Award From JELD-WEN Foundation
Supports Powerful Mental Health Screening Resource For Parents

New Internet Technology Promises to
Involve, Educate, Empower and Guide Parents with Youth At-Risk

May, 8, 2006—Bend, Oregon—Mentor Research Institute today announced the receipt of a grant from the Klamath Falls-based JELD-WEN Foundation to support research, screening and intervention tools for parents with youth at-risk. This grant has been awarded to the Bend Oregon based project:  “Know Your Teen,” which provides StepOne for ParentsÔ, a comprehensive online mental health screening system developed by a team of parents, mental health professionals and computer programmers.

“The JELD-WEN Foundation is pleased to contribute to the important work of the Mentor Research Institute and their work in the Bend area to help parents and their teens.  Mentor’s work will help thousands of families understand that large numbers of youth are really facing dramatic mental health and various adolescent issues that can have catastrophic consequences if not identified and appropriately dealt with,” said Robert Kingzett, Executive Director of the JELD-WEN Foundation.  “The level of meth addictions in our communities is just one indicator of the challenges we face,” he added.

"We are very grateful to the JELD-WEN Foundation for this grant and proud to make StepOne for ParentsÔ available to Central Oregon parents at no charge as part of our Know Your Teen project," said Michael Dunlap, PsyD, who chairs the Board of Mentor Research Institute. “StepOne is truly a ground breaking innovation that was developed in response to U.S. Health Department and Surgeon General’s call for new technologies that can support families in their search for quality mental health care.” There is no other system or approach that comes close to StepOne for ParentsÔ.

This is the first grant by JELD-WEN to support Mentor Research Institute’s Know Your Teen campaign. The campaign is part of Mentor’s fund-raising efforts to support and expand the institution's programs and initiatives, and to expand mental health screening and intervention research activities in the Oregon.

About StepOne for Parents

StepOne for ParentsÔ (StepOne) is a computer program that operates on the web. Parents can go online, complete a questionnaire about their child and immediately generate a comprehensive report that they read, save or print. The entire process is private and it is available 24-7. StepOne is the first comprehensive online screening system designed to help parents identify behavioral, mental and emotional disorders as well as the risk of self-harming, violent and suicidal behavior. Not only can the StepOne help identify problems but it can also provide interim guidance and referrals to qualified professionals and programs.

The importance of StepOne for ParentsÔ is supported by data published by the US Health Department, which concludes that 1 out of 5 children between the age of 11 and 17 have a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder that impairs their school, family or social life. One out of 10 is severely impaired. Less than 20% of “at-risk” children are ever identified or receive help using conventional screening and referral methods. Nationally, 1 out of 5 children will not graduate high school. Nearly 1 out of 16 adolescents will attempt suicide. Mentor Research Institute believes that screening by parents that involves, educates and empowers parents to seek appropriate help can reduce antisocial behavior, chronic depression and anxiety, and substance abuse.

StepOne for ParentsÔ is the first online tool that can help parents respond to behavioral and mental health issues in a comprehensive, timely and private manner. The program can be implemented immediately because it operates entirely on the Internet. "StepOne already provides a service to parents and in the future we plan to provide a service to children and adults." says Michael Conner, a Bend psychologist and member of Mentors’ development team.

There is already interest from other countries that would like to adapt and use this technology. With more research and development the organization plans to expand consumer use on a regional, national, and eventually, a global basis.

About JELD-WEN

The JELD-WEN Foundation, in its 36th year of existence, makes contributions to a number of communities in Oregon.  The Bend, Redmond region with outlying communities is one of the two largest concentrations of JELD-WEN employees in the country.  With JELD-WEN’s two manufacturing facilities in Bend, and the AmeriTitle headquarters and offices in Bend and the surrounding communities, and with Eagle Crest and Brasada resorts in the region, there are peak times of the year, when there are over 1,500 employees in JELD-WEN and JELD-WEN owned companies in the area.

About Mentor Research Institute

Mentor Research Institute is an Oregon 501c3 non-profit research and educational organization with a focus on mental health for youth and families including homelessness, effective intervention, public and professional education.  For further information visit www.StepOneForParents.Org

StepOne for Parents is trademarked by InCrisis, LLC.  All other company and product names may be trademarked by their respective owners.

Mentor Research Institute

Contact Kevin Rea: 541 390-9848
For more information and photos go to:  www.InCrisis.Org/pr
Mentor Research Institute
818 NW 17th Ave. Suite 2
Portland, OR 97209-2327
503 227-2027
501 c 3 Non-Profit
Tax Id# 91-1777183
www.InCrisis.Org
www.MentorResearch.Org

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