SD5 - Dissemination of the Collection of Evidence-Based Treatment Modalities for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs


Executive Summary:
The 2002 General Assembly, through Senate Joint Resolution 99, directed the Virginia Commission on Youth to coordinate the collection of empirically-based information to identify the treatments recognized as effective for the treatment of children, including juvenile offenders, with mental health treatment needs, symptoms and disorders. This initiative originated from recommendations made to the 2002 General Assembly by the Virginia Commission on Youth as part of a two-year study of Children and Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance Requiring Out-of-Home Placement and by the Joint Committee Studying Treatment Options for Offenders with Mental Illness or Substance Abuse Disorders (House Document 23, Senate Document 25, respectively).

The resulting 224-page publication entitled "Collection of Evidence-based Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs (Collection)" was compiled by the Commission on Youth with the assistance from an advisory group of experts pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 99. The Collection was published in House Document 9 and presented to the Governor and the 2003 General Assembly.

To ensure that this information reached the intended audience, the 2003 General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution 358, which required the Commission to disseminate the "Collection" via web technologies. The resolution also required the Commission to update the "Collection" biennially. The Secretaries of Health, Public Safety and Education, along with the Advisory Group, were to assist the Commission with this effort, as were various state and local agencies. During the 2003 study period, Commission staff gave over 40 formal presentations, informal briefings and on-site demonstrations to education, juvenile justice, foster care and adoption, and mental health professionals throughout the Commonwealth and discussed with participants the benefits of evidence-based treatments in children’s mental health. The Commission on Youth utilized other strategies in dissemination of the "Collection" via web-based technologies. A bookmark was created to inform recipients about the "Collection" and how to access it on the Internet and over 2,500 bookmarks have been distributed. On the national level, Virginia received recognition as one of two states that has compiled a resource on evidence-based treatments in children’s mental health.

The following recommendation was adopted by the Virginia Commission on Youth at the November 17, 2003 meeting:

Recommendation:

Direct that the Commission on Youth, with assistance from the Senate Joint Resolution 358 Advisory Group, update the "Collection on Evidence-based Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs" based on feedback received. The Commission shall complete this work prior to the 2005 General Assembly Session.