| By
Muriel Shepherd
"Keeping
kids with mental illness in state mental hospitals designed
for them" is the goal of the newly formed Children's Mental
Health Partnership, which the NAMI/NYS Board recently
voted to join. This coalition of mental health advocates,
legislators, state labor groups and the AAUW opposes the
state budget proposal to close four state children's psychiatric
centers that were initiated 30 years ago to move children
out of larger older hospitals into small ones separate
from adults. Both the New York State Senate and Assembly
have rejected the closings in their budget initiatives.
The
four children's psychiatric centers-Queens, Rockland,
Sagamore and Western New York are relatively new buildings,
25 to 30 years old, designed specifically for the treatment
of children. The grounds are expansive and attractive,
resembling suburban school campuses, and have swing sets
and slides, lawns and trees. They are perceived as child-friendly,
non-threatening and conducive to recovery.
The
adult psychiatric centers to which the children would
be moved -- Creedmore, Rockland, Pilgrim and Buffalo --are
older, multi-story "foreboding" structures in which security
is an important component as some occupants have histories
of violence, substance abuse and criminal involvement.
To restrict adult contact with children, the children
would have to be fenced in.
The
Office of Mental Health has justified the proposal primarily
on fiscal grounds, projecting operational savings of $7.3
million and capital savings of $4.8 million. It is claimed
that the children's facilities each require extensive
capital investment, even though Sagamore and Queens Children's
Psychiatric Centers were accredited with commendations
in 1999.
No
therapeutic reasons have been advanced by OMH for the
consolidations.
According
to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
policy statement, "Unless there are compelling clinical
reasons to the contrary, or serious limitations in availability,
children and adolescents younger than 14 years of age
should be admitted only to programs that are designed
for children and adolescents and physically distinct from
programs for adult psychiatric patients."
Secondarily,
OMH points to existing psychiatric centers where facilities
for adult and children are co-located --Rochester, Capital
District, St. Lawrence, Mohawk Valley and Elmira -- as
further justification for closing the freestanding children's
hospitals. While they offer high quality care, these facilities
are considered by parents to have remarkable differences
from the separate children's psychiatric centers.
The
children's units of adult facilities are intermediate
care units with fewer children and provide shorter lengths
of stay, making it easier to maintain the children safely.
Schooling is not as extensive and comprehensive. Recreational
schedules have to be staggered. The continuum of care
that is provided is not as great.
Finally,
parents believe the freestanding facility provides children
the opportunity to grow and flourish and get well in an
environment that is developmentally appropriate.
The
Partnership is carrying out a $250,000 newspaper and radio
campaign to promote funding of the best possible location
for the treatment of children with serious emotional disorders.
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