Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Screening screen for mental illness, addiction (Indiana)   Warrick Publishing story - "Child Protective Services (CPS) case managers will begin screening children at risk for mental health or addiction problems on Jan. 1 under the expansion of a pilot process already underway in nine Indiana counties. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced today that CPS case managers in all 92 counties have been trained to recognize behavioral health and addiction risk factors in youth and are partnering with local mental health agencies to coordinate assessment and treatment services..."  
  

Advocates for children target law on mental-health care (Iowa)    Des Moines Register story - "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..."