REPORT OF THE AD HOC TASK FORCE ASSEMBLED TO REVIEW NEW JERSEY’S PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN (CHILDREN’S SYSTEM OF CARE INITIATIVE /CSOCI)

Background:

• Prior to the formation of CSOCI, a number of child-serving systems (child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, education and the courts) had responsibility to serve children with emotional and behavioral disturbances. A child’s problem, subsequent treatment goals, and available services were generally defined by their entry point into the system. Thus, children were required to fit the system’s structure.

• Mental health services for children in New Jersey primarily consisted of residential and in-patient treatment. There was no system of care and no range of services.

• The NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) concluded that fundamental structural reform was essential to support children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disturbances in achieving their highest potential.

• Findings from the 60 grant communities around the nation found that children’s system of care reduced the rates of re-institutionalization, number of out-of-state placements, number of contacts with law enforcement, increased school performance and home permanency, and improved satisfaction with services. A proven process associated with good outcomes.

• The system of care approach is not a clinical intervention. Rather, it is a set of treatment values and principles that guide how services should be delivered, and how approaches should be organized for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance and their families, basing what children receive on who they are. It is built on the child’s strengths to meet his/her defined needs (not the services).

• In addition, the DHS vision for this structural reform included maintaining and strengthening, whenever possible, the ties between children, families, and communities, while delivering effective (coordinated, flexible, community based and culturally competent) clinical care and social support services. “One family. One Team. One Plan.”

• In January 2000, Governor Whitman unveiled a statewide reform agenda (the first and only in the nation) to create this comprehensive system of care for NJ’s children with serious emotional and behavioral disturbances and their families: The Children’s Initiative.

• The McGreevey Administration is now challenged with further implementation of the Initiative. Commissioner Harris appointed the Ad Hoc Task Force (a 10 member panel which included MHANJ Executive Director, Carolyn Beauchamp) to review and assess both the current state and future direction of the Children’s Initiative.

• CSOCI is up and operating in Atlantic/Cape May, Bergen, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, and Union counties. States and child advocates from around the nation are actively monitoring New Jersey’s implementation of this program. The success or failure of our statewide initiative will help shape how other states choose to structure and implement mental health services for children and adolescents.

Task Force Findings:
Strengths of the Initiative:

• Support is widespread among the public;

• Treatment is child-centered and based on personal and familial strengths;

• Services are community-based;

• Parents are engaged as full partners in the treatment process; and

• Framework has the potential for providing prevention and early intervention services.

Task Force Recommendations:

• Continue expansion (delayed roll-out has impaired image);

• Target urban areas as part of the next phase;

• Prioritize community-based and residential service expansion along with infrastructure development;

• Revise monitoring and accountability systems; and

• Broaden the scope to become the foundation for a comprehensive “blueprint” for children’s services across the state, including an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

DHS Goals for FY ’03 Based on Task Force Recommendations:

• Prioritize community-based service expansion;

• Improve the DHS partnership with community providers;

• Revitalize state-level partnerships that foster interdepartmental collaboration;

• Ensure families are fully integrated as partners; and

• Expand CSOCI into Hudson and Middlesex Counties

What You Can Do:

Contact your New Jersey Legislative Representatives. Tell them the maintenance and expansion of the CSOCI is imperative for the health and well being of children with mental illness. Funding to expand this project statewide is imperative! For name and contact information on your NJ legislators, put in your zip code at Congress.org.

JUDGE VOIDS RULES ON CHILDREN’S PHARMACEUTICAL TESTS

• Most drugs prescribed for children have only been tested in adults.

• The American Academy of Pediatricians said that in the absence of clinical data, a doctor had to make “an educated guess” about how much of a drug to prescribe for a child.

• In 1998 the Clinton administration issued pediatric drug rules that required drug companies to test their products on children.

• The rules, administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), were intended to give doctors and parents more information about the drugs’ safety and the proper dosage.

• Drug companies initially objected to the rules, but learned to live with them.

• The Bush administration said in March 2002, that it planned to suspend the rules, but reversed itself a month later after an outcry from pediatricians and some members of Congress.

• In August, Senate committee approved of a bill to write the testing requirements into law. The bill has not reached the Senate floor.

• In mid October, a Federal District Court judge struck down the pediatric drug rule citing that it exceeds the FDA’s statutory authority and is therefore invalid. “The pediatric rule may well be a better policy tool than the one enacted by Congress. It might reflect the most thoughtful, reasoned, balanced solution to a vexing public health problem. The issue here is not the rule’s wisdom. The issue here is the rule’s statutory authority, and it is that the court finds lacking.”

• Supporters of the Senate bill state that it is even more important now that legislation be passed to give the FDA statutory authority to mandate that drug companies do research on pediatric drugs.

CONSUMER ADVOCATES OF THE MONTH

You wouldn’t think that the calm, quiet and reserved Meg Stenson is one dynamite and tireless advocate, but she is. As Program Assistant with the Community Advocates and POST Program out of the MHA of Ocean County, she carries the message with her wherever she goes - from voter registrations, presentations, meetings with elected officials, groups she runs, to facilities she visits. If there’s an opportunity to educate people about legislation that will impact the mental health community and encourage their involvement, she takes it. As her boss Executive Director, JoAnn Bonnett states, “ Meg is knowledgeable, caring and absolutely wonderful.” Thanks, Meg.

Vinnie Polisano, Support Service Worker for Collaborative Support Programs of NJ (CSP) and longtime friend of the MHA in Atlantic County, for his bravery and selflessness in testifying before the Assembly Committee on the impact NJ lien policy has had on his life. Vinnie openly shared with total strangers, his efforts and successes and received a round of applause in admiration and support. “Not only is he a terrific guy, but he is dependable and easy to work with”, says MHANJ Legislative Advocate, Cathy Chin, “I’d never met him and had only talked to him on the phone, but when he said he’d be at the statehouse to testify, he was there - ready, willing, able and early.” When asked about the tears of pride after the hearing, Vinnie told us his contact was watering, “but I did feel good and very proud.” You should be Vinnie. Thanks for your guts and sense of humor.

MAUREEN MEYER GRABS THE OPPORTUNITY

Maureen Meyer, Consumer Provider from PACT Morris/Sussex and good friends of the MHA of Morris County, found herself standing next to the Governor as he awaited entrance to the Morris County Town Meeting and jumped at the opportunity to introduce herself and talk briefly about consumer issues. And it’s a good thing she did. Because of the size of the crowd, none of the eight advocates from Morris County were able to get their questions/comments heard. Thanks to Maureen, the Governor knows that mental health advocates care enough to show up and make their voices heard.
 

Join MHANJ’s Legislative Network! Contact
C. Chin at 973.571.4100 Ex. 37  or cchin@mhanj.org