of family reunification to children in foster care. While June 19, 2010 is the official day, a number of jurisdictions are celebrating on different days and weeks. The important part of this initiative is to celebrate successful reunifications whenever it works for you. Please click here for more information.
Register Your National Reunification Day Celebration
Please register your National Reunification Day celebration so that we can keep track of what is going on across the country.
To register your event, please complete the form and email it to Elizabeth Thornton.
Reunification Celebrations
Below is a brief description about what a few jurisdictions are doing to celebrate reunification. Some jurisdictions have been celebrating reunifications for over a decade and some are just starting.
California
Connecticut
Florida
Illinois
Iowa
Nevada
Pennsylvania
For contact information for people planning events around the country, please click here.
Contact Elizabeth Thornton to tell us about your reunification celebration.
Tools for Planning Your Reunification Day Celebration
Tools for Planning Your Reunification Day Celebration
Sample Planning Timeline
National Reunification Day Logo
Sample Reunification Day Proclamation
Sample Certificate of Reunification
Sample Communication Plan and Communication Timeline
Tips for Media Outreach
Sample Reunification Day Key Messages
Sample Media Advisory
Guideline for Identifying Speakers
Guideline for Creating Speaker Biographies
For more tools and information about contact with local media, please contact Elizabeth Thornton. We have not included sample press releases and op-ed pieces because journalists and editorial page editors prefer locally written materials.
Research and Information about Reunification
Facts and Myths About Reunification (Information to Come)
Research Related to Visitation and Reunification
Research Related to Father Involvement and Reunification
Research Related to Attachment and Removal (Information to Come)
http://new.abanet.org/child/Pages/nationalreunificationday.aspx
This year, a number of national organizations are working together to organize the first National Reunification Day on June 19, 2010. The goal of National Reunification Day is to celebrate families and communities coming together and to raise awareness about the importance of family reunification to children in foster care. While June 19, 2010 is the official day, a number of jurisdictions are celebrating on different days and weeks. The important part of this initiative is to celebrate successful reunifications whenever it works for you. Please click here for more information.
Register Your National Reunification Day Celebration
Please register your National Reunification Day celebration so that we can keep track of what is going on across the country.
To register your event, please complete the form and email it to Elizabeth Thornton.
Reunification Celebrations
Below is a brief description about what a few jurisdictions are doing to celebrate reunification. Some jurisdictions have been celebrating reunifications for over a decade and some are just starting.
California
Connecticut
Florida
Illinois
Iowa
Nevada
Pennsylvania
For contact information for people planning events around the country, please click here.
Contact Elizabeth Thornton to tell us about your reunification celebration.
Tools for Planning Your Reunification Day Celebration
Tools for Planning Your Reunification Day Celebration
Sample Planning Timeline
National Reunification Day Logo
Sample Reunification Day Proclamation
Sample Certificate of Reunification
Sample Communication Plan and Communication Timeline
Tips for Media Outreach
Sample Reunification Day Key Messages
Sample Media Advisory
Guideline for Identifying Speakers
Guideline for Creating Speaker Biographies
For more tools and information about contact with local media, please contact Elizabeth Thornton. We have not included sample press releases and op-ed pieces because journalists and editorial page editors prefer locally written materials.
Research and Information about Reunification
Facts and Myths About Reunification (Information to Come)
Research Related to Visitation and Reunification
Research Related to Father Involvement and Reunification
Research Related to Attachment and Removal (Information to Come)
http://new.abanet.org/child/Pages/nationalreunificationday.aspx
Parents Day Weekend 2010 JULY 23-25 in D.C.
http://www.flds
By Bill Medvecky
In Loving Memory of
Senator Nancy Schaefer
STOP SELLING AMERICAS’ CHILDREN!
STOP CHILD ABUSE!
STOP JUDICIAL ABUSE!
STOP PARENTAL ALIENATION!
STOP WASTING TAX MONEY!
ParentsDay
Weekend 2010
JULY 23-25 in D.C.
By Bill Medvecky
In Loving Memory of
Senator Nancy Schaefer
STOP SELLING AMERICAS’ CHILDREN!
STOP CHILD ABUSE!
STOP JUDICIAL ABUSE!
STOP PARENTAL ALIENATION!
STOP WASTING TAX MONEY!
ParentsDay
Weekend 2010
JULY 23-25 in D.C.
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