Minutes 05-29-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Therapy with young children cannot be done on the child alone but must involve the family, and in order to have access to the family, one needs to have access to the home. The current pay structure benefits office-based therapy, which has been the tradition and what most people think of as therapy. There is mounting evidence that early intervention can prevent the need for those in office visits down the road. But in order to do that the economics have to be understood and adjustments need to be made. Your support has been crucial in making this kind of outreach possible. I thank you and hope you will support us through this difficult period. Susan Pritchard Moore said six and half years ago a judge gave she and her husband custody of their five grandchildren. She said these children were out of control, and a pediatrician referred them to KidSCope. She said KidSCope saved these children and their family. She said the mother had set the home on fire, and the children were rescued from inside. She said the children were once kidnapped by their parents after the grandparents had custody, and the police found them in Ohio. She recounted other instances where the mother was abusive to her children, and she discussed the resulting behavior. She said it was helpful that the therapist was able to come to their home and work with all of the family. She said the older child is doing well in high school, and is a life scout. She said the child that did not speak is now completing 5th grade with above average grades, and all of the children are adjusted and doing well in school. She said this program turned her from being overwhelmed to being able to raise these children with faith and not fear. Myra-Gwin Summers read from the following written comments: My name is Myra Gwin-Summers. First I want to thank the Orange County Board of Commissioners for supporting KidSCope services from the very beginning. It's been clear over the years that the Commissioners realize the positive impact of KidSCope services on children and families. Preparing children for success in schools saves our school systems dollars off the bottom line when children are successful. I am here tonight to advocate for KidSCope's evidence-base therapy program. This is the program that provides mental health services for children prior to their entry into the school system. I have had a personal relationship with children who received KidSCope's therapy services. I have seen firsthand how their lives were changed for the better. I have seen children who were traumatized, as well as children who had significant difficulties with common life events such as death in the family, divorce, or birth of a sibling. These mental health/therapy services have a positive impact and life-changing effect on the child and their families. When the child enters school, this positive effect spreads like a ripple impacting their teachers and classrooms. This saves a tremendous amount of money in our school budgets, in addition to putting the child on a mainstream track. The extra funds that KidSCope is requesting help support these evidence-based practices that produce positive outcomes for children, their families and our school systems. As you assess this request for mental health funds, I ask you to remember that: KidSCope is the only mental health provider in Orange County that is specially trained and singularly focused to provide these mental health services to young children, birth to age five, their families, and care givers. Thank you for your consideration. Kathleen Ponder is a member of the advisory council of KidSCope. She said the recent tragedies at Sandy Hook Elementary, Virginia Tech, and UCLA were all perpetrated by mentally ill young men, and she wonders what might have been different if these young men had access to services like those provided by KidSCope. She asked the Commissioners to fully fund KidSCope and the schools systems.