White House Press Conference - TeenScreen

[Guest guest]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060206-8.html

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

February 6, 2006

Press Briefing on the President's Fiscal Year '07 Budget and Low-Income Programs

Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 66

PARTICIPANTS

Jim Towey, Director, Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Claude , Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy

MR. ALLEN: Good afternoon. I'm Claude , Domestic Policy Advisor to the

President.

DIRECTOR TOWEY: And I'm Jim Towey, Director of the Office of Faith-based and

Community Initiatives.

[snip]

Q In terms of the mental health sector, there are a bunch of conservative groups

who argue mental health guides are medicalizing character, and in such light

they feel that under this administration the mental health industry has been

getting money for TeenScreen and for converting character flaws or behavior

decisions into medical problems. They cite the new Freedom Commission, the

SAMHSA support for TeenScreen and various other things.

Is there anything in this budget that would suggest you are moving to support

character and community-based efforts on character and behavior, rather than the

mental health industry?

MR. ALLEN: I would say probably the one that stands out to me most directly

where we're focusing on helping young people avoid risk behaviors would be the

Helping America's Youth Initiative, which is targeted at at-risk youth who are

at risk of getting involved with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex and violence,

particularly with the focus on young boys and their getting involved with gang

activity.

I believe it's $150 million -- $50 million over three years, $50 million -- a

three-year initiative, $50 million that really is working to identify

science-based, research-based, evidence-based ways of working with young men and

women, boys and girls, to help them navigate life successfully by equipping them

with skills to address these risk behaviors.

Q But $50 million versus tens of billions a year on mental health is not a lot

of -- it's not a big comparison.

MR. ALLEN: Again, the substance is in the SAMHSA area. SAMHSA also is focused on

risk avoidance programs, and not simply risk reduction programs. And the risk

avoidance programs actually focus on giving kids assets that we know, based on

science, work effectively -- that is connectedness to parents, connectedness to

schools, and connectedness to communities. And so Helping America's Youth is

actually an umbrella that brings in and helps focus what SAMHSA is spending its

money on, in a way that will get results.

And so just as we're focused in every other area on outcomes and results, with

young people we're also focused on those programs that work to help them be

equipped so that they can actually make choices that are healthy and good

choices for them.

Q Is there any time you cut money for any of the groups or activities or

approaches that you feel are less effective?

MR. ALLEN: In the SAMHSA area, we would have to -- I would defer to the budget

folks on it because I can't think of --

Q In the broader area. Can you cite any cuts you made because of competition,

because one approach is better than another?

MR. ALLEN: Well, I can tell you that in the '07 budget we propose 141 programs

that were deemed ineffective or otherwise not demonstrating results. And so that

whole list you can find something in there. I don't have the list of the 141;

maybe we can just get that for you.

+++

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(posted as a requirement under legal and contractual requirements)

[Guest guest]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060206-8.html

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

February 6, 2006

Press Briefing on the President's Fiscal Year '07 Budget and Low-Income Programs

Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 66

PARTICIPANTS

Jim Towey, Director, Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Claude , Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy

MR. ALLEN: Good afternoon. I'm Claude , Domestic Policy Advisor to the

President.

DIRECTOR TOWEY: And I'm Jim Towey, Director of the Office of Faith-based and

Community Initiatives.

[snip]

Q In terms of the mental health sector, there are a bunch of conservative groups

who argue mental health guides are medicalizing character, and in such light

they feel that under this administration the mental health industry has been

getting money for TeenScreen and for converting character flaws or behavior

decisions into medical problems. They cite the new Freedom Commission, the

SAMHSA support for TeenScreen and various other things.

Is there anything in this budget that would suggest you are moving to support

character and community-based efforts on character and behavior, rather than the

mental health industry?

MR. ALLEN: I would say probably the one that stands out to me most directly

where we're focusing on helping young people avoid risk behaviors would be the

Helping America's Youth Initiative, which is targeted at at-risk youth who are

at risk of getting involved with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex and violence,

particularly with the focus on young boys and their getting involved with gang

activity.

I believe it's $150 million -- $50 million over three years, $50 million -- a

three-year initiative, $50 million that really is working to identify

science-based, research-based, evidence-based ways of working with young men and

women, boys and girls, to help them navigate life successfully by equipping them

with skills to address these risk behaviors.

Q But $50 million versus tens of billions a year on mental health is not a lot

of -- it's not a big comparison.

MR. ALLEN: Again, the substance is in the SAMHSA area. SAMHSA also is focused on

risk avoidance programs, and not simply risk reduction programs. And the risk

avoidance programs actually focus on giving kids assets that we know, based on

science, work effectively -- that is connectedness to parents, connectedness to

schools, and connectedness to communities. And so Helping America's Youth is

actually an umbrella that brings in and helps focus what SAMHSA is spending its

money on, in a way that will get results.

And so just as we're focused in every other area on outcomes and results, with

young people we're also focused on those programs that work to help them be

equipped so that they can actually make choices that are healthy and good

choices for them.

Q Is there any time you cut money for any of the groups or activities or

approaches that you feel are less effective?

MR. ALLEN: In the SAMHSA area, we would have to -- I would defer to the budget

folks on it because I can't think of --

Q In the broader area. Can you cite any cuts you made because of competition,

because one approach is better than another?

MR. ALLEN: Well, I can tell you that in the '07 budget we propose 141 programs

that were deemed ineffective or otherwise not demonstrating results. And so that

whole list you can find something in there. I don't have the list of the 141;

maybe we can just get that for you.

+++

If you would rather not receive the latest news via this e-mail line, please

send a message to

records@... with " UNSUBSCRIBE ME " in the subject line.

(posted as a requirement under legal and contractual requirements)

[Guest guest]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060206-8.html

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

February 6, 2006

Press Briefing on the President's Fiscal Year '07 Budget and Low-Income Programs

Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 66

PARTICIPANTS

Jim Towey, Director, Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Claude , Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy

MR. ALLEN: Good afternoon. I'm Claude , Domestic Policy Advisor to the

President.

DIRECTOR TOWEY: And I'm Jim Towey, Director of the Office of Faith-based and

Community Initiatives.

[snip]

Q In terms of the mental health sector, there are a bunch of conservative groups

who argue mental health guides are medicalizing character, and in such light

they feel that under this administration the mental health industry has been

getting money for TeenScreen and for converting character flaws or behavior

decisions into medical problems. They cite the new Freedom Commission, the

SAMHSA support for TeenScreen and various other things.

Is there anything in this budget that would suggest you are moving to support

character and community-based efforts on character and behavior, rather than the

mental health industry?

MR. ALLEN: I would say probably the one that stands out to me most directly

where we're focusing on helping young people avoid risk behaviors would be the

Helping America's Youth Initiative, which is targeted at at-risk youth who are

at risk of getting involved with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex and violence,

particularly with the focus on young boys and their getting involved with gang

activity.

I believe it's $150 million -- $50 million over three years, $50 million -- a

three-year initiative, $50 million that really is working to identify

science-based, research-based, evidence-based ways of working with young men and

women, boys and girls, to help them navigate life successfully by equipping them

with skills to address these risk behaviors.

Q But $50 million versus tens of billions a year on mental health is not a lot

of -- it's not a big comparison.

MR. ALLEN: Again, the substance is in the SAMHSA area. SAMHSA also is focused on

risk avoidance programs, and not simply risk reduction programs. And the risk

avoidance programs actually focus on giving kids assets that we know, based on

science, work effectively -- that is connectedness to parents, connectedness to

schools, and connectedness to communities. And so Helping America's Youth is

actually an umbrella that brings in and helps focus what SAMHSA is spending its

money on, in a way that will get results.

And so just as we're focused in every other area on outcomes and results, with

young people we're also focused on those programs that work to help them be

equipped so that they can actually make choices that are healthy and good

choices for them.

Q Is there any time you cut money for any of the groups or activities or

approaches that you feel are less effective?

MR. ALLEN: In the SAMHSA area, we would have to -- I would defer to the budget

folks on it because I can't think of --

Q In the broader area. Can you cite any cuts you made because of competition,

because one approach is better than another?

MR. ALLEN: Well, I can tell you that in the '07 budget we propose 141 programs

that were deemed ineffective or otherwise not demonstrating results. And so that

whole list you can find something in there. I don't have the list of the 141;

maybe we can just get that for you.

+++

If you would rather not receive the latest news via this e-mail line, please

send a message to

records@... with " UNSUBSCRIBE ME " in the subject line.

(posted as a requirement under legal and contractual requirements)

[Guest guest]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060206-8.html

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

February 6, 2006

Press Briefing on the President's Fiscal Year '07 Budget and Low-Income Programs

Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 66

PARTICIPANTS

Jim Towey, Director, Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Claude , Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy

MR. ALLEN: Good afternoon. I'm Claude , Domestic Policy Advisor to the

President.

DIRECTOR TOWEY: And I'm Jim Towey, Director of the Office of Faith-based and

Community Initiatives.

[snip]

Q In terms of the mental health sector, there are a bunch of conservative groups

who argue mental health guides are medicalizing character, and in such light

they feel that under this administration the mental health industry has been

getting money for TeenScreen and for converting character flaws or behavior

decisions into medical problems. They cite the new Freedom Commission, the

SAMHSA support for TeenScreen and various other things.

Is there anything in this budget that would suggest you are moving to support

character and community-based efforts on character and behavior, rather than the

mental health industry?

MR. ALLEN: I would say probably the one that stands out to me most directly

where we're focusing on helping young people avoid risk behaviors would be the

Helping America's Youth Initiative, which is targeted at at-risk youth who are

at risk of getting involved with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex and violence,

particularly with the focus on young boys and their getting involved with gang

activity.

I believe it's $150 million -- $50 million over three years, $50 million -- a

three-year initiative, $50 million that really is working to identify

science-based, research-based, evidence-based ways of working with young men and

women, boys and girls, to help them navigate life successfully by equipping them

with skills to address these risk behaviors.

Q But $50 million versus tens of billions a year on mental health is not a lot

of -- it's not a big comparison.

MR. ALLEN: Again, the substance is in the SAMHSA area. SAMHSA also is focused on

risk avoidance programs, and not simply risk reduction programs. And the risk

avoidance programs actually focus on giving kids assets that we know, based on

science, work effectively -- that is connectedness to parents, connectedness to

schools, and connectedness to communities. And so Helping America's Youth is

actually an umbrella that brings in and helps focus what SAMHSA is spending its

money on, in a way that will get results.

And so just as we're focused in every other area on outcomes and results, with

young people we're also focused on those programs that work to help them be

equipped so that they can actually make choices that are healthy and good

choices for them.

Q Is there any time you cut money for any of the groups or activities or

approaches that you feel are less effective?

MR. ALLEN: In the SAMHSA area, we would have to -- I would defer to the budget

folks on it because I can't think of --

Q In the broader area. Can you cite any cuts you made because of competition,

because one approach is better than another?

MR. ALLEN: Well, I can tell you that in the '07 budget we propose 141 programs

that were deemed ineffective or otherwise not demonstrating results. And so that

whole list you can find something in there. I don't have the list of the 141;

maybe we can just get that for you.

+++

If you would rather not receive the latest news via this e-mail line, please

send a message to

records@... with " UNSUBSCRIBE ME " in the subject line.

(posted as a requirement under legal and contractual requirements)