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The lack of services for children and adolecence of mental health
Topics: mental health, children, Social Services, Kern County
Posted by gregory1 Thu Feb 21, 2008 08:59:18 PST
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There is a great need in Kern and Tulare counties, and in America in general, for more mental health service providers and programs. It is estimated that by 2020 the percentage of clientele will be 100 percent greater than today, while the percentage of mental health practitioners will only grow 30 percent. Children and adolescents are falling through the cracks of service programs due to a lack of adequate providers as well as a lack of sufficient programs.

 

In Kern and Tulare Counties the client practitioner ratios are approximately 50:1 and sometimes are as large as 80:1. One practitioner cannot adequately serve their clients when the caseloads overwhelm the time they have to contribute to them. As a result, the quality of service is compromised when there are lack of providers and programs.

 

As children and adolescents go undiagnosed and untreated they become disruptive in our society and educational system and eventually, in some unfortunate cases, end up in our criminal justice system. There has been research from various studies indicating that Department’s of Corrections make their projections for future population size based off high school dropouts. Many children and adolescents drop out of school not because they are delinquent, but simply because they are disruptive in the educational system due to untreated mental illness and lack of services.

 

As we read and hear the news we can see that young people in our communities have become more involved with criminal activity and there is a great need for intervention. The time for change is now, our current situation demands it. Please join with us in petitioning for increased mental health services and service providers by visiting http://www.thepetitionsite.... and filling out the “Support Mental Illness Research and Services” online petition.

 

Master of Social Work

California State University, Bakersfield

 

Oscar Caballos

Christine Doss

Cindi Dardin

Kimberly Weimer

Gregory Winkler

 

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