,Children in Broome County with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Developmental Disability Conditions Numbers and Service Gaps

Children in Broome County with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Developmental Disability Conditions Numbers and Service Gaps


 

Publication Date: November 2005

Publisher: Center for Governmental Research Inc.

Author(s): Donald Pryor; Vicki Brown

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Health; Government Management

Type: Report

Coverage: New York

Abstract:

Broome County (NY) Children's Mental Health Task Force, comprised of a cross-section of government, non-profit service agency, education and mental health representatives, commissioned CGR to identify the numbers, characteristics and needs of county children and adolescents who have both mental health and developmental disability conditions.

In 2005, CGR identified approximately 300 Broome County children with unmet needs, especially for psychiatric and psychological evaluations, counseling, emergency care, ongoing respite care, crisis intervention and medication management. CGR's major recommendations addressed ways of bridging gaps between the mental health and developmental disability service systems, strengthening testing to improve diagnosis and needs assessment, and cross-training staff. The report was subsequently used by the task force to spearhead significant change in how services are provided for these children.