| The US has the highest rate of violence and | | | | later delinquency, child abuse and violence includes |
| incarceration of all the Western Nations. Additionally, it | | | | home visiting programs and Head Start type |
| appears that the rates of violence and murder in US | | | | programs with family involvement. Family therapy, |
| cities are again on the rise. What can we do to stem | | | | mentoring, and skill building are effective for young at |
| the tide of children growing up to be criminal and | | | | risk youth. A recent study of school based mental |
| violent in their families and their communities? | | | | health (Schmidt, Seifert, Weist, 2007) demonstrated |
| We know that when the basic needs of children and | | | | that this type of program can reduce disciplinary |
| adolescents are not met at home, they are at risk | | | | problems and absenteeism, while improving mental |
| for behavioral and mental health problems. We also | | | | health and self-esteem of children who participate in |
| know that these children need services to prevent | | | | the program when compared to those who do not |
| their behavior and mental health problems from | | | | participate. We know what to do. We know that it |
| becoming worse and entrenched. So, when politicians | | | | works. To not do it is inefficient, ineffective and |
| say we cannot afford basic health programs like | | | | wrong. |
| SCHIP, they, perhaps are not aware that the dollars | | | | SCHIP funds physical and mental health care for |
| spent on childhood physical and mental health care | | | | children and adolescents who do not have health |
| can prevent spending hundreds of thousands of | | | | insurance. This year there is a bill to expand the |
| dollars as they grow older and their problems worsen | | | | coverage of SCHIP. The President has vetoed this bill. |
| due to lack of care. Add to that the cost of losses in | | | | The senate probably does not have enough votes to |
| families and communities due to violence. The costs | | | | over-ride the veto. However, it is important to |
| of doing too little far outweighs the costs of doing | | | | understand that we will all gain by making sure that all |
| the right thing in the first place. We can give them | | | | children and teens have adequate physical and mental |
| treatment when they are young or lock them up | | | | health care. Billions have been lost due to fraud in |
| when they grow up. Incarceration costs much more | | | | Iraq. There needs to be efforts to clean up the fraud |
| that outpatient treatment and prevention. | | | | and spend that money on our future, our children. |
| Research has demonstrated that good prevention of | | | | |