What is the Illinois Children's Mental Health Act (ICMHA) of 2003 and what needs is it designed to address?Hmmmm ... the April 2003 Report of the Illinois Children's Mental Health Task Force, Children's Mental Health: An Urgent Priority for Illinois.The ICMHA of 2003 (P.A. 93-9485) is based on recommendations in the April 2003 Report of the Illinois Children's Mental Health Task Force, Children's Mental Health: An Urgent Priority for Illinois.
The Task Force Report demonstrates the need for greater coordination of mental health services for Illinois children and calls on the State to make children's mental health a priority through the creation of a continuum of care from prevention through early intervention, and treatment.
The Children's Mental Health: An Urgent Priority for Illinois report can be read here: Children's Mental Health: An Urgent Priority for Illinois (pdf format)
Foreward:
FOREWORD In the spring of 2001, a small group of advocates and education leaders visited a high school in Illinois. The issues facing students were striking and disturbing - students were depressed, traumatized by exposure to violence in the home and community, and greatly in need of someone to talk to about their anxieties and concerns. The group decided to convene a workgroup to explore children?s mental health. This workgroup produced a White Paper and recommended that the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority convene a Task Force on Children?s Mental Health, which began its work in June of 2002.It is with great pleasure that the Illinois Children?s Mental Health Task Force presents its Final Report, Children?s Mental Health: An Urgent Priority for Illinois. Over 100 people from various backgrounds and professions worked diligently to research the findings and formulate the recommendations contained in the Report. The Report represents a first major step in the long haul work of creating a mental health system that is truly responsive to the social and emotional development needs of children.
Research has clearly demonstrated that social and emotional well-being is essential for children?s healthy development and critical to their ability to learn and succeed in life. Mental health promotion for children of all ages must be as high a priority for families and child serving systems as academic preparedness and physical health. Children are born with great promise, and we must do everything possible to help them develop socially and emotionally so they can meet the challenges of learning and living in today?s complex society. Unfortunately, many children including very young children experience psychological trauma and mental health problems that, if untreated, negatively affect their brain, their behavior, and their academic and social success. Services must reach these young children and their families early to avoid more serious and costly problems. A full range of treatment services must also be available for those children who suffer from serious mental health disorders.
It's always for the children, that's how these legislators push through such fascist laws.
If any kid or mother now is deemed "mentally ill" in Illinois by a so-called professional who may need help himself he or she will be stigmatized for life. It doesn't matter if the diagnosis was bull, they may never be allowed the right to own a gun and who knows what other rights could be denied. Time for these legislators to get a grip and remind them what country they live in.