ISSUE: Children, Youth and Juvenile Mental Health and Addiction Screening Policy

STATEMENT: The prevalence of mental illness, addiction and serious emotional disorders in children and youth under age 18 is oftentimes not adequately or appropriately diagnosed. At the same time, the efficacy of early treatment for mental illness, addiction and serious emotional disorders is proven and the benefits have been demonstrated.

Mental Health America of Indiana supports and will work to guide and create, consistent with recommendations made by the President’s New Freedom Commission and the Surgeon General, opportunities for systematic, standardized and regular screening of children for mental illness, addiction and serious emotional disorders and youth in any and all appropriate settings including but not limited to public and private schools; child welfare; juvenile courts; and primary care settings. Any screening program must:

• ensure that only qualified personnel conduct the screening and assessment, and develop the treatment program;

• ensure that records of the screening, assessment and treatment are kept confidential in accordance with current privacy standards for these types of records; and

• prohibit discrimination based on the screening, assessment and treatment.

• require active parental consent

• not be used as an assessment

MHAI supports all efforts to avoid stigmatization as well as the parent’s right to opt out. Once an illness is identified, treatment must also be made available.

• Access to Medications for Mental Health and Substance Abuse
• Forensic Issues
• Mental Health and Addiction Funding
• Increase Alcohol, Gambling and Tobacco Tax
• Property Tax
• Smoke Free Air
• Assignment of Benifits
• Access to 'ICCD Certified Clubhouse Model' Psychosocial Rehabilitation
• Increasing the Alcohol Tax
• Social Host Law
• Health Care Reform
• Guadianship Services for Indigent Patients with Mental Incapacitation
• Arrest and Conviction Admission
• Teen Suicide Prevention