Children’s Advocacy Group Calls For Changes In Mental Health Laws

Members of a group wanting a change in the state’s laws regarding mental health services for children say 53,000 Missouri children are financially eligible for state help – but the budget allows for only about 11,000 to be treated. Citizens for Missouri’s Children says the result can mean parents would have to give up custody of a child in order to get state help. And that results in theparents ending up in a central child abuse and neglect registry. The group wants the law changed so it would allow families to play more of a role in the treatment, along with the state help, and the parents would not be put on the central registry. In addition, it wants to see cutsproposed in the state budget restored so all the children eligible for state assistance can get that help.