Multiple studies have found that children in foster care are vulnerable to inappropriate or excessive use of psychotropic medication. Advocating for and presiding over cases involving children and teens in foster care who may have mental health disorders requires a solid understanding of the positive and negatives aspects of medication use in this population.
In order to assist those working with children and youth in care, the ABA Center on Children and the Law published this public policy brief to address: common child and adolescent mental health diagnoses; a multimodal approach to managing mental health disorders; the benefits, drawbacks, and side effects of psychotropic medications; recommendations for best practice, and questions judges and advocates should ask about medication use.
by JoAnne Solchany, PhD, ARNP.
Florida's Children First
