Illinois Is 'Testing Ground' for Mental Health Plan Targeting Schoolchildren
5/24/2005 11:18:00 AM
By Rhonda Robinson, exclusive to Illinois Family Institute
As the first state to seek implementation of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (NFC), Illinois schools are on the fast track to become the nation's testing ground for mental health screening, and the only state to target children's mental health, reaching beyond NFC recommendations and into the womb with prenatal screenings for depression.
The NFC was established by an executive order on April 2, 2002 to "conduct a comprehensive study" of the nation's mental health system; fifteen months later the commission unveiled its recommendations.
Over 25 federal agencies have been charged with the development and implementation of an action plan based on those recommendations.
Critics of the NFC say it goes beyond the original intent of the President to remove the stigma of mental illness and provide those with disabilities and mental illness opportunity for assistance and full integration into society and the workforce.
Instead, it reaches into the population of healthy children via the school system. In an attempt to "prevent" mental illness by sifting out unseen and potential developmental and emotional problems, the commission states, "52 million students pass through the nation's schools, almost one-fifth of the population." Therefore, the commission reasons, "Schools are in a key position to identify mental health problems early and to provide a link to appropriate services."
The NFC has set off alarms in both liberal and conservative camps. At the core of the issue, many contend, is the current state of psychiatry and the practice of polypharmacology. Simply put, the current trend in psychiatry is antidepressants, and often a "cocktail" of several at a time, with little time spent in traditional "talk therapy."
Critics on both sides of the political spectrum contend the mix of government, behavioral drugs, and our children, are a dangerous mix for any society. The potential for danger is magnified by the current allegations of corruption within the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and pharmaceutical companies covering up the lethal side effects of commonly prescribed antidepressants such as Prozac.
Illinois jumped into the fray in 2003 with the 53-page report "Children's Mental Health: An Urgent Priority for Illinois" (Click HERE for the PDF version of this report.) The report was issued by the "Children's Mental Health Task Force," sponsored by Ounce of Prevention and funded by The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, which is associated with Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceutica.
It was this report that the "Mental Health Act of 2003", signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich is based upon.
Social and emotional standards
This Act created the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership (ICHMP), which reports directly to the Governor. It required the Illinois State Board of Education to develop and implement a plan that incorporates social and emotional standards as part of the mandated Illinois Learning Standards.
With the Partnership's recommendations came a vast new bureaucracy that stresses intervention and treatment. Citing early intervention as key to academic success, and crime prevention, ICMHP is promoting all pregnant women to be screened prior to delivery for depression and periodically for the first six months after she gives birth.
Advocates point to research showing behavior is shaped in the early years, and with complications at birth.
Screenings, testing, and treatments are to be offered in the home, pre-schools, daycare, and throughout the public school system.
As with the President's plan, the Illinois plan has met with opposition.
However, it was not until the preliminary plan became open for public comment last summer, in a whirlwind of hearings, that many legislators began to realize the broad implications, and many felt the Partnership had overstepped its commission and began to voice concerns. (See former story on the IllinoisLeader.com website.)
Barbara Shaw, chairperson of the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership, in a interview with Psychiatric Times, said that she believed the stir of opposition to screening of children and pregnant women was a matter of "misunderstanding of the kind of screening" and a mistrust of the mental health establishment.
Clarifying her position, Shaw went on to say the type of screening ICMHP is advocating would be a part of regular well-child check-ups that would "point out" areas where remediation would be needed: "We want to step in so we can prevent more serious mental problems from developing."
Pointing to the "small but vocal minority" of people in Illinois who object to the screening Shaw said, "These are people who feel the schools have no place futzing with their children's mental health...They also distrust psychotropic medications."
True parental consent advocated
Unable to stop the rapidly approaching implementation of the Governor's ICMHP recommendations, pro-family groups Eagle Forum, IFI, CWA, and Family Taxpayers Network have asked legislators for written parental consent to be written into the law, but has met a stonewall within the Governor's office.
As it stands now, "voluntary and with parental consent" as stated throughout the plan, means that if parents do not wish to have their child screened and state intervention provided, a written "opt-out" must be sent to the school. Otherwise, consent is implied.
Any assessment, within the school code for mental health, does not require parental consent as it is considered academic if it is within the curriculum.
On the federal level, efforts are also being made by Congressman Dr. Ron Paul (R-Texas) to enforce parental rights with well-defined parental consent legislation. Rep. Paul writes in his February 2005 newsletter, "[T]he first bill I introduced this year forbids federal funds from being used for any mental-health screening of students without the express, written, voluntary, informed consent of their parents. "The Parental Consent Act of 2005," or HR 181. This legislation strikes a vital blow for parents who oppose government interference with their parental authority, and strengthens the fundamental right of parents to direct and control the upbringing and education of their children." Rep. Paul went on to say, "It is important to understand that powerful interests, namely federal bureaucrats and pharmaceutical lobbies, are behind the push for mental health screening in schools. There is no end to the bureaucratic appetite to run our lives, and the pharmaceutical industry is eager to sell psychotropic drugs to millions of new customers in American schools. Only tremendous public opposition will suffice to overcome the lobbying and bureaucratic power behind the president's New Freedom Commission." In the Psychiatric Times article, Barbara Shaw "readily admitted that the ICMHP's draft plan served as the first prototype of at least a segment of what the NFC was advocating." Shaw went on to say, "What is happening in Illinois is a testing ground for the President's New Freedom report goals." (Click HERE to read the entire article.)
ICMHP's final plan is due on the Governor's desk June 30th. It has not been released for public comment.
Rhonda Robinson and her husband of 28 years, Michael, live in Douglas County. They are the proud parents of nine children and have eight grandchildren. You can send Rhonda an email at: mothering_9@msn.com
Join IFI June 8-10 in Our Effort to Protect Marriage in Illinois at One of Our 3 Summer Galas!
 IFI's fundraising galas will feature Phil Burress, architect of the succesful Ohio Marriage Protection Amendment. Burress' and the Ohio marriage coalition's successful campaign is widely credited with drawing pro-family voters to the polls, helping give President Bush an Ohio victory on Election Day.
Proceeds for the galas will go to Illinois Family Institute, helping us achieve our top priority of passing a state constitutional amendment protecting marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Please inform your friends of these events, and thanks for your help:
Wednesday, June 8, 2005: Metro East St. Louis
6:00-8:00 PM - Tickets: $50/person
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Please make your check out to "Illinois Family Institute" and send it to: IFI c/o Erin, 799 Roosevelt Rd., Suite 3-208, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. You can also pay by credit card by calling IFI at 630-790-8370. If you have any questions, ask for Erin, or email her at info@illinoisfamily.org.
Please forward this announcement to your friends and coworkers. For more information, click HERE or call IFI's office at 630-790-8370.
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