Psychotropic Medications
Many children in the dependency system receive some form of psychotropic medication. In fact, according to the latest statistics*, Pennsylvania children on Medicaid and in foster care receive psychotropic medication at a rate three times higher than children in the general Medicaid population. That’s 43% compared to 16%!
In 2011 the State Roundtable convened a workgroup to examine the issue. From 2011 to 2014 the Workgroup explored many aspects of psychotropic medication and foster care. Their task was to suggest a way for judges, lawyers and child welfare staff to make certain that foster children were receiving medication in the most appropriate manner. Listing of current Workgroup members
The group created a number of tools to assist counties in doing this including a key questions card (click the picture to the left), a guide to help local children’s roundtables and a toolkit of information to explore this issue in detail. Click the cd picture below to access the toolkit of a variety of resources/information. The Workgroup also recommended that everyone involved in a dependent child’s life ask the “Blue Box Questions” (below). View the Psychotropic Medication Workgroup State Roundtable Reports
The Questions to Ask When a Child in on Psychtropic Medications
- What is the child’s diagnosis? Is it the correct diagnosis?
- What is the medication’s intended effect? Is it effective?
- Are we monitoring for adverse effects?
- If the child is doing well, have we thought about tapering the medication?
- What is the opinion of the treating physician?
- What treatment interventions are happening other than medication?
The Psychotropic Medication Guide was created to generate discussion and develop a shared understanding on the issues pertaining to the prescribing practices, oversight and monitoring of psychotropic medication for Pennsylvania’s dependent children and youth in out-of-homeplacement. Members of the State Roundtable’s Workgroup on Psychotropic Medication hope the guide will be useful as Local Children’s Roundtables or subcommittees of the Roundtable begin the conversation about creating a shared value system regarding the physical and emotional well-being of children and the needs, opportunities and available services that currently exist to support children in health and wellness. Click the picture to the right to access this guide.
*2015, Policy Lab, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Psychotropic Medication Use by Pennsylvania Children in Foster Care and Enrolled in Medicaid