South Dakota Children’sMental Health Initiative

Dr. Greg Borissenior policy & program specialistSouth Dakota Voices for Childrengregb@sdvoicesforchildren.org

Overview

• Background• Current initiatives• What lies ahead

Background

Children’s Mental Health Task Forceestablished by South Dakota Legislaturein 2002

• Evaluate mental health care system forchildren

• Make recommendations for systemimprovements to the Legislature

Task Force Findings

• 42% of children with SED in low/moderateincome families (300%FPL) were served bycommunity mental health centers.

• The younger the child, the less likely to beserved—only 11% of 0 to 5 year olds; 41% of 6to 11 year olds; 72% of 12 to 17 year olds.

Other Data

South Dakota High School Students…

• One in four red flag depression

• One in five seriously considered suicide– Half attempted suicide– In 2006 29 young people committed suicide

Sources: SD Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2007SD Department of Health Statistics & Vital Records, 2006

Task Force Recommendations• Develop a means to obtain services without

relinquishing custody

• Screen for early identification and intervention

• Create public awareness• Foster interagency collaboration

• Provide more trained professionals

• Enhance funding

• Be responsive to cultural backgrounds

Voices Planning SummitVoices planning summit in 2004 created a multi-

year children’s mental health awareness plan

Set two goals• Increase community understanding of how to help

develop emotionally healthy children• Increase community recognition of:

– Efficacy of early detection, intervention, treatment– Emotional and developmental precursors of mental illness in

children– Where to go for help

Mental Health Awareness PlanTarget audiences:

• Parents

• Child-care providers

• School personnel

• Health care professionals

Plan Implementation

• Secured funding from the WellmarkFoundation and AAP

• Convened the Children’s Mental HealthAwareness Advisory Group—2005 andcontinuing comprising…

• 40 people representing early childhood,schools, health care, parents, mental health,media, clergy, elected leaders.

Plan Implementation – Phase ITraining of key groups1. Early childhood teachers and caregivers2. School personnel3. Health care practitioners

• Disseminated Mental Health Practice Guides to 60pediatricians statewide

• Grand Rounds with Dr. Jerry BlakeTherapist-Physician Communication

Therapist-PhysicianCommunication

Cover letters—physicians & mental healthprofessionals

Mental Health Referral FormMental Health Referral Feedback Form

Plan Implementation – Phase IIPARENTS

•Online Resource Directory

•Parents Guide to Children’s MentalHealth Services in South Dakota

•Wings for Life

Phase IIIDevelopment of DVD of Parents GuideDevelop a South Dakota specific website on

children’s mental health(http://sdkidsmentalhealth.org)

• Migrate the online resource directory to this site• Post Wings for Life series on this site• Searchable bibliography of children’s literature

with mental health themes• Parents Guide on this site as well as streaming

video of the DVD• Other resources

What Lies Ahead

Wings for Life• Continue development and distribution of

Wings for Life beyond 08-09• Develop Emotional Wonders for children ages

birth through 5Develop the therapist-school communication

protocol

What Lies Ahead

Continued training• Draw attention to the Typical or Troubled

resources once American PsychiatricFoundation makes it public

• Training for mental health clinicians, primarycare physicians, and others to work withchildren ages birth through 5 and their parents

What Lies AheadSpecific Training (3 days)• Day 1

– Topic—general overview of the field of infant andpreschool mental health

– Audience—all providers working with infants,children, and families

• Day 2– Topic—how professionals from all disciplines can

engage in promotion, prevention, and earlyintervention

– Audience—all providers working with infants,children, and families

What Lies Ahead

Specific Training (3 days)• Day 3

– Topic—assessment, intervention, strategies andtechniques

– Audience—Licensed Mental Health CliniciansOngoing Training• Planning underway with Sanford School of

Medicine at the University of South Dakotaand clinician training programs in the state

Thank you