Decades-Long Legal Battle Will Require Overhaul of Child Mental Health Services

(McLean, VA, July 2, 2015) – The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association applauds the favorable settlement of a four-decade long Idaho juvenile care case in which the child mental health services system will be overhauled. The settlement helps raise awareness for the increasing need for psychiatric rehabilitation among children, and how these services will enable them to lead successful, meaningful lives in their communities.

The settlement calls for four major changes: increased mental health screenings in all state agencies and institutions that serve children, creating a system of community-based mental health services, engaging children’s families in their care, and monitoring service quality and outcomes. It will be the state’s objective to integrate these improved services.

“With the settlement agreement between parties involving the long-standing Jeff D. lawsuit, there is now a solid framework being laid to adequately support Idaho children with mental health challenges and their families. Fortunately, we have been ahead of the game, in terms of developing a competent workforce, with 1,100 Idaho providers trained in the PRA Children's Certificate in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Training Curriculum since 2010," said Jodi Smith, CPRP, LPC, Clinical Director, Heritage Health, Family Support Services of North Idaho, LLC. “With the new Child and Family Resiliency Practitioner (CFRP) credential set to roll out in early 2016, it feels as if the stars are aligning. Having three Idaho representatives participating in the development of this exam-based credential is just icing on the cake.”

PRA is especially pleased by the “workforce training and development” section of the settlement. A workforce development plan will be developed in order to deliver improved services and support to child mental health services. The plan will also identify strategies to create sustainable regional and statewide education, training and mentoring to public and private providers. The education and training that practitioners will undergo in preparing for the Child and Family Resiliency Practitioner (CFRP) exam will aid in demonstrating the competency of providers across the state. The CFRP credential, administered by PRA, is conferred upon practitioners who have mastered eight domains of resiliency and recovery as they relate to the principles and values of psychiatric rehabilitation for school-aged children and their families.

“Idaho’s favorable ruling to change their children’s mental health service system is so affirming to all the children and families who seek behavioral healthcare services. We have had the privilege of training diverse and dedicated providers in Idaho in psychiatric rehabilitation to develop the skills they need to live with health, wellness, resiliency, recovery and full community integration,” said Dori Hutchinson, ScD, CPRP, PRA Board Chair. “Psychiatric rehabilitation training responds to evidence-based needs stated by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and SAMHSA for a better trained workforce to help children and families live optimally in their communities. We are confident that the behavioral healthcare workforce trained by PRA is well-prepared to help children and families function with health, wellness and resiliency.”