Many kids today, face interrelated academic, behavioral, mental health and or substance abuse problems; that with out the appropriate supports, become quit severe impairing quality of life and potentially last a life time. It is clear to me, that mental health wellness for children and youth, is not a public health priority, in that more often than not, one finds that they have to fight to get the most basic services for their children.
It is my hope that with my Testimony, I will appeal to your compassion and ignite an awareness that our current policies are not practical. As I describe how barriers caused by educational and mental health policy oversight, has prevented timely accesses to care, failure to identify both of my children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Child Find program; failure to meet the needs my children, who have emotional and behavioral disorders— that you will hear my call for the need to stand up and speak out and fight for change.
On September 21, 2011 I was faced with the heart aching decision to relinquish custody of my 17 year old son with a singular and primary goal of getting access to treatment for his mental health care needs. The failure of addressing my children’s needs by all child serving agencies, but more specifically failure in addressing these need by the mental health and education agencies in my county, is irreprehensible. These agencies all share the primary responsibility in addressing ALL children's needs before they reach a crisis. This failure to provide these services in a timely manner is the most pertinent obstacle that has pushed me into giving up custody of my son.
The two core factors for
relinquishing custody are: the lack of access to appropriate and
timely mental health services/supports in both the public and private sectors
and a lack of oversight for existing programs that should be providing these
services and supports.
Despite my early requests for intervention, for access to programs designed to optimize the opportunity
to intervene early and prevent continued delinquency and drug abuse, provide
mental health supports, behavioral supports (intensive i.e BIP specialist) in the academic setting, the needs of my children have been continuously
ignored or rebutted with an explanation associated with severe lack of funding,
or that the types of programs, services I required do not exist.
Based on my experience as a mother raising 2 sons that suffer
from emotional and behavioral disorders, I
feel there is a great opportunity for improving educational outcomes and post
school outcomes and recovery outcomes for students within the scope of Special Educational Services and mental health services. It has taken a VERY long time to get the services I need for my boys and a lot of pain and heartache for my entire family.
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