Research in recent years has shown that children and youth involved with child welfare are disproportionately prescribed psychotropic medications compared to their peers who are not involved with child welfare. While there is a role for these medications to help address certain illnesses, emotions, or behaviors, these medications can be harmful if used improperly. This class provides social workers the information needed to help provide proper case management for foster youth who may or may not require medication.
This training provides:
- An overview of the uses, benefits, and risks of psychotropic medication.
- Information about trauma and how it can inform care and treatment decisions.
- Guidance for professionals to create treatment plans and team with families and other professionals to make and monitor treatment decisions (e.g., public health nurses, behavioral health providers, school personnel, doctors, juvenile probation officers, CASAs, and other individuals in the family support network such as coaches, clergy, etc.).
- Ability to locate and use the forms and informational materials in the court approval process (JV-220).
After this workshop you will be better prepared to work with children and youth in foster care about the uses, benefits, and risks of psychotropic medication, trauma, treatment plans, substance use disorder, and the court authorization process.