Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Health and Welfare experts urge funding for drug, mental health programs (Idaho)   Idaho Statesman story - "Inadequate programs are hurting Idaho's ability to help abused and neglected children, and the one thing it may take to help resolve the problem is the one thing the state does not have in abundance: money. Health and Welfare leaders, judges, law enforcement and corrections officials urged legislative budget writers Monday to concentrate resources on drug and mental health programs — areas seemingly isolated from child abuse prevention but, in reality, absolutely integral. Child abuse cases tend to be tied to drug use, and drug use often accompanies mental illness, the group told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee."