The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47015

Alice L London, MPA; MS, Susan Anthony, MA, Christi Turner, MEd; MPP, Helene Toiv, MPA, John Dicken, MPA, William Hadley, MHS, Emily Gamble Gardiner, MPA, Janina Austin, and Sari Bloom, MPH; MSW. Health Financing and Public Health Issues, U.S. General Accounting Office, 441 G Street, N.W., Mail Stop 2A14, Washington, DC 20548, 202 512-2983, londona@GAo.gov

Many children have been victims of or witnesses to traumatic events,including domestic violence, child abuse, community violence, natural disasters, and extraordinary events such as the attacks on September 11, 2001. A growing body of research has demonstrated that exposure to such traumas can deleteriously affect children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development and pose significant problems into adulthood if left untreated. In this session, the U.S. General Accounting Office will present findings from its report examining traumatized children’s access to mental health services. We will discuss the(1)the extent to which public and private insurance cover mental health services needed by children exposed to traumatic events; (2) barriers to identifying children needing services and referring them to appropriate treatment;(3)issues related to coordination among service systems such as child protective services, schools, law enforcement, and the courts;(4) federally supported programs that can help children and their families gain access to services; and (5)innovative approaches to developing multidisciplinary strategies for assisting children and families.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to(1)describe public and private insurance coverage of mental health services for traumatized children,(2)identify key barriers to children’s access to services,(3)describe challenges of coordinating the responsibilities of different service systems,(4)list several federal programs that help children obtain needed services, and (
• discuss benefits of evolving strategies for treating and supporting children and their families.

Keywords: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.