Earlier this year the Washington Post reported that Governor Kaine’s proposed budget would eliminate funding for the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents. This 48 bed facility has been a needed resource for the treatment of children suffering from the most serious psychiatric conditions. When seriously troubled children cannot access private psychiatric hospitals or services, the Center is often the only viable alternative for short term treatment or evaluation. I had written about this subject in an earlier blog entry and with the General Assembly ready to tackle increased cuts, the Center may again be the focus of lawmakers looking to make cuts. This facility and mental health services for children with acute needs must be preserved.
State officials are quoted in the Post article as saying that the services offered by the Commonwealth Center can be better provided by private hospitals and local community resources. In reality, Virginia’s local community mental health services for children are woefully deficient when dealing with children who demonstrate severe behavior and psychiatric problems. Last year theVirginia Department of Juvenile Justice reported that approximately 67% of children admitted to Virginia’s juvenile correctional facilities suffer from a diagnosed mental health disorder. This is an alarming and disturbing statistic. No wonder many believe that Virginia's correctional facilities are the mental health service of last resort for poor children with emotional disabilities.
There is a real need to trim costs and look at more efficient delivery of mental services for mentally ill children. However, cutting the Commonwealth Center without viable alternatives is grossly irresponsible and dangerous for many of these children and their families.
