Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A bill to create a mental health resources clearinghouse for kids was voted forward by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously earlier this week.
House Bill 409 from State Rep. John Galloway, a Democrat from Falls Township, is the second attempt to create a state mental health clearinghouse to connect schools and families to community mental health resources.
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Last session, a similar bill moved forward but did not get put into law.
Galloway’s bill would set up a clearinghouse of available mental health care services. The information would be publicly accessible and have resources from throughout the state. In addition, this clearinghouse would allow school personnel to learn about and take advantage of existing programs and resources for their schools.
Under the present system, it can be hard for school staff and families to determine what resources are available to deal with mental health challenges.
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“Children’s untreated mental health issues are one of the most pressing issues our society faces,” said Galloway. “Our schools lack the resources needed to provide care and services to their students. The clearinghouse would create a one-stop shop for mental health resources, saving schools time and resources and improve both the quantity and quality of mental health programming available to those in need.”
The 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health found that one in six American children between the ages of 6 and 17 had a treatable mental health disorder ranging from depression to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
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The bill is now headed to the state senate.
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