Children’s Mental Health Study Committee Erica Fener Sitkoff, Ph.D. Voices for Georgia’s Children Georgia House of Representatives November 18, 2015

Wouldn’t You Like to Have a Georgia where…. All students graduate No child is a victim of human trafficking No child or teen takes his/her own life All children can read by third grade Fewer children are detained because their behavior health needs have gone untreated Each young child has opportunities for language development which is essential for brain growth and school success Psychotropic drugs are a last resort for children All children have a safe and stable home Substance abuse is not prevalent 1

How Do We Get There? 2 What’s Working? What’s Missing? What’s Possible? A three year child and adolescent behavioral health state plan

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How Do We Get There? 5 Leverage What’s Working to… Pockets of excellence across the state: Agency led pilot programs – services, trainings Public/Private partnerships to deliver services Inter-agency collaboration at the state level Address What’s Missing and… Sustainable funding mechanisms Capacity to deliver all service levels throughout the state to all age groups Coordination of resources and implementation practices across: agencies, jurisdiction and funding source (e.g., CMOs) Expansion of effective pilots Implement What’s Possible: A three year child and adolescent behavioral health state plan Needs Assessment/Services GAP analysis Workforce development and training Fiscal sustainability Oversight and coordination Service availability across need level and age (Prevention, Early Intervention, Crisis) Expansion of demonstrated effective models

A Three Year Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health State Plan that Helps Get Georgia to a Place Where…. All students graduate No child is a victim of human trafficking No child or teen takes his/her own life All children can read by third grade Fewer children are detained because their behavior health needs have gone untreated Each young child has opportunities for language development which is essential for brain growth and school success Psychotropic drugs are a last resort for children All children have a safe and stable home Substance abuse is not prevalent 6