California Enacts Legislation To Limit Psychotropic Medications For Children In Foster Care

California Enacts Legislation To Limit Psychotropic Medications For Children In Foster Care - OPEN MINDS:

On October 6, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation to increase state oversight and to limit the amount of psychotropic medications prescribed to children in foster care. The legislation was a package of three bills: Senate Bills (SB) 484, 319, and 238. A provision of SB 484 calls for the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), and stakeholders to establish a methodology to identify group homes that have disproportionately high levels of psychotropic drug medication. About 25% of children in California’s foster care system overall, and about half of those placed in group homes, are prescribed psychotropic medications.