The NAPHS Youth Services Committee convened in Washington, DC, to focus on policy issues affecting youth with serious mental and addictive disorders.

Committee Chairman Ed Irby (left), CEO of Alternative Behavioral Services, and Kathleen M. Sheehan (right), NAPHS director of government relations, kick off the meeting.

Josh Sharfstein, M.D., professional staff member of the House Committee on Government Reform, and with the office of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), shares ideas with the Youth Services Leadership Forum. Josh was instrumental in doing the research for a congressional report released by Rep. Waxman and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) that documented that many youth with serious mental illnesses were being detained in juvenile detention facilities instead of receiving treatment in mental heath settings. A pediatrician, Dr. Sharfstein has significant experience in acute care issues.

Liz Oppenheim, staff director of the American Public Human Services Association, briefed NAPHS members on actions that APHSA is taking to rewrite the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). NAPHS has been strongly advocating that ICPC not cover residential treatment with both APHSA and with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) who has successfully passed a House bill on this matter. As a result of NAPHS advocacy, it appears that states are inclined to remove the lengthy and costly pre-approval process that currently hinders placements and move toward a streamline and much less burdensome notification process. The rewrite of the ICPC by APHSA is expected to be complete before March 2005.

NAPHS Executive Director Mark Covall leads a discussion on education reimbursement issues with NAPHS members. NAPHS successfully lobbied the Senate to insert language into its report on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that would direct states to pay greater attention to reimbursement issues that have been a problem for some residential treatment centers. As a result of this advocacy, the Department of Education is preparing a guidance for states on this issue. NAPHS has also commissioned a technical report on education reimbursement issues impacting residential treatment by Myrna R. Mandlawitz, Esq. a national expert in education law and policy.

Mryna R. Mandlawitz, Esq., president of MRM Associates, shared a first draft of a pending NAPHS publication to help residential providers navigate the educational funding maze. Ms. Mandlawitz is a nationally known expert in special education law and policy. Previously, she served as the Director of Government Relations and External Affairs for the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), representing the state directors in Congress and the regulatory agencies on issues impacting the education of children and youth with disabilities.

Youth Services Committee members, including Kevin Sheehan (left), President & CEO of Youth and Family Centered Services; Robert Kreider, CEO & President of the Devereux Foundation; and Pat Connell of Boys and Girls Town (right) participate in discussion.

NAPHS President-Elect Patricia R. Recupero, J.D., M.D., (left) networks with Diana L. Ramsay, (right) executive vice president & COO of Sheppard Pratt Health System, and other colleagues at the forum.

Pat Connell (left) of Boys & Girls Town talks with Youth Services Committee member Al Smith (right), president, Keystone Education and Youth Services.

Isa Diaz (left), vice president public affairs, Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. and Premier Behavioral Solutions; and Robin Stephen of Aspen Education Group (right) share ideas during the event.

Ronald T. Bernstein (left), president/CEO of Foundations Behavioral Health, talks with Mryna R. Mandlawitz, Esq. (right) about her upcoming publication on Reimbursement for Special Education in Residential Placements, to be published next year by NAPHS.

Zayma Goldman, M.D., chief medical officer, of Healthcare Management and Investment Holdings, LLC, participates in the Forum.