Children's advocates target law on mental-health care

[HuckleB]

Children's advocates target law on mental-health care

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050105/NEWS10/501050350/1011

"...

Advocates for children say it's wrong that the law forces families to relinquish parental rights in order to get guaranteed, fully funded mental-health treatment. Staff members at the Department of Human Services say one of their top priorities this legislative session is to persuade legislators to change this law.

As it stands now, parents must get a court order declaring that their child is "in need of assistance." This process should be reserved for abused and neglected children, said Human Services Director Kevin Concannon.

Each year, Iowa parents face this decision for 150 to 200 children, most of them teens who have behavior problems, Concannon said. After a year, a judge decides whether the parents should permanently lose rights to their child.

"I personally think that's an awful thing to put parents through," said Rep. Lisa Heddens of Ames. "I'm very passionate on this topic. It would be appropriate if the parents have been abusive or neglectful, but should they have to do this just to access the insurance of Medicaid to get their children mental-health services?"

..."

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Alas, it is this way across much of the nation, and it makes no sense from a justice standpoint, from a psychiatric/psychologic standpoint, from a family systems standpoint, from a rights standpoint, from any standpoint that I can think of.

[pop goes the weasel]

1. you forget

It makes perfect sense from a Compassionate Conservative viewpoint. Pass laws making programs available, but then make the hurdles to access the programs so difficult and disruptive that people give up or, even better, don't even try. That way, they can pat themselves on the back for compassion while contenting themselves that they have adequately punished people in need for the sin of being in need.

[Dear Maggie]

2. & what about those forced to take 'behavior modifying' drugs?

I've heard of that, too.

Your child cannot come back to school until he/she is taking this medication

[HuckleB]

3. If school administrators say that, it's time to get a lawyer.

http://www.oradvocacy.org/

[Dear Maggie]

4. OK, I'll pass it on

to the mom who shared that was what she was told