Heritage Behavioral Services Blog

Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams Trent-Adams received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hampton University, a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She became a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2014.  Trent-Adams has held various positions in HHS, working to improve access to care for poor and underserved communities. As a clinician and administrator, she has had a direct impact on building systems of care to improve public health for marginalized populations domestically and internationally.

Wandering is Common in Disability Population  By utilizing various behavioral interventions, researchers say elopement can be dramatically reduced and possibly eliminated. Many kids with developmental disabilities have a tendency to wander away from safe places — with potentially tragic consequences — but a new study suggests that it’s possible to mitigate such behavior. Learn more...

More than 1 in 7 American children have a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but prevalence is far from steady across the country.  Factors including poor parent mental health, difficulty living on the family’s income, child care issues and the lack of a medical home were all strongly associated with increased risk for developmental problems. Learn more....

Mental illness in Developmental Disability Intellectual (developmental) disability affects approximately 1 percent to 3 percent of the population in developed countries. Psychopathology (behavioral or mental disorder) with developmental disability is a major cause of failure of community residential placement, reduced occupational opportunity in the post-school period, and leads to major restrictions in participation in recreational and educational programs. Researchers discover adolescents and children presenting developmental disabilities are at high risk for behavioral or mental disorders. Learn more.....

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is a rare, inherited disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT). LNS is an X-linked recessive disease-- the gene is carried by the mother and passed on to her son.  Symptoms include severe gout, poor muscle control, and moderate intellectual disability , which appear in the first year of life.  A striking feature of LNS is self-mutilating behaviors learn more.....

Price Williams FaceTimes with Lady Gaga The prince said for too long it has been taboo or weak to talk about personal issues. And he warns that while the traditional stiff upper lip has its place, it should not be at the expense of mental wellbeing. continue reading.....

A girl and a Doll Two-year-old Sophia was told she could pick out a “special prize” — anything she wants — after she successfully completed potty training. S he picked [the doll] up and saw that she was a doctor it was game over. She got very excited. continue reading....