What is my role as a clinician in issues related to the role of psychotropic medications in the treatment and care of youth?

It is your responsibility as the clinician to ensure children and youth in out-of-home care receive appropriate treatment and medication by following the most current Psychotropic Medication Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Colorado’s Child Welfare System publication. Youth treated with psychotropic medications must be followed to ensure that treatment is not prescribed for inappropriate reasons, is implemented correctly, and is adjusted as necessary throughout placement.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize and consider the current issues surrounding the use, maintenance, and monitoring of psychotropic medication as treatment for youth within Colorado’s foster care system.
• Recognize and adhere to the safeguards in place to protect youth from over prescribing, relative contraindication, and dosing.
• Identify resources that provide information to ensure relevant and current prescribing and treatment.

Who Should Complete this Module?

The information in this module is valuable for clinicians, practice staff, behavioral health workers, foster care providers, patient advocates, front & back office staff, nurses, care managers, and school representatives.

The project described was supported by Funding Opportunity Number CMS-1G1-14-001 from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM), a four-year initiative, is funded by up to $65 million from CMS. The content provided is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.