ARTICLE TAG

Anna Johnson

6/14/2019

The Next Chapter for Reforming California’s Juvenile Justice Agency: A Therapeutic Model

Jeremy Loudenback

As California works toward finalizing a new state budget, the legislature this week provided some long-awaited clues about the future of reforms to the state’s Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). A budget approved by the state legislature now appears to call for the creation of an $8 million “therapeutic communities” pilot project inspired by a successful alternative to youth incarceration in large facilities.

10/1/2014

Psych Meds and Foster Youth: Alameda County California Takes on a National Issue

Daniel Heimpel

On September 29, around 50 foster youth advocates and mental health professionals crowded into a conference room in Alameda County California’s Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS) building to discuss the steps the county can take to reduce the overmedication of children in foster care.

Anna Johnson

5/28/2014

Communication, Transparency Needed on Use of Psych Meds, Study Says

Victor Valle

Preliminary findings of a study examining the use of psychotropic drugs to treat foster youth and juvenile offenders suggest a need for increased transparency and communication among service providers. The Chronicle reported last week that Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee planned to “play offense” on this issue.

3/2/2014

Calif. Family Court Process on Psych Meds Needs Improvements, Safeguards

Child PsychDrug Safety Team

California is one of six states that place decisions concerning psychotropic medication of foster children in the hands of the juvenile court. In 1999 the legislature, at the urging of Los Angeles County Juvenile Court Judge Terry Friedman, enacted Senate Bill 543.

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