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1993.05.12 :  Grants -- Community Services for Children with Emotional Disorders

Contact:  Public Health Service
Wednesday, May 12, 1993                 Teddi Pensinger
                                             (301) 443-2792

       HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced the
availability of $4.5 million for the first of a planned five-year
program of community services for children and adolescents with
serious emotional, behavioral or mental disorders. 
       "Three to four million children and adolescents in this
country suffer from serious emotional disturbances," Secretary
Shalala said, "but only 20 percent are receiving care.  There just
hasn't been sufficient attention and resources devoted to our
troubled children -- and a good deal of violence, suicide and
wasted potential are the results.  This funding alone, which will
support two to four projects, will not solve the problem, but it
should help."
       The money will be provided through the federal Center for
Mental Health Services, a component of the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration within HHS' U.S. Public
Health Service. 
       Secretary Shalala urged states, localities and Indian tribes
to apply for the funds in order to broaden their services to
community-based options.  Often, only hospitalization and
residential treatment are available, or a limited number of 50-
minute outpatient psychotherapy sessions. 
     Grantees are required to provide matching funds either through
direct or donated funds or through in-kind support.  For the first 
three years, the grantee must provide $1 for every $3 of federal
money.  In the fourth year, one-to-one matching is required; and in
the fifth year, the grantee must provide $2 for every $1 of federal
money.
       The systems of care developed through this program must
include a full continuum of mental health services:  diagnostic and
evaluation; outpatient individual, group and family counseling
provided in a clinic, office, school or other appropriate location;
professional consultation, review and management of medication;
intensive day treatment services; emergency services available 24
hours a day, seven days a week; intensive home-based services for
children and their families when the child is at imminent risk of
out-of-home placement; respite care; therapeutic foster care
services and therapeutic group homes; and assistance in making the
transition from the services received as a child to the services
needed as an adult.
       SAMHSA Acting Administrator Elaine M. Johnson said, "The
local coordination encouraged by this program can often prevent the
downward spiral of drug and alcohol abuse, violence, crime and
wasted potential associated with mental illness."                

       CMHS Acting Director Frank J. Sullivan said, "This program
recognizes that young people with serious emotional disturbances
need more than mental health services alone.  They also need the
resources of education, child welfare, health and juvenile justice
agencies."

       In addition to promoting collaboration across child-serving
agencies, the program emphasizes the importance of developing
individualized service plans with the participation of the family
and, when appropriate, the child.  A designated case manager will
be available to assist the child and the family.       

       The program will be evaluated to help other communities
interested in developing comprehensive systems of care.          
           
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