On February 17, 2011 Rep. Grace F. Napolitano and a panel of mental health advocates and experts, including LA Laker Ron Artest and champion boxer Mia St. John, will examine the Mental Health in Schools Act, a bill authored by Napolitano to allocate funding to mental health services in schools. One in five children and adolescents currently suffer from emotional and behavioral issues, but less than one third ever receives treatment. Professional mental health treatment delivered by clinical social workers and other qualified professionals can prevent depression, crime, imprisonment and suicide later in life, but slashed state budgets are leaving many youth more isolated than ever. The briefing will examine the potential effect of the Mental Health in Schools Act (supported by NASW) and hear from advocates who have been personally affected by mental health programs in their own lives. See NASW’s coalition letter of support.
What Social Workers Need to Know About the Supreme Court’s Decision in Chiles v. Salazar
In an 8–1 decision in Chiles v. Salazar, the Supreme Court ruling raises significant implications for how social workers navigate ethical practice, client care, and the regulation of mental health services.
