Back to the Legislature: Making it Better

I meant to listen to the WBUR series, I really did. I will do so this weekend, and pour forth a spate of commentary. In the meantime, the Campaign does have some good ideas going forward:

As the 2011-2012 legislative session commences, the Children’s Mental Health Campaign (CMHC) continues advocating to improve the system of care for children with mental illness and their families. Please click HERE today to contact your State Senator and State Representative and ask them to sign-on as co-sponsors of CMHC’s 2011-2012 legislative session priorities:

Coordination of Children’s Mental Health Care

Lead Sponsors: Senator Steven A. Tolman and Representative Ruth B. Balser

This provision requires commercial insurance companies to reimburse licensed children’s mental health clinicians for time spent in consultation with families, teachers, pediatricians, day-care providers and other adults who regularly interact with the child in order to make a diagnosis or to formulate or implement a treatment plan.

Families and Children Engaged in Services (FACES)

Lead Sponsors: Senator Karen E. Spilka and Representative Paul J. Donato

The Child in Need of Services (CHINS) system is intended to provide assistance to children and families when the child is habitually truant, runs away from home or refuses to obey the lawful and reasonable rules of their parents or their school. This provision transforms the current juvenile justice based system in to one which is community based.

Proportional Payments of the MA Child Psychiatric Access Project

Lead Sponsors: Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan and Representative Ruth B. Balser

The MA Child Psychiatric Access Project (MCPAP) provides primary care providers, who are on the front lines in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, access to mental health consultations with a team comprised of child psychiatrists, psychologists and/or social workers. This provision requires commercial insurers to contribute to the funding of this program at a rate equal to the participation of their membership.

For more information about these bills please visit the CMHC's legislative priorities page at www.childrensmentalhealthcampaign.org/legislation.

We need your help turning these important bills into laws. Thank you for your continued support and advocacy on behalf of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable children!

Thank you,

Erin G. Bradley

CMHC Coordinator