National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems
Youth Services Leadership Forum
September 20, 2005

OVERVIEW

NAPHS YOUTH SERVICES LEADERSHIP FORUM EMPHASIZES ADVOCACY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. The importance of ongoing advocacy for youth with behavioral disorders was underscored at the NAPHS Youth Services Leadership Forum. Among a series of top policy speakers, Liz Fowler of Health Policy Alternatives told members of the NAPHS Youth Services Committee that a number of factors affect the long-term outlook for Medicaid. The federal budget deficit in 2005 was expected to be $330 billion before Katrina hit and Congress started providing assistance to Gulf Coast states and evacuees. The 10 year estimate of the budget deficit is over $4 trillion. States will continue to feel pressure to cut and/or reform Medicaid and will continue to press Congress for changes. “On the bright side,” she said, “perhaps Katrina has taught us something about poverty and the need for social service programs. And perhaps the health solutions negotiated for Katrina evacuees will offer some guidance for future policy.” NAPHS and its members are working to ensure that Congress understands the needs of youth with mental and addictive disorders as Medicaid issues are under debate.

NAPHS YOUTH SERVICES LEADERSHIP FORUM ADDRESSES UNRESOLVED ICPC ISSUES, POSSIBLE COORDINATION OF CHILD WELFARE DATA. Speaking on the issue of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) during the NAPHS Youth Services Leadership Forum on September 20, Liz Oppenheim of the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) provided perspective on the APHSA timeline for addressing unresolved issues in the rewrite of the ICPC (including the definition of child and placement in residential treatment facilities). States have been polled on their positions on unresolved issues. APHSA will convene states to identify compromise positions, as necessary, and then send a third draft of the ICPC out for final review and comment. NAPHS will continue to work with APHSA on these unresolved issues. NAPHS also opened a dialogue on the potential for improving coordination of child welfare data, particularly related to youth with behavioral disorders, with leaders from the National Data Analysis System (NDAS). Speakers were NDSA Information Analyst Christine Frederick and Senior Child Welfare Data Specialist Julie Ohm (NRC-CWDT).

MEMBERS ONLY:  Visit the "Youth Services" page in our members-only section for more on youth issues.

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