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Use of Psychotropic Medications
Resources regarding considerations for appropriate use and oversight of psychotropic medications with a particular focus on children and youth in foster care.
Because Minds Matter: Collaborating to Strengthen Management of Psychotropic Medications for Children and Youth in Foster Care (PDF - 22 KB)
Administration for Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, & Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
August 27-28, 2012
Offered an opportunity for State leaders with direct responsibility for child welfare, Medicaid, and mental health to work together to develop action steps for enhancing oversight and monitoring of psychotropic medications for children in foster care. Materials from the summit, including the program booklet, PowerPoint presentations, and handouts, are available online.
Making Healthy Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care (PDF - 9,933 KB)
Children's Bureau et al. (2012)
Provides information and worksheets to assist youth in recognizing when they need help, weighing options for medication use, asking questions about their diagnosis and treatment, and taking medication safely. This guide can be used directly by youth or serve as a discussion tool for child welfare workers, health care providers, mentors, and others working with youth in foster care. Also available in Spanish. (PDF - 1,152 KB)
Joint Letter to State Child Welfare, Medicaid, and Mental Health Authorities on the Use of Psychotropic Medication for Children in Foster Care (PDF - 58 KB)
Sheldon, Berwick, & Hyde
Administration for Children and Families, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, & Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2011)
Provides a joint statement about the use of psychotropic medication for children in foster care. The letter includes background on the issue and outlines activities the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be undertaking to ensure safe and effective psychopharmaceutical treatment of mental and behavioral health issues of children in foster care.
Guidelines
ACYF-CB-IM-12-03 (PDF - 473 KB)
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2012)
Defines the issues surrounding psychotropic medication use by children in foster care, highlights available resources for States to consider when developing their Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR), and encourages increasing access to clinically appropriate screening, assessment, and evidence-based interventions for foster children with mental health and trauma-related needs. This Information Memorandum (IM) serves as a resource to State and Tribal title IV-B agencies as they comply with requirements to develop protocols for the appropriate use and monitoring of psychotropic medications in the title IV-B plan.
CIB-08-24-12: Collaborative Efforts and Technical Assistance Resources to Strengthen the Management of Psychotropic Medications for Vulnerable Populations (PDF - 168 KB)
Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (2012)
Highlights collaborative efforts and technical assistance resources to provide States with additional tools and mechanisms to promote the appropriate use, and enhance oversight of, psychotropic medications for children in foster care and individuals living in nursing facilities.
Practice Parameter on the Use of Psychotropic Medication in Children and Adolescents (PDF - 171 KB)
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 48(9), 2009
Promotes the appropriate and safe use of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders by emphasizing the best practice principles that underlie medication prescribing.
Psychotropic Medication Management for Youth in State Care: Consent, Oversight, and Policy Considerations (PDF - 51 KB)
Naylor, Davidson, Ortega-Piron, Bass, Gutierrez, & Hall
Child Welfare, 86(5), 2007
Examines various means that State child welfare agencies use to provide consent for and oversight of psychotropic medications for children in State custody and describes the benefits of a consent process that provides for expert consultation to the child welfare agency and prescribing clinicians, case-specific and systemic oversight of psychotropic medication use, and education for stakeholders.
The Use of Psychotropic Medication for Children in Foster Care
Crismon & Argo
Child Welfare, 88(1), 2009
View Abstract
Promotes the need for parents and caregivers to be actively involved with the clinician when children and youth in foster care are being treated with psychotropic medication. The article emphasizes assessment, potential side effects, and monitoring parameters.
Use of Psychotropics Among Children in Foster Care Webinar Series
Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Presents data and research as well as best practices for monitoring and oversight of psychotropic medication use among children in foster care. This is a three-part webinar series: Mental Health, Psychotropic Use, and Evidence-Based Interventions; Clinical Management and Monitoring of Psychotropic Medications; and Collaborative Oversight and Monitoring Approaches: State Examples.