'Medical Recommendation For Children Act' Will Damage Parent/Teacher Relationship

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and the Intermountain Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry urge Utah's Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr., to veto the "Medical Recommendation for Children Act," HB 202.

This legislation was created to prevent teachers from discussing youth mental health issues with parents. If enacted, the "Medical Recommendation for Children Act" will pose barriers to treatment for youth living with mental illnesses.

"The partnership between parents and teachers must be supported, not hindered," said AACAP President Thomas F. Anders, M.D. "I urge Governor Huntsman to veto this damaging legislation."

The AACAP and the Intermountain Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have called on Governor Huntsman to veto the bill because teachers play a large role in the daily lives of children, giving them a unique perspective to identify troubling behavior.

Also, teachers are experts in spotting barriers to learning. Many learning problems result from conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression. "A failing report card at the end of the semester should not be the only communication from school." said President Anders.

Proponents of separating teachers and parents say that troubling youth behavior will appear at home, anyway. "In actuality, a child can behave quite differently at home than at school," said Doug Gray, M.D., University of Utah's child and adolescent psychiatry training director.

The "Medical Recommendation for Children Act" is based upon the false premise that teachers are responsible for a presumed and undocumented increase in the use of medications to control behavior in school settings. However, this concern is misplaced. Two separate studies by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of Utah Health Department in May 2003 indicated that Utah ranks last or near the bottom of states in per capita use of these medications.

Furthermore, this legislation would drain Utah's already overextended education budget. The bill shifts the cost of training and implementation of new standards to Utah's 40 local school districts.

The AACAP & the Intermountain Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ask Governor Huntsman to veto the "Medical Recommendation for Children Act" to protect children and to prevent government intrusion into the parent/teacher relationship.

Representing over 7,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children's mental health.

http://www.aacap.org