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Mental Health Advocacy:A Team Approach
Leticia Perez, M.S.W. Candidate
Maire Mullaly, J.D., MPP
Kevin Jervik, Ph.D
Foster Youth Mental Health Initiative
• Background
• Proposal to the California Endowment
Foster Youth Mental Health Initiative
• Objective 1– Produce a mental health summit report to be
disseminated.• Participants of the Summit
• Local and State Key Stakeholders
– http://www.clcla.org/Mental_Health_Summit_Report_011707.pdf
Foster Youth Mental Health Initiative
• Objective 2– Develop a minimum of three workgroups to
implement policy recommendations.• Capacity Building Workgroup
• Psychotropic Medication Workgroup
• Systemic Reform Policy Workgroup
Foster Youth Mental Health Initiative
• Objective 3– Attorney support
• Develop a multi-disciplinary team to consult with CLC attorneys on mental health needs.
• Develop training materials that enhance staff’s ability to identify mental health problems.
• Advocate for evidence-based services to clients.
Original MHAT Model
• Program Director
• Clinician
• Mental Health Specialist
Expected Outcomes
• Improved coordination of mental health services for foster youth.
• Increased access to timely and appropriate mental health services.
• Improved training of staff to better identify needs.
Lessons Learned
• Introduction of Attorney Liaison
• Understanding attorney’s knowledge base and supporting their needs
• A team approach
Current MHAT Model
• Attorney Liaisons
• Psychologist
• Mental Health Specialist
Lessons Learned
• Myths regarding mental illness– Not a life sentence– Diagnosis in context of whole person– Axis II diagnosis– Process of change
Lessons Learned
• Privilege and Confidentiality– Secrecy surrounding mental illness– Balancing privacy with “need to know”
Lessons Learned
• Mental Health Services– Alternatives to residential care– Individual counseling is not the only effective
intervention.– Therapists are people too.– If residential care is used, view it as treatment,
not placement.
Lessons Learned
• Independent Assessments– Medi-care requires documentation of medical
necessity.– Request existing assessments and treatment
plans.– Expectations and Outcomes
Lessons Learned
• Legal Counsel and Advocacy– Attorneys have a duty to counsel their clients,
as well as advocate for them.– Don’t be afraid to talk about mental health
issues with clients.– Importance of client buy-in for own treatment
plan
Trends in mental health advocacy
• Evidence-based practice– What is evidence based practice?– Current state of evidence-based practice– Information about evidence-based practice
• http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/
• http://www.ffta.org/publications/EBPguideFinalWeb.pdf
Trends in mental-health advocacy
• Transitional-Age Youth with Mental Health Problems.– Development does not end at age 18.– Challenges faced by TAY youth with mental
health needs• Service Silos
• Service Chasms
Trends in mental health advocacy
• Special needs of TAY with mental health issues.– Continued mental health support/treatment– Vocational/Educational Development– Possible need of benefits (SSI, Medicaid)– Focus on strengths and individual needs– Integrated Care (e.g. ACT, SOC, TIP)
Trends in mental health advocacy
• Resources regarding TAY with mental health needs.– http://www.ncwd-youth.info/information-brief-
23– http://www.cimh.org/Services/Transition-Age-
Youth.aspx– http://cjjr.georgetown.edu/pdfs/
TransitionPaperFinal.pdf
Trends in Mental Health Advocacy
• Dual Diagnosis Clients (Developmental Delay/Mental Health Needs)– Tendency toward either/or view– “Diagnostic Overshadowing”– Service Silos
• Intervention Services
• Education/Training
– Evidence-based practice
Trends in Mental Health Advocacy
• Dual Diagnosis Clients– Resources
• http://www.thenadd.org/index.shtml
• http://www.bckidsmentalhealth.org/docs/Dual_Diagnosis_Guide.pdf
• http://www.nasddds.org/Resources/index.shtml
Overall trends in Mental Health Advocacy
• Early identification, prevention, and treatment
• Reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors
• Increasing client say and “buy-in”
• “Whole child” strength based attitude
Thank you for your time.
• Maire Mullaly, Attorney Liaison [email protected]
• Leticia Perez, Mental Health Specialist, [email protected]
• Kevin Jervik, Mental Health Clinician, [email protected]