Mental Health Advocacy A Team Approach Leticia Perez

Mental Health Advocacy: A Team Approach Leticia Perez, M. S. W. Candidate Maire Mullaly, J. D. , MPP Kevin Jervik, Ph. D

Foster Youth Mental Health Initiative • Background • Proposal to the California Endowment

Foster Youth Mental Health Initiative • Objective 1 – Produce a mental health summit report to be disseminated. • Participants of the Summit • Local and State Key Stakeholders – http: //www. clcla. org/Mental_Health_Summit_ Report_011707. pdf

Foster Youth Mental Health Initiative • Objective 2 – Develop a minimum of three workgroups to implement policy recommendations. • Capacity Building Workgroup • Psychotropic Medication Workgroup • Systemic Reform Policy Workgroup

Foster Youth Mental Health Initiative • Objective 3 – Attorney support • Develop a multi-disciplinary team to consult with CLC attorneys on mental health needs. • Develop training materials that enhance staff’s ability to identify mental health problems. • Advocate for evidence-based services to clients.

Original MHAT Model • Program Director • Clinician • Mental Health Specialist

Expected Outcomes • Improved coordination of mental health services for foster youth. • Increased access to timely and appropriate mental health services. • Improved training of staff to better identify needs.

Lessons Learned • Introduction of Attorney Liaison • Understanding attorney’s knowledge base and supporting their needs • A team approach

Current MHAT Model • Attorney Liaisons • Psychologist • Mental Health Specialist

Lessons Learned • Myths regarding mental illness – Not a life sentence – Diagnosis in context of whole person – Axis II diagnosis – Process of change

Lessons Learned • Privilege and Confidentiality – Secrecy surrounding mental illness – Balancing privacy with “need to know”

Lessons Learned • Mental Health Services – Alternatives to residential care – Individual counseling is not the only effective intervention. – Therapists are people too. – If residential care is used, view it as treatment, not placement.

Lessons Learned • Independent Assessments – Medi-care requires documentation of medical necessity. – Request existing assessments and treatment plans. – Expectations and Outcomes

Lessons Learned • Legal Counsel and Advocacy – Attorneys have a duty to counsel their clients, as well as advocate for them. – Don’t be afraid to talk about mental health issues with clients. – Importance of client buy-in for own treatment plan

Trends in mental health advocacy • Evidence-based practice – What is evidence based practice? – Current state of evidence-based practice – Information about evidence-based practice • http: //www. nrepp. samhsa. gov/ • http: //www. ffta. org/publications/EBPguide. Final. We b. pdf

Trends in mental-health advocacy • Transitional-Age Youth with Mental Health Problems. – Development does not end at age 18. – Challenges faced by TAY youth with mental health needs • Service Silos • Service Chasms

Trends in mental health advocacy • Special needs of TAY with mental health issues. – Continued mental health support/treatment – Vocational/Educational Development – Possible need of benefits (SSI, Medicaid) – Focus on strengths and individual needs – Integrated Care (e. g. ACT, SOC, TIP)

Trends in mental health advocacy • Resources regarding TAY with mental health needs. – http: //www. ncwd-youth. info/information-brief 23 – http: //www. cimh. org/Services/Transition-Age. Youth. aspx – http: //cjjr. georgetown. edu/pdfs/Transition. Paper Final. pdf

Trends in Mental Health Advocacy • Dual Diagnosis Clients (Developmental Delay/Mental Health Needs) – Tendency toward either/or view – “Diagnostic Overshadowing” – Service Silos • Intervention Services • Education/Training – Evidence-based practice

Trends in Mental Health Advocacy • Dual Diagnosis Clients – Resources • http: //www. thenadd. org/index. shtml • http: //www. bckidsmentalhealth. org/docs/Dual_Diag nosis_Guide. pdf • http: //www. nasddds. org/Resources/index. shtml

Overall trends in Mental Health Advocacy • Early identification, prevention, and treatment • Reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors • Increasing client say and “buy-in” • “Whole child” strength based attitude

Thank you for your time. • Maire Mullaly, Attorney Liaison mulallym@clcla. org • Leticia Perez, Mental Health Specialist, perezl@clcla. org • Kevin Jervik, Mental Health Clinician, jervikk@clcla. org