Tuesday, January 29, 2008

New focus on foster kids' meds

Psychiatric drugs - DHS prescribes more oversight and follow-up for youngsters under its care

Children in state foster care who are on psychiatric drugs would receive more oversight under a new plan to make sure they're on the right medications and getting the mental health help they need.

The draft proposal by the Oregon Department of Human Services could affect more than 2,000 foster children who receive psychiatric medications.

State officials last spring adopted new rules regarding psychiatric medications and foster children.

But The Oregonian reported in November that state law and rules governing the use of psychiatric medications in foster care are often ignored and that hundreds of children are taking multiple prescriptions with little or no state scrutiny.

READ MORE @ THE OREGONIAN