Child And Adolescent Psychiatrists Champion Child Healthcare Crisis Relief Act, USA

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Men's health
Article Date: 21 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry applauds Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) for introducing the Child Healthcare Crisis Relief Act in the Senate today. The legislation addresses the national shortage of children's mental health professionals including child and adolescent psychiatrists. The House version of the bill (H.R. 2073) was introduced in late April by Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Forty national organization's have endorsed the legislation.

The Child Healthcare Crisis Relief Act will increase the number of well-trained mental health professionals by creating educational incentives and federal support for children's mental health training programs. It will authorize scholarships, loan repayment programs, training grants, and specialty training program support. The Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME), a committee of the Dept. of Health and Human Services, concluded that by 1990, the U.S. should have over 30,000 child and adolescent psychiatrists. Currently, there are fewer than 8,000.

This bill will help remove one of the main barriers to treatment for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. "The lack of children's mental health specialists is a major impediment to treatment for thousands of children and adolescents with mental illnesses," said Thomas F. Anders, M.D., AACAP President. "The legislation will increase this crucial workforce and would thereby provide better access to care. It needs to be passed this year."

The Federal government has designated 3,543 urban, suburban, and rural localities as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas due to their severe lack of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other professionals to serve children with mental illnesses.

The Surgeon General estimates that over 13.7 million children and adolescents need treatment for mental illnesses but less than 20 percent ever receive it. "Once the window of early intervention closes, the chance of school failure, substance abuse, job and relationship instability, and involvement in the juvenile justice system increases exponentially. Increasing the workforce would improve access to treatment," said Dr. Anders.

Children's mental health professionals covered under the bill include child and adolescent psychiatrists, developmental, behavioral pediatricians, child psychologists, school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors, psychiatric nurses, social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors.

For more information on the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists or an outline of the legislation click here.

American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry

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