Connect the Mental Health Needs of Children with Appropriate Services

What Can Policymakers Do?

• Expand staff training and development. In order to ensure that children are appropriately assessed and treated for social, emotional and behavioral health disorders, it is critical to have well-trained staff.  State policymakers can create specialized projects in colleges and universities to recruit and graduate mental health professionals, including early childhood mental health specialists.  In professional development for agency staff, policymakers should ensure that licensing and certification requirements do not create unnecessary barriers and should work closely with state mental health agencies and associations to identify training and professional development strategies.  The Connecticut Oversight Committee for the Mental Health Transformation Initiative approved funds for a state Mental Health Workforce Transformation Workgroup , which focused on identifying the major workforce-related needs and the necessary resources to meet the workgroup’s recommendations, including establishing programs for younger children that tie in to existing programs for older children, training for pediatric providers to do mental health screenings (allowing for early intervention) and providing training institutes on young children.
  
  
• Address gaps in Medicaid reimbursement. State policymakers should ensure that their state’s most vulnerable children are receiving needed mental health care.  One way to expand mental health care is to allow for state Medicaid plans to reimburse for screenings, assessments, referrals and treatment for children with, or at risk of, social, emotional and behavioral health issues.  Providing reimbursement for at-risk children will allow for identifying and intervening early, with the greatest impact.  Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s Commission for Children and Families issued a state action plan for improving children’s health and well-being, which included a focus on changing Medicaid reimbursement rules to cover the mental health needs of children and their parents. 
  
  
• Provide specialized treatment to children who have experienced child abuse, substance abuse and domestic violence. Children who have experienced maltreatment, substance abuse and domestic violence are at increased risk of social, emotional and behavioral health problems.  State policymakers can ensure that these children receive priority for mental health services, fund services and follow-up for children and families involved with the child welfare system and for families seeking drug and alcohol addiction services and require systems of care to include early childhood and family mental health objectives.  The state of Florida funded the Infant and Young Children’s Mental Health Pilot Site in the Miami-Dade County Juvenile Court to address the mental health needs of infants, toddlers and their families who were at risk of involvement with the child welfare system.
  
  
• Develop statewide, shared, comprehensive resources for services and supports. State policymakers can promote coordination through the creation of a state-wide strategic plan for developing a comprehensive early childhood mental health system.  By coordinating efforts around service provision, states ensure that children and their families are able to get the most thorough and appropriate services.  Indiana’s 2005 Senate Enrolled Act 529 created a task force to develop the Indiana State Children’s Social, Emotional and Behavioral Health Plan .  The state plan focuses on agency coordination, early identification and intervention; funding that assures access and equity; improved processes to deliver appropriate care and to learn about effective practices and public education about resources and reducing stigma surrounding mental health issues.  The Illinois state Children’s Mental Health Act led to the Children’s Mental Health Partnership, a comprehensive, coordinated children's mental health system comprised of prevention, early intervention and treatment for children ages 0-18 years and for youth ages 19-21 transitioning out of key public programs.