Bill Text: NJ AR153 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges DCF in consultation with DHS to apply for federal grant for expansion of mental health services for children and their families.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [AR153 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR153-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CONNIE WAGNER
District 38 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman CELESTE M. RILEY
District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Urges DCF in consultation with DHS to apply for federal grant for expansion of mental health services for children and their families.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Department of Children and Families, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to apply for a federal grant for expansion of mental health services for children and their families.
Whereas, The majority of mental disorders emerge during childhood and adolescence, and the recently published National Co-morbidity Survey Replication-Adolescent Supplement reveals that, for adolescents 13 to 18 years of age, the overall prevalence of mental disorders with severe impairment or distress is 22%; and
Whereas, The median age of onset for anxiety disorders is six years of age, and for behavior disorders, mood disorders, and substance abuse disorders, the median ages of onset are 11, 13, and 15 years of age, respectively; and
Whereas, In 2005, 16% of children from four to 17 years of age had parents who had spoken to health care or education professionals about their child's emotional or behavioral difficulties during the previous 12-month period; and
Whereas, Approximately 70% of children and adolescents who need mental health treatment do not receive such treatment, and of those who do receive the treatment, the vast majority receive treatment from their primary care physicians; only one in five children utilizes mental health specialty services; and
Whereas, There has been a dramatic increase in the number of physician visits in which psychotropic medication is mentioned, and the majority of child psychotropic medical visits, about 64%, were conducted by non-psychiatrist primary care physicians, which results in an increasing number of children and adolescents being treated with psychotropic medication without input from a mental health care specialist; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, there are about 10.5 child psychiatrists for every 100,000 children; it is not uncommon for a wait time of six to eight weeks for a child psychiatry appointment and, in community mental health centers, the wait time for a first appointment can be at least three months; and
Whereas, Federal grants are available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the United States Department of Health and Human Services for Planning Grants for Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families (System of Care Expansion Planning Grants), and the purpose of these grants is to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for improving and expanding services provided by systems of care for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances, and their families; and
Whereas, The SAMHSA grant would be an important resource that New Jersey could utilize to support a pilot program for integrating collaborative care between primary care physicians and mental health care specialists, in order to assess, diagnose and treat mental and behavior disorders in children and adolescents, and their families; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the Department of Children and Families, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to apply to the Center for Mental Health Services in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a Planning Grant for Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families (System of Care Expansion Planning Grant) before the application deadline of June 2, 2011.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor and the Commissioners of Children and Families and Human Services.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution urges the Department of Children and Families, in consultation with the State Department of Human Services, to apply to the Center for Mental Health Services in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a Planning Grant for Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families (System of Care Expansion Planning Grant) before the application deadline of June 2, 2011.
The resolution requires that duly authenticated copies thereof, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk, be transmitted to the Governor and the Commissioners of Children and Families and Human Services.
The SAMHSA grant would be an important resource that New Jersey could utilize to support a pilot program for integrating collaborative care between primary care physicians and mental health care specialists, in order to assess, diagnose and treat mental and behavior disorders in children and adolescents, and their families.
