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).
For Immediate Release
Contact: Denise Espie, MBA, Communications Director
202.966.7300, Ext. 120
despie@aacap.org
Erin Baker, Communications Manager
202.966.7300, Ext. 119
ebaker@aacap.org
AACAP Applauds Senators Bingaman and Collins for Addressing National Shortage of Children's Mental Health Professionals
Washington, D.C., June 7, 2007 - 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, and/or request a copy of "The Continuing Shortage of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists," by Christopher Thomas, M.D., and Charles Holzer, Ph.D., (Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) by contacting Erin Baker: ebaker@aacap.org.
Also, contact Erin Baker to arrange an interview with a child and adolescent psychiatrist to discuss the impact of the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists.
Representing over 7,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children’s mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children’s mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.
Our Facts for Families, available free of charge on the AACAP website, provide concise and up-to-date information on a wide array of issues relating to children’s mental health. Written in a simple, straightforward manner, these 88 one-page fact sheets are valuable to anyone raising or working with children. In addition, the AACAP routinely refers the media to expert spokespeople on child and adolescent issues, and sponsors The Campaign for America’s Kids – an initiative designed to fund an Advocacy Institute for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, with the goal of mental health for all children.
AACAP Mission: The Mission of the AACAP is the promotion of mentally healthy children, adolescents and families through research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support and collaboration.
