NAPHS Launches Advocacy Campaign to
“Make Behavioral Health for Youth a Priority”

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Policy Analysis by the Lewin Group Provides Evidence of the Need for Expanded Coverage, Improved Coordination of Care, and Fair Funding

(Washington, DC, February 9, 2000)….In an effort to overcome gaps in the system that prevent young people from taking full advantage of significant treatment advances for behavioral health disorders, the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) has launched a year-long campaign to “Make Behavioral Health for Youth a Priority.”

Armed with the results of a major policy analysis by the Lewin Group, the NAPHS Board of Trustees has identified – and is committing resources to advocating for – three priority changes:

• expanded coverage for behavioral health care for youth
• improved coordination of care
• fair funding

To better coordinate with and support the efforts of other organizations working on youth services issues, NAPHS is making its grassroots campaign kit materials (including the Lewin Group analysis on Enhancing Youth Services, a variety of specialized fact sheets, and policy recommendations) widely available on its web site.  

“The Lewin report and analysis by our Board and the NAPHS Youth Services Committee confirm what we are hearing from many venues – including the recent report on mental health by the U.S. Surgeon General.  Treatment works, but not all young people have equal access, coverage, or opportunity to use the services we know can help improve their lives,” said NAPHS Executive Director Mark Covall in launching the NAPHS campaign. 

According to the Lewin report, approximately 20% of children and adolescents (or about 11 million youth ages 9 to17) have a diagnosable mental, emotional, or behavioral health disorder, from attention deficit disorder and depression to bipolar illness and schizophrenia.  Many children and youth simply “fall between the cracks” of the major systems involved in delivering care, which include education, child welfare, and juvenile justice, and mental health and substance abuse authorities, the Lewin report finds.  One study suggests only 11% of children at risk receive services in a mental health setting.

 “By providing our members with the tools to build advocacy coalitions to take action in their own communities, we hope to educate policymakers and community leaders about the value of early, coordinated intervention with this most important – and vulnerable – population as well as the need for adequate resources to deliver what we know works,” said Mr. Covall.  “Making behavioral health for youth a priority is an investment in our children – and ultimately in our nation’s future.” 

NAPHS will also work with its member organizations in demonstration projects designed to provide models for community action.   At the national level, NAPHS is taking an active role in a wide variety of coalitions committed to improving children’s services and will continue to advocate for national policies to improve children’s mental health.

About the Lewin Group Report

The NAPHS-commissioned Lewin Group report provides baseline information on current knowledge and thinking about care for youth with psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral problems. The report is based on a literature review, tested and reinforced by extensive structured interviews with members of the NAPHS Youth Services Committee (comprised of leading providers serving children and youth). The report highlights:

• the costs of neglecting the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents;
• the prevalence of behavioral health disorders in youth, as well as the difficulties associated with identifying these youth;
• the diversity and fragmentation of service systems and funding streams;
• promising services and programs available to treat youth; and
• remaining challenges associated with addressing behavioral health needs of youth.

Illustrations from the practical experience of care providers ground the presentation of findings from research and data analysis. The report ends with several conclusions drawn from the study. In addition, NAPHS program examples illustrating approaches to providing care are in the Appendix to the report.

About NAPHS

The National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) advocates for behavioral health and represents provider systems that are committed to the delivery of responsive, accountable, and clinically effective prevention, treatment, and care for children, adolescents, and adults with mental and substance use disorders.Its members are behavioral healthcare provider organizations, including 400 specialty hospitals, general hospital psychiatric and addiction treatment units, residential treatment centers, partial hospital services, behavioral group practices, youth services organizations, and other providers of care.

The youth services campaign is under the direction of the NAPHS Youth Services Committee, chaired by Elliot Sainer of Aspen Youth Services, CA. Committee members include: Alan Axelson, M.D., InterCare Behavioral Health, PA; David Beardsley, Health Management Associates, FL; William J. Ballard and Al J. Smith, Children's Comprehensive Services, Inc., TN; James Cole, Devereux Foundation, PA; Robert Greenbaum, Ph.D., Four Winds Hospitals, NY; Walter Grono, Devereux Foundation, PA; Edward Irby, Alternative Behavioral Services, VA; Jewel Norman, Charter Behavioral Health Systems of Atlanta at Laurel Heights, GA; Kevin Sheehan, Youth and Family Centered Services, TX; and Vernon S. Westrich, Behavioral Healthcare Corporation, TN.

 

For More Information

To access the campaign materials free of charge, visit http://www.naphs.org. Printed copies of the campaign kits are available for $25 (Mastercard and Visa accepted). Call NAPHS at 202/393-6700, Ext. 104, to order the “Make Behavioral Health for Youth a Priority” kit.

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