In April 2002, the President&... more In April 2002, the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health was created by executive order to study the mental health care delivery system in our nation and to make recommendations for improvements so that individuals with serious mental disorders can live, work, learn, and fully participate in their homes and communities. In its report, "Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America," the commission provided strategies to address critical infrastructure, practice, and research issues. This article focuses on the work of the commission's Subcommittee on Children and Families, describing its vision for mental health service delivery for children and providing suggestions for strengthening community-based care for youths with or at risk of behavioral health disorders. Training, research, practice, and policy implications for psychologists are discussed.
We've all heard the jokes about the nature of committee work: "A camel is a horse designed by com... more We've all heard the jokes about the nature of committee work: "A camel is a horse designed by committee." Or, "A committee is a group of the unwilling unprepared to do the unnecessary." In the current case, nothing could be farther from the truth. Over the past year, we were very fortunate to be able to gather a group of experts who were more than willing, and prepared, to do the very necessary. Representing all areas of children's behavioral healthcare, these respected leaders of the field worked assiduously to produce a blueprint for how child mental health and welfare workers, public purchasers, families, managed care leaders, and other stake-holders can work together to create well-managed "systems of care." The article they coauthored reflects some of the best thinking on the problems of emerging multiple managed care systems and the specific actions urgently needed to protect children and their families. We are pleased to present their recommendations to you in this month's Child and Family Focus. We feel that the hard work that went into this collaboration, and the resulting consensus, demonstrates that integration can, does, and must work to create better systems of care.
Policymakers, advocates, and families remain concerned about the use of seclusion and restraint i... more Policymakers, advocates, and families remain concerned about the use of seclusion and restraint in residential treatment facilities for children and youth. This study used data from 2 national surveys to examine the extent to which residential treatment facilities consistently implement certain practices following incidents of seclusion or restraint. The study found that 76% of facilities reported having secluded or restrained youth in the previous year; 34% of these facilities reported that, following such incidents, they always debrief the youth, family, and staff; notify the attending physician; and record the incident in the treatment plan. Accredited facilities and those that conduct a trauma assessment upon admission were more than twice as likely as others to consistently implement these practices. States and providers should continue to monitor seclusion and restraint practices and identify opportunities for quality improvement.
In April 2002, the President&... more In April 2002, the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health was created by executive order to study the mental health care delivery system in our nation and to make recommendations for improvements so that individuals with serious mental disorders can live, work, learn, and fully participate in their homes and communities. In its report, "Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America," the commission provided strategies to address critical infrastructure, practice, and research issues. This article focuses on the work of the commission's Subcommittee on Children and Families, describing its vision for mental health service delivery for children and providing suggestions for strengthening community-based care for youths with or at risk of behavioral health disorders. Training, research, practice, and policy implications for psychologists are discussed.
We've all heard the jokes about the nature of committee work: "A camel is a horse designed by com... more We've all heard the jokes about the nature of committee work: "A camel is a horse designed by committee." Or, "A committee is a group of the unwilling unprepared to do the unnecessary." In the current case, nothing could be farther from the truth. Over the past year, we were very fortunate to be able to gather a group of experts who were more than willing, and prepared, to do the very necessary. Representing all areas of children's behavioral healthcare, these respected leaders of the field worked assiduously to produce a blueprint for how child mental health and welfare workers, public purchasers, families, managed care leaders, and other stake-holders can work together to create well-managed "systems of care." The article they coauthored reflects some of the best thinking on the problems of emerging multiple managed care systems and the specific actions urgently needed to protect children and their families. We are pleased to present their recommendations to you in this month's Child and Family Focus. We feel that the hard work that went into this collaboration, and the resulting consensus, demonstrates that integration can, does, and must work to create better systems of care.
Policymakers, advocates, and families remain concerned about the use of seclusion and restraint i... more Policymakers, advocates, and families remain concerned about the use of seclusion and restraint in residential treatment facilities for children and youth. This study used data from 2 national surveys to examine the extent to which residential treatment facilities consistently implement certain practices following incidents of seclusion or restraint. The study found that 76% of facilities reported having secluded or restrained youth in the previous year; 34% of these facilities reported that, following such incidents, they always debrief the youth, family, and staff; notify the attending physician; and record the incident in the treatment plan. Accredited facilities and those that conduct a trauma assessment upon admission were more than twice as likely as others to consistently implement these practices. States and providers should continue to monitor seclusion and restraint practices and identify opportunities for quality improvement.
Uploads
Papers by Sheila Pires