NCJ Number
240258
Date Published
January 2012
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report presents a 3-year update (2005-07) on trends and achievements related to Alaska's "Bring the Kids Home" (BKH) an initiative to return to the State for treatment child residents with severe emotional disturbances who have been placed in out-of-State residential facilities, as well as to prevent additional children from being sent out-of State for such treatment.
Abstract
Between fiscal years 2006 and 2007, the exponential growth in out-of-State care was reversed; the number of children admitted to out-of-State residential psychiatric treatment centers decreased 37 percent, i.e., 176 fewer Alaska children were placed in out-of-State care. During fiscal year 2004, of the total number of children admitted to residential psychiatric treatment centers, 22 percent were admitted to an in-State facility, and 78 percent were placed out-of-State. During fiscal year 2007, of the total number of children admitted to residential psychiatric treatment centers, 53 percent were served in-State, and 48 percent were treated out-of-State. Between fiscal years 2005 and 2006, the total residential psychiatric treatment centers' Medicaid expenditures increased by only 4.7 percent, the smallest annual increase since 1998. By shifting expenditures from expensive out-of-State residential treatment, BKH may decrease the length of stay and improve outcomes, but increase costs per day. Thus, developing in-State capacity for children with severe disturbance is only a partial solution to the problem. The rest of the solution requires providing services and support for children and their families before the child becomes severely disturbed. Other achievements of BKH during the 3 years examined included improvements in system management, outcomes tracking, and continuous quality improvement. Also, a new care coordination team within Alaska's Department of Health and Social Services is monitoring referrals to out-of-State residential psychiatric treatment centers, ensuring the use of in-State resources prior to any placement out-of-State. 4 figures