Tag Archive for 'public policy'

US ED resource on restraint and seclusion

Published on 15 May 2012 in Administration, Advocacy, Behavior management, Families, News, Policy, The press and Treatment. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

The US Department of Education (ED) published Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document today. After the extensive discussions the last few years about abuses of management procedures (see , especially those used with children and youths with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, ED contracted with an agency to create this document that provides guidelines for the appropriate use of restraints and seclusion.

The foundation of any discussion about the use of restraint and seclusion is that every effort should be made to structure environments and provide supports so that restraint and seclusion are unnecessary. As many reports have documented, the use of restraint and seclusion can, in some cases, have very serious consequences, including, most tragically, death. There is no evidence that using restraint or seclusion is effective in reducing the occurrence of the problem behaviors that frequently precipitate the use of such techniques.

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Virginia mental health needs

Published on 22 January 2012 in Advocacy, Families, Mental health, Musings, News, Policy and The press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

In a statement entitled “A proposal that would assist troubled youths in Virginia” the Washington Post editorial board lent its support to efforts to fund mental health services for children and youth. The editorial, published 11 January 2012, recounted a history of rueful cost cutting and encouraging advocacy in my commonwealth.

A YEAR AGO, Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) proposed slashing millions of dollars from the state’s already badly fragmented and underfunded programs for at-risk children and teenagers. The cuts targeted funding for specially trained foster families and other services for children, including some who posed a danger of violence to themselves and others. The cuts were rejected, and funding restored, thanks to a bipartisan group of lawmakers responding to an outcry from advocacy groups and local governments, which would have borne the brunt of the governor’s proposal. In the end, the debate turned a useful spotlight on a critical hole in the state’s social services safety net.

The Post editorial team explained that the current budget does not contain such cost-cutting measures, but that difficulties for mental health services persist because of other problems (e.g., local government fiscal shortages). In the end, the need for services is great and, as the editorial shows, the need for serious discussion about funding of them is clear. Read the full editorial on the Post’s Web site.

If you’re in Virginia and you can make it to Richmond, join Voices for Virginia’s Campaign for Children’s Mental Health for “Advocacy Day at the General Assembly” Thursday 26 January 2012. If you live somewhere else, scout about for ways you can help support mental health services in your local or regional government.

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Virginia campaign promotes action agenda

Published on 22 June 2011 in Families, Mental health, News and The press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

The Campaign for Children’s Mental Health outlined an agenda for improving mental health policy for children and youths in the US commonwealth of Virginia on 14 June 2011. The “Action Agenda” expresses the need for Govenor Bob McDonnell to exert leadership in three policy areas so that the problems of 100,000 minors with mental health issues are addressed:

  • Children with mental health disorders and their families need to have a full array of high quality treatment and support services in their own communities, no matter where in Virginia they reside.
  • Children with serious mental health disorders who require public sector services need to have access to the same array of services regardless of payment source or custody status in order to maximize the impact of and curb inappropriate use of public dollars in the treatment system.
  • Children with mental health disorders and their families should be recognized and included as experts on their own and their children’s treatment needs.

Visit the 1 in 5 Website (see it over in the sidebar, too) and download the full statement of the Action Agenda.

I am very glad to have and I hope others will join me in signing a petition to support this effort. Isn’t it great to have this effort right here in Virginia? Do you have similar efforts in the area where you live?

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Altering Autism insurance coverage legislation in VA

Published on 30 March 2011 in Autism, Families, News, Policy, The press and Treatment. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Writing in the Richmond Times Dispatch, Olympia Meola reported on potential changes in support for insurance coverage for therapy for children with Autism in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the US. Under the headline “McDonnell will try to amend autism bill,” Ms. Meola described developments in Governor Robert “Bob” McDonnell’s plans for altering recent legislation requiring insurance payments for treatment.

Gov. Bob McDonnell is expected today to reveal proposed changes to a bill requiring insurance coverage of autism treatments, and some could be substantial alterations to what the General Assembly passed.

Conversations were continuing as of Tuesday between the governor’s office, lawmakers and interested parties about possible changes to a measure that would require coverage of autistic children ages 2 to 6.

Advocates of the bill said some significant tweaks could be “deal breakers.”

The amendments floated in the past week range in scope, from technical to more substantial, including changes in who could supervise treatment and when the law would take effect, according to those familiar with the proposals.

Link to Ms. Meola’s story.

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Autism legislation in Virginia

Published on 6 February 2011 in Autism, Families, News, Policy and The press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Under the headline “Autism legislation advances in Virginia” in the Washington Post Fredrick Kunkle and Anita Kumar reported about the slow-but-significant progress that parents in the US state of Virginia have made in advancing toward mandating coverage of treatment for Autism by insurance companies. That the advances run counter to many conservative US legislators’ opposition to health policies that mandate coverage for those in need of services and that it is occuring in an election year in Virginia, a state that usually tilts toward the conservative, makes the analysis especially intriguing.

In the beginning, several Northern Virginia families whose children have autism thought that their wrenching stories would be enough to get some help from their representatives in the General Assembly.
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NAS presses MH pubs

Published on 25 January 2011 in Bookshelf, Mental health, News, Policy and The press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Noting recent news in the US, the National Academy of Sciences has taken the opportunity to promote some of its publications related to mental health. Among these is one that is relevant to those concerned about EBD among children and youths, a 2009 report by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council that I’ve mentioned previously, Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People. Here’s the full release:

Mental Health Care Gains Attention in Wake of Tucson Shooting

By Christine Stencel

January 21, 2011 – The attack on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her audience in Tucson, Ariz., has touched off a national discussion about the capabilities of the country’s mental health system. The majority of respondents to a USA Today-Gallup Poll survey said failure of the mental health system bears “a great deal” of the blame for the Tucson shooting. Two reports from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council provide guidance on improving mental health care in the United States.

Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People, a 2009 report by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, calls for national leadership in the prevention of these disorders and promotion of young people’s mental health. Many preventive programs and strategies have been shown to be effective, the report notes, but the country lacks priorities and public goals for these efforts. The report outlines steps that federal and state agencies, community groups, and parents can take to intervene when symptoms arise and to promote mental health.

Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions, an earlier report from the Institute of Medicine, underscored the need for greater parity for care of mental conditions and substance abuse in the nation’s health care system. The separation of mental health from other forms of medical care undermines the overall quality of Americans’ well-being, it says. The report outlines an agenda to capitalize on recent advances in diagnosing and treating these conditions and better integrate them into the health care delivery system.

Link to the NAS Web site for appropriate links to the documents.

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More props for Mr. Artest

Published on 24 December 2010 in Mental health, Musings, News and The press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Professional basketball player Ron Artest, who admits that he experienced difficulties as a youth and an adult, has been promoting mental health awareness over the past few years. Recently I posted a note acknowledging some of his efforts, and today I call attention to another of them. At the release of the accompanying public service announcement 21 December 2010 in support of mental health awareness, Mr. Artest not only spoke in support of those efforts, but he also donated $50,000 to local clinics in the Los Angeles (CA, US) area.

In a blog post for the Los Angeles Times entitled “Ron Artest debuts his PSA on mental health awareness,” Mark Medina reported about the press conference and the production of the PSA. If you’re a Lakers fan, as am I, you’ll find a couple of tidbits of interest there. But, there are also noteworthy nuggets about mental health advocacy and even about the entertainment industry in Mr Medina’s report, too. He has an audio interview with Gary Foster, who produced the video (as well as the noted movie “The Soloist,” also about mental health), and additional notes about Mr. Artest’s efforts.

According to Mr. Medina, on Christmas Day, another of Mr. Artest’s fund- and awareness-raising efforts on behalf of mental health will be in the spotlight. The ring that Mr. Artest received as a member of the world championship Los Angeles Lakers team of 2010 will be awarded to the winner of a raffle. That raffle has reportedly raised over $500,000 US. (I bought my raffle tickets, of course.)

As a fan of the Lakers for 50 years, I’m glad Mr. Artest is playing for my team, but I’m especially happy to have him on the mental-health advocacy team. My hat’s off to you, Mr. Artest.

Read all of Mr. Medina’s entry, Ron Artest debuts his PSA on mental health awareness. Check my earlier post from 11 November 2010.

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Mental Health Initiative

Published on 9 November 2010 in Autism, Depression, Families, Musings, News, Policy, Schizophrenia and Treatment. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Sometimes folks lose sight of the fact that disability and mental health issues are international in scope. They’re not confined just to one’s own neighborhood, locality, geopolitical area, etc. Fortunately, there are groups that transcend borders (you can probably think of the names of some well-know organizations that function internationally), and there are some in EBD, too. The Open Society Mental Health Initiative is an example:

The OSI Public Health Program’s Mental Health Initiative aims to ensure that people with mental disabilities (mental health problems and/or intellectual disabilities) are able to live as equal citizens in the community and to participate in society with full respect for their human rights. The Mental Health Initiative focuses on ending the unjustified and inappropriate institutionalization of people with mental disabilities by advocating for the closure of institutions and the development of community-based alternatives. The initiative works in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (read more about the history of mental health policies in this region).

The OSI initiative is more than a one-trick pony. It’s about a lot of things, and its foci include children with Autism, mental health issues, and more. I encourage readers to check the site. Here is a link to the OSI MHI home page.

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Props for Ron Artest

Published on 8 November 2010 in Bullying, News, Policy and The press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Some readers of EBD Blog might know that I follow basketball. That gives me a unique opportunity to mix my interest in hoops with my concern about EBD in this post. I have the chance to acknowledge efforts by Ron Artest, a professional basketball player, to support mental health initiatives. My hat’s off to Mr. Artest for using his celebrity in this helpful manner.

Let me provide a little detail. In one of these efforts, Mr. Artest announced plans to use the ring he received as a member of Los Angeles Lakers when they won the 2010 National Basketball Association championship in a fund-raising raffle for mental health work. Interested readers can learn how to buy raffle tickets here. But that’s only one activity. To read about them all, follow this link. In fact, if one really wants to learn how substantial Mr. Artest’s impact has been, wade through the results of this Google search showing the press coverage of his efforts.

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Open Society Institute Mental Health Initiative

Published on 2 September 2010 in Autism and News. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Sometimes folks lose sight of the fact that disability and mental health issues are international in scope. They’re not confined just to one’s own neighborhood, locality, geopolitical area, etc. Fortunately, there are groups that transcend borders (you can probably think of the names of some well-know organizations that function internationally), and there are some in EBD, too. The Open Society Mental Health Initiative is an example:

The OSI Public Health Program’s Mental Health Initiative aims to ensure that people with mental disabilities (mental health problems and/or intellectual disabilities) are able to live as equal citizens in the community and to participate in society with full respect for their human rights. The Mental Health Initiative focuses on ending the unjustified and inappropriate institutionalization of people with mental disabilities by advocating for the closure of institutions and the development of community-based alternatives. The initiative works in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (read more about the history of mental health policies in this region).

The OSI initiative is more than a one-trick pony. It’s about a lot of things, and its foci include children with Autism, mental health issues, and more. I encourage readers to check the site. Here is a link to the OSI MHI home page.

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Carter talks sense

Published on 6 April 2010 in Autism, Families, Musings, News and Policy. 6 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

I rarely point to posts on the Huffington Posts, but an entry by Liane Kupferberg Carter entitled “Autism: A time for civility” deserves recognition. Ms. Carter, the mother of a child with Autism, notes how factionation (if I may create than word) among people with interests in Autism has created divides not needed. The basic notion is that in contemporary diagnoses, Autism reflects a diverse spectrum of disorders. Educators, parents, policy-makers, and others need to accept the diversity and not fight among ourselves. Ms. Carter makes this point well. I encourage readers to read her post.

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US legislator about seclusion and restraint

Published on 4 February 2010 in Administration, News, Policy and The press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

As the US House of Representatives prepares to make statements about and amend HR 4247, Representative Joe Courtney (CN, US) posted a statement on the blog maintained by the House committee that will debate the legislation. The post, “Rep. Joe Courtney: Congress Must Make Schools Safe Havens for Children,” touts Representative Courtney’s perspective on the legislation. There’s lots more about the proposed legislation via that blog and related resources. Take a look.

Also, read the actual proposed legislation, “Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act” and the position statements by the Council for Children with Behavior Disorders about seclusion and restraint and “Position Summary on Restraint and Seclusion.”

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