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2016 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Yost
Report on Children's Mental Health Workforce (language only)

Item 313 #4h

Item 313 #4h

Health and Human Resources
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Language

Page 281, after line 26, insert:

"T.  The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall conduct a study and provide a report on ways to expand the number of mental health and primary care professionals trained to treat children's mental health disorders. The study shall include ways to increase the number of child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners working in Virginia; ways to allow adult psychiatrists to gain additional training in child psychiatry so that they can serve children effectively; ways to increase the number of mental health professionals at all levels who are trained in best practices to treat children and adolescents, including children under age 5; and models from other states that Virginia could adapt to provide children's mental health training to pediatricians and primary care doctors, and improving and expanding child psychiatry consultation models. The Department shall seek input from a wide variety of stakeholders, including: Virginia's psychiatry residency programs, practicing adult and child psychiatrists, pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, child advocates, early childhood mental health experts, and any other relevant parties. The Department shall report its findings to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by July 1, 2017.”



Explanation

(This amendment requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to conduct a study of ways to expand mental health and primary care professionals that are trained to treat children's mental health issues. The department is required to report the results by July 1, 2017.)