Former Foster Children Urge Mental Health Bill of Rights

Two hundred former foster children in California advocated for a state Mental Health Bill of Rights yesterday.

“Under the bill, foster youth would get the right to interview therapists, to be presented with a range of treatment options, and to be able to refuse medical treatment unless a judge orders it.”

Advocates say “mental health treatment for foster children often targets just behavior problems and not the root causes.”

Proponents went on to say that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is among the common mental health issues.

REFORM Talk agrees with this and additionally feels that all adoptees (and all people) with mental health issues have the same frustrations with lack of appropriate therapies and access to treatment options.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_foster01.283dfe2.html
[The Press Enterprise 1/31/11 by Jim Miller]

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