News Briefs

New online journal focuses on corrections: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has announced a new electronic publication, Corrections & Mental Health, which will explore the intersection of criminal justice and mental health systems. In particular, it will examine how administrators, advocates, providers, consumers, policy makers, prisoners, researchers, and others view and respond to mental health matters as they affect those working in the fields of community corrections, courts, mental health organizations, jails, pretrial agencies, and prisons. The publication will cover news events in correctional mental health, as well as practice, operational, management, and implementation issues; implications of research findings; policy concerns and perspectives; and international trends. The first issue is scheduled for November, and readers can view the publication on the NIC Web site at www.nicic.gov/MentalHealthNews . NIC invites submissions from writers in the fields of criminal justice, corrections, and criminology; psychology and psychiatry; social work and counseling; and other disciplines, such as economics, history, and political science. To send a query about a potential article or to share your feedback about the publication, contact Russ Immarigeon, Editor, Corrections & Mental Health, 563 County Route 21, Hillsdale, NY 12529 (e-mail, [email protected]; phone: 518-325-5925).

Kaiser health care reform gateway: The Kaiser Family Foundation has launched an online gateway that provides access to a range of resources on the health reform law. In addition to explanations of the law's basic provisions, Health Reform Source ( healthreform.kff.org ) offers in-depth analyses of policy issues in implementation and quick access to relevant data. The site features the premiere of "Health Reform Hits Main Street," an animated short movie designed to explain the reform law to the American public. Written and produced by the Kaiser Foundation, the animated movie features narration by Cokie Roberts, ABC and NPR news commentator. Another new feature, "The Scan," provides a daily feed of summaries of recent research, government actions, and other developments. Other new elements include a customizable implementation timeline of the law's major provisions viewable by year or topic; a video series of experts answering questions about the law; an interactive U.S. map with pop-up boxes of state-level information related to insurance coverage and the reform law; a subsidy calculator to illustrate premiums, government subsidies, and out-of-pocket costs for people eligible for coverage via state exchanges; and a document finder for quick access to federal regulations and studies related to the health law. Planned features for the coming months include an interactive tool illustrating how reform affects various groups, video profiles portraying experiences of real people and businesses, and a primer on the health reform law.