psychotropic drugs

In his response to reporter Karen de Sá’s searing expose of the misuse and overuse of psychiatric medication on foster children in general and one case from his own institution in particular, Joseph Costa, CEO of Hillsides, serves up all the usual buzzwords and boilerplate.

The Imprint is highlighting each of the policy recommendations made this summer by the participants of the Foster Youth Internship Program (FYI), a group of 12 former foster youths who completed congressional internships.

The multimedia series “Drugging Our Kids,” published by the San Jose Mercury News, won the Edward R. Murrow Award for an online news video documentary by a large online organization last week.

By Isaac Smith After a year of scathing indictments by the media and advocates concerning the overuse of psychotropic drugs on foster children, the legislature responded with a flood of bills aimed at strengthening the safeguards for the prescription of psychological medications to foster youth.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times addressed what some suggest is the over-medication of children in the Los Angeles County foster care system. Certainly this is a significant issue, and indeed, if children are being overmedicated, it must be addressed.

A few weeks back we reflected on the stories and trends that defined juvenile justice and child welfare in 2014. So what might 2015 bring on the national stage? Here are a few things to watch on that front: Differential Response Unraveling?

Administration officials spoke for the first time about President Barack Obama’s proposal for a 10-year, $750 million effort to “address over-prescription of psychotropic medications for children in foster care,” on a Friday conference call with child welfare advocacy, research and member organizations.

Note: This is part three of a three-part look by columnists and former foster youth Waln Brown and John Seita about the darker side of foster care in America. Click here to read Part One, and click here to read Part Two.