Children's mental health services

A bill that would lay out guidelines to mental health providers on restraint procedures on children in day treatment facilities was approved by the House Mental Health Division March 7.

Sponsored by Rep. Neva Walker (DFL-Mpls), HF3377 would require each agency to have a plan for when restrictive procedures and seclusion might be used on children, and under what conditions procedures would be used, including the use of mechanical restraints.

The bill also specifies the need for oversight by a treatment center mental health professional when restraining measures are used. Parental consent would be requested at the time of program enrollment for the use of restrictive measures, and immediate notification of a parent would be required if a procedure is used.

Unlike day treatment programs that are not covered by certain rules, the use of restraint in both inpatient hospital programs and residential treatment facilities is strictly regulated, said Glenace Edwall, director of the Department of Human Services’ Children’s Mental Health Division.

Rep. Larry Hosch (DFL-St. Joseph) asked whether the changes would apply to school systems. Schools are governed by special education rules, and their standards are much lower, said Sue Abderholden, executive director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota.

A consistent community-wide standard would be the goal, she said. It would be especially important for children that, in the course of a day, could switch from a school’s treatment program to a community day treatment program where use of restrictive procedures can vary widely.

“You can actually learn other techniques to deal with these behaviors that work very, very effectively and we don’t have to resort to them if we get the right training,” Abderholden said.

The bill now goes to the House Finance Committee.

A companion bill, SF3049, sponsored by Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls), awaits action by the full Senate.