Harris, A. – 2012
A policy brief addressing the issue of prescribing psychotropic medications to children and youth in foster care. Describes how children and youth entering foster care have been exposed to such factors as family violence, substance abuse, and maltreatment that can impair their social and emotional development. Notes that Texas has high rates of prescribing psychotropic medications to these children. Describes the efforts implemented in Texas to reduce these numbers, including developing medication guidelines and promoting trauma-informed care. Provides a series of recommendations to ensure psychotropic medication oversight. Recommendations include: expand trauma-informed training, ensure accuracy of children’s medical information, engage youth in the behavioral health decision-making process, inform foster parents of their right to review medication utilization, and collect data on all psychotropic medication usage rather than just a sample.